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<section number="13-1136" name="Form and Service of Documents" law="code" slug="sec-13-1136" node_id="PTIITI17PULOLAPRGECOMA_SUBTITLE_13HOPRST_DIV15ADHE_SD2GERUPR_S13-1136FOSEDO">
  <level label="a">
    <text>Captions. Each document filed with the Administrative Hearing Unit shall contain a caption that sets forth:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>the title of the action;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>the citation number or the docket number assigned to the proceeding; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>a brief descriptive title of the document that indicates its nature.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>Signature—By attorney.</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Every document of a party represented by an attorney shall be signed by at least one attorney who has been admitted to practice law in the State of Maryland.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The signature of an attorney constitutes a certification that:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>the attorney has read the document;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>to the best of the attorney's knowledge, information and belief, there is good ground to support it; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>it is not interposed for delay.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>Signature—By party. Every document of a party who is not represented by an attorney shall be signed by the party.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>Signature—Sanctions. If a document is not signed as required (except an inadvertent omission to sign, if promptly corrected) or is signed with intent to defeat the purpose of this rule, it may be stricken, and the action may proceed as though the document had not been filed.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>Service.</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>This subsection applies to all documents, except for administrative citations, that are required to be served on other parties.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>If service is required on a party represented by an attorney, service shall be made on the attorney unless the party is self-represented, then service shall be made upon the party through either first-class mail to the party or, if applicable, a registered agent.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Each document shall be accompanied by a signed certificate of service that specifies the date, manner of service and copies were provided to all parties.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <text>Electronic Filing.</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>The Administrative Hearing Unit may prescribe methods to allow parties to submit any required papers or documents through electronic means. The submission of any paper or documents through electronic means shall constitute filing for all purposes under this Subtitle so long as the submission complies with the prescribed methods in all respects.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Requirements for electronic filing of papers:</text>
      <level label="aa">
        <text>All papers to be filed electronically shall be submitted in an electronic format to be specified by the Administrative Hearing Unit. Any specifications as to particular filing formats shall be made publicly available through the public website for the Administrative Hearing Unit.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="bb">
        <text>All papers or documents that are required to be signed must include the signer's typewritten name accompanied by a visual image of the signer's handwritten signature or by the symbol /s/.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>A party who elects to file papers electronically assumes responsibility for any delay, disruption, interruption of electronic signals, and legibility and completeness of the paper. The Administrative Hearing Unit shall make all reasonable efforts to resolve any such complications, but a party who elects to file papers electronically accepts the risk that any of the above circumstances may result in a determination by the Administrative Hearing Unit that a submission may be deemed not filed or not timely filed.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
