Title 10. Evidence — Subtitle 7. Foreign Money-Judgments Recognition
Statutes in effect as of October 1, 2026.
Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 10-701 (2026)
Title 10. Evidence
Subtitle 7. Foreign Money-Judgments Recognition
§ 10–701LinkCopy Citation
(a)
In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.
(b)
“Foreign judgment” means any judgment of a foreign state granting or denying recovery of a sum of money. It does not mean a judgment for taxes, fine, or penalty, or a judgment for support in matrimonial or family matters.
(c)
“Foreign state” means any governmental unit other than the United States, or any state, district, commonwealth, territory, insular possession thereof, or the Panama Canal Zone, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, or the Ryukyu Islands.
Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 10-702 (2026)
Title 10. Evidence
Subtitle 7. Foreign Money-Judgments Recognition
§ 10–702LinkCopy Citation
This subtitle applies to a foreign judgment that is final, conclusive, and enforceable where rendered even though an appeal is pending or it is subject to appeal.
Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 10-703 (2026)
Title 10. Evidence
Subtitle 7. Foreign Money-Judgments Recognition
§ 10–703LinkCopy Citation
Except as provided in § 10–704 of this subtitle, a foreign judgment meeting the requirements of § 10–702 of this subtitle is conclusive between the parties to the extent that it grants or denies recovery of a sum of money. The foreign judgment is enforceable in the same manner as the judgment of a sister state which is entitled to full faith and credit.
Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 10-704 (2026)
Title 10. Evidence
Subtitle 7. Foreign Money-Judgments Recognition
§ 10–704LinkCopy Citation
(a)
A foreign judgment is not conclusive if:
(1)
The judgment was rendered under a system which does not provide impartial tribunals or procedures compatible with the requirements of due process of law;
(2)
The foreign court did not have personal jurisdiction over the defendant;
(3)
The foreign court did not have jurisdiction over the subject matter; or
(4)
The judgment was obtained by fraud.
(b)
A foreign judgment need not be recognized if:
(1)
The defendant in the proceedings in the foreign court did not receive notice of the proceedings in sufficient time to enable him to defend;
(2)
The cause of action on which the judgment is based is repugnant to the public policy of the State;
(3)
The judgment conflicts with another final and conclusive judgment;
(4)
The proceeding in the foreign court was contrary to an agreement between the parties under which the dispute was to be settled out of court; or
(5)
In the case of jurisdiction based only on personal service, the foreign court was a seriously inconvenient forum for the trial of the action.
(c)
(1)
In this subsection, “defamation” includes invasion of privacy by false facts.
(2)
A foreign judgment against any person who is a resident of this State or who has assets in this State may not be recognized if:
(i)
The cause of action resulted in a defamation judgment obtained in a jurisdiction outside the United States, unless the court before which the matter is brought in this State first determines that the defamation law as applied in the foreign jurisdiction provides for at least as much protection for freedom of speech and the press as is provided by both the United States Constitution and the Maryland Constitution; or
(ii)
The cause of action resulted in a defamation judgment entered against the provider of an interactive computer service, as defined in 47 U.S.C. § 230, unless the court before which the matter is brought in this State determines that the judgment is consistent with 47 U.S.C. § 230.
Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 10-705 (2026)
Title 10. Evidence
Subtitle 7. Foreign Money-Judgments Recognition
§ 10–705LinkCopy Citation
(a)
The foreign judgment may not be refused recognition for lack of personal jurisdiction if:
(1)
The defendant was served personally in the foreign state;
(2)
The defendant voluntarily appeared in the proceedings, other than for the purpose of protecting property seized or threatened with seizure in the proceedings or of contesting the jurisdiction of the court over him;
(3)
The defendant prior to the commencement of the proceedings had agreed to submit to the jurisdiction of the foreign court with respect to the subject matter involved;
(4)
The defendant was domiciled in the foreign state when the proceedings were instituted, or, being a body corporate has its principal place of business, was incorporated, or had otherwise acquired corporate status, in the foreign state;
(5)
The defendant had a business office in the foreign state and the proceedings in the foreign court involved a cause of action arising out of business done by the defendant through that office in the foreign state; or
(6)
The defendant operated a motor vehicle or airplane in the foreign state and the proceedings involved a cause of action arising out of such operation.
(b)
The court may recognize other bases of jurisdiction.
Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 10-706 (2026)
Title 10. Evidence
Subtitle 7. Foreign Money-Judgments Recognition
§ 10–706LinkCopy Citation
If the defendant satisfies the court either that an appeal is pending or that he is entitled and intends to appeal from the foreign judgment, the court may stay the proceedings until the appeal has been determined or until the expiration of a period of time sufficient to enable the defendant to prosecute the appeal.
Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 10-707 (2026)
Title 10. Evidence
Subtitle 7. Foreign Money-Judgments Recognition
§ 10–707LinkCopy Citation
This subtitle does not prevent the recognition of a foreign judgment in situations not covered by this subtitle.
Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 10-708 (2026)
Title 10. Evidence
Subtitle 7. Foreign Money-Judgments Recognition
§ 10–708LinkCopy Citation
This subtitle shall be so interpreted and construed as to effectuate its general purpose to make uniform the law of the states which enact it.
Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 10-709 (2026)
Title 10. Evidence
Subtitle 7. Foreign Money-Judgments Recognition
§ 10–709LinkCopy Citation
This subtitle may be cited as the Maryland Uniform Foreign Money-Judgments Recognition Act.