A sheriff or constable to whom any writ of execution is directed may seize and sell the legal or equitable interest of the defendant named in the writ in real or personal property. The sheriff or constable shall execute the writ, conduct the sale, and distribute the proceeds pursuant to rules adopted by the Supreme Court of Maryland.

A sheriff shall give notice of the time, place, and terms of the sale of any property under execution before the property can be sold. In the case of a sale of an interest in property, the notice shall be posted on the courthouse door or on a bulletin board in the immediate vicinity of the door of the courthouse and printed in a newspaper, published in the county where the property is located at least: Ten days before the sale of personal property; or 20 days before the sale of real property. If the sheriff gives notice by publication in a newspaper, he may recover the costs of publication from the defendant. If the defendant is unable to pay the costs, the sheriff may recover the costs of publication from the plaintiff. A sheriff’s sale of real property extinguishes any subordinate lien or interest on the land subject to the sale.

Except in Harford County, if a sheriff is required to sell real or personal property as part of his official duties, he may employ an auctioneer of his choice and charge the costs of the sale to the debtor. If the Sheriff of Harford County employs an auctioneer, the debtor is primarily liable, but if the proceeds of the sale are insufficient to cover the costs, the creditor is liable for the balance of the costs.

In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. “Depository institution” means a bank, credit union, trust company, savings bank, or savings and loan association, or any of their affiliates or subsidiaries. “Revocable trust” has the meaning stated in § 14.5–103 of the Estates and Trusts Article. “Settlor” has the meaning stated in § 14.5–103 of the Estates and Trusts Article. “Value” means fair market value as of the date on which the execution or other judicial process becomes effective against the property of the debtor, or the date of filing the petition under the federal Bankruptcy Code. The following items are exempt from execution on a judgment: Wearing apparel, books, tools, instruments, or appliances, in an amount not to exceed $5,000 in value necessary for the practice of any trade or profession except those kept for sale, lease, or barter. Except as provided in subsection (i) of this section, money payable in the event of sickness, accident, injury, or death of any person, including compensation for loss of future earnings. This exemption includes but is not limited to money payable on account of judgments, arbitrations, compromises, insurance, benefits, compensation, and relief. Disability income benefits are not exempt if the judgment is for necessities contracted for after the disability is incurred. Professionally prescribed health aids for the debtor or any dependent of the debtor. The debtor’s interest, not to exceed $1,000 in value, in household furnishings, household goods, wearing apparel, appliances, books, animals kept as pets, and other items that are held primarily for the personal, family, or household use of the debtor or any dependent of the debtor. Subject to subsection (c)(3) of this section, up to $500 in a deposit account or other account of the debtor held by a depository institution, without election of the debtor. Cash or property of any kind equivalent in value to $6,000 is exempt, if within 30 days from the date of the attachment or the levy by the sheriff, the debtor elects to exempt cash or selected items of property in an amount not to exceed a cumulative value of $6,000, except that the cumulative value of cash and property exempted under this item and item (5) of this subsection may not exceed $6,000. Money payable or paid in accordance with an agreement or court order for child support. Money payable or paid in accordance with an agreement or court order for alimony to the same extent that wages are exempt from attachment under § 15–601.1(b)(1)(i) of the Commercial Law Article. The debtor’s beneficial interest in any trust property that is immune from the claims of the debtor’s creditors under § 14.5–511 of the Estates and Trusts Article. With respect to claims by a separate creditor of a husband or wife, trust property that is immune from the claims of the separate creditors of the husband or wife under § 14.5–511 of the Estates and Trusts Article. In order to determine whether the property listed in subsection (b)(4) and (6) of this section is subject to execution, the sheriff shall appraise the property at the time of levy. The sheriff shall return the appraisal with the writ. An appraisal made by the sheriff under this paragraph is subject to review by the court on motion of the debtor. Procedures will be as prescribed by rules issued by the Supreme Court of Maryland. A writ of garnishment issued for a deposit account or other account held by a depository institution shall instruct the garnishee that, subject to additional exemptions, it is to garnish only the amount exceeding the amount exempted without election of the debtor. A depository institution may not be liable to the judgment creditor for actions taken in good faith reliance on the instructions in the writ of garnishment required under this paragraph. A depository institution shall, on receipt of a writ of garnishment or other levy or attachment, answer the writ of garnishment or other levy or attachment and, if the debtor maintains any deposit accounts with the depository institution, state: That the total amount does not exceed $500; or The amount of funds in excess of $500 that has been held pending further order of court. For any funds in excess of $500, the depository institution shall follow all other customary procedures for handling a writ of garnishment or other levy or attachment, including freezing of funds. If a debtor holds an interest in multiple deposit accounts at a single depository institution, the depository institution may determine how and to which account or accounts the $500 exemption should be applied. This subparagraph does not create a cause of action against a depository institution that complies with a writ of garnishment or other levy or attachment. The exemption under subsection (b)(5) of this section: Applies separately to each depository institution and to each writ of garnishment directed to a depository institution; and Does not preclude or reduce a debtor’s rights to any other exemption provided by State or federal law. The debtor may not waive, by cognovit note or otherwise, the provisions of subsections (b) and (h) of this section. The exemptions in this section do not apply to wage attachments. In addition to the exemptions provided in subsection (b) of this section, and in other statutes of this State, in any proceeding under Title 11 of the United States Code, entitled “Bankruptcy”, any individual debtor domiciled in this State may exempt the debtor’s aggregate interest in: Personal property, up to $5,000; and Subject to subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph: Owner–occupied residential real property, including a condominium unit, a manufactured home that has been converted to real property in accordance with § 8B–201 of the Real Property Article, or residential real property of a settlor that is held in a revocable trust; or A cooperative housing corporation that owns property that the debtor occupies as a residence. Subject to subparagraph (iii) of this paragraph and paragraph (2) of this subsection, the exemption allowed under subparagraph (i)2 of this paragraph may not exceed $125,000 for an individual. If multiple individuals in the same bankruptcy proceeding claim the exemption under subparagraph (i)2 of this paragraph for the same property, the total exemption amount may not exceed $125,000. For fiscal year 2028 and each fiscal year thereafter, the exemption amounts specified in paragraph (1)(ii) and (iii) of this subsection shall be: Adjusted by any change in the calendar year preceding the fiscal year in the Consumer Price Index (All Urban Consumers – United States City Average – All Items), as published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; and Rounded to the nearest $25. In any bankruptcy proceeding, a debtor is not entitled to the federal exemptions provided by § 522(d) of the federal Bankruptcy Code. In addition to the exemptions provided in subsections (b) and (f) of this section and any other provisions of law, any money or other assets payable to a participant or beneficiary from, or any interest of any participant or beneficiary in, a retirement plan qualified under § 401(a), § 403(a), § 403(b), § 408, § 408A, § 414(d), or § 414(e) of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or § 409 (as in effect prior to January 1984) of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended, shall be exempt from any and all claims of the creditors of the beneficiary or participant, other than claims by the Maryland Department of Health. Paragraph (1) of this subsection does not apply to: An alternate payee under a qualified domestic relations order, as defined in § 414(p) of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended; A retirement plan, qualified under § 401(a) of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, as a creditor of an individual retirement account qualified under § 408 of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended; or The assets of a bankruptcy case filed before January 1, 1988. The interest of an alternate payee in a plan described under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be exempt from any and all claims of any creditor of the alternate payee, except claims by the Maryland Department of Health. If a contribution to a retirement plan described under paragraph (1) of this subsection exceeds the amount deductible or, in the case of contribution under § 408A of the Internal Revenue Code, the maximum contribution allowed under the applicable provisions of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, the portion of that contribution that exceeds the amount deductible or, in the case of contribution under § 408A of the Internal Revenue Code, the maximum contribution allowed, and any accrued earnings on such a portion, are not exempt under paragraph (1) of this subsection. In this subsection, “net recovery” means the sum of money to be distributed to the debtor after deduction of attorney’s fees, expenses, medical bills, and satisfaction of any liens or subrogation claims arising out of the claims for personal injury, including those arising under: The Medicare Secondary Payer Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1395y; A program of the Maryland Department of Health for which a right of subrogation exists under §§ 15–120 and 15–121.1 of the Health – General Article; An employee benefit plan subject to the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974; A health insurance contract; or A workers’ compensation insurance plan. Twenty–five percent of the net recovery by the debtor is subject to execution on a judgment for a child support arrearage on a claim for: Personal injury; or Workers’ compensation indemnity benefits, including any weekly benefits or settlement proceeds payable to the debtor.

In addition to any other requirement under the Maryland Rules, before the court may ratify a sheriff’s sale of real property under levy pursuant to a writ of execution, the judgment creditor who requested the issuance of the writ shall provide to the court a copy of the public assessment record for the real property kept by the supervisor of assessments in accordance with § 2-211 of the Tax - Property Article.

If the defendant has waived his exemptions, the court shall enter the waiver on the docket and on the writ, but failure to make the entry does not affect the validity of the waiver. The court may strike out or invalidate a waiver for sufficient reasons.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this subtitle, the provisions of this subtitle relative to exemptions do not impair a: Vendor’s purchase money lien on land; Mechanics’ lien; Tax lien; Mortgage; deed of trust; or other security interest; or Lien on land affected by a judgment in favor of a local government for real property maintenance violations or nuisance condition violations that is indexed and recorded in accordance with the Maryland Rules.

If the appraiser determines that the defendant’s property cannot be divided to satisfy a judgment without loss to the defendant, the sheriff shall sell the property. After the sale, the defendant is entitled to $100 from the proceeds of sale. The sheriff may not sell the property if the proceeds of sale would be less than $100. This section applies only when a single parcel of land or single item of personal property is levied on.

If a sheriff sells any interest of the defendant in any property, he shall convey it to the purchaser upon payment of the purchase price.

If a sheriff states in his return that he seized property of the defendant which remains unsold, or that the defendant has satisfied the judgment mentioned in the process in whole or in part, the court, on motion of the plaintiff, may order the sheriff to bring the money into court or show cause for the failure to do so. If the sheriff fails to bring into court the amount of the judgment due the plaintiff, the court may enter judgment against the sheriff in the amount of the claim, if the court is satisfied that the sheriff received the debt from the defendant and that his return is false. A remedy granted under this section does not prejudice the plaintiff’s right to proceed against the sheriff’s bond.

If a dispute exists as to the distribution of the proceeds of a sheriff’s sale, the sheriff may file one or more returns. The court may ratify one of the returns, or may direct the sheriff to file further returns. The ratification of a return under this section is a final order.

If a sheriff is prevented by an injunction from selling personal property taken in execution, the court may order the return of the property taken to the party from whom it was taken, and the sheriff is not answerable to the plaintiff for failure to sell the property.

If a recognizance taken for the appearance of a person to answer or testify is forfeited, the State’s Attorney may order a writ of execution to be issued for the sum due on the recognizance. If a writ of execution is issued against a person who failed to answer or testify, on the return of the execution he may file any plea to the execution which would be good and sufficient to a scire facias if a scire facias had issued on the recognizance. If the plea is determined in favor of the person who filed the plea, he shall be discharged from the forfeiture. However, he may not be discharged from the execution before a hearing on the plea unless he: Pays or satisfies the execution; Gives a bond payable to the State; or Enters into a recognizance in court with security in double amount of the forfeiture and costs due on the execution with condition to appear and plead in discharge of the execution, and abide by and fulfill the judgment on the recognizance.