Title 6. Personal Jurisdiction, Venue, Process and Practice — Subtitle 2. Venue

Subject to the provisions of §§ 6–202 and 6–203 of this subtitle and unless otherwise provided by law, a civil action shall be brought in a county where the defendant resides, carries on a regular business, is employed, or habitually engages in a vocation. In addition, a corporation also may be sued where it maintains its principal offices in the State.

If there is more than one defendant, and there is no single venue applicable to all defendants, under subsection (a) of this section, all may be sued in a county in which any one of them could be sued, or in the county where the cause of action arose.

Divorce -- Where the plaintiff resides;

Annulment -- Where the plaintiff resides or where the marriage ceremony was performed;

Action against a corporation which has no principal place of business in the State -- Where the plaintiff resides;

Replevin or detinue -- Where the property sought to be recovered is located;

Action relating to custody, guardianship, maintenance, or support of a child -- Where the father, alleged father, or mother of the child resides, or where the child resides;

Suit on a bond against a corporate surety -- Where the bond is filed, or where the contract is to be performed;

Action for possession of real property -- Where a portion of the land upon which the action is based is located;

Tort action based on negligence -- Where the cause of action arose;

Attachment on original process -- Where the property is located or where the garnishee resides;

Nondelivery or injury of goods against master or captain of a vessel -- Where the goods are received on board the vessel or where delivery is to be made under the contract;

Action for damages against a nonresident individual -- Any county in the State;

Action against a person who absconds from a county or leaves the State before the statute of limitations has run -- Where the defendant is found;

In a local action in which the defendant cannot be found in the county where the subject matter of the action is located -- In any county in which the venue is proper under § 6-201.

The general rule of § 6-201 of this subtitle does not apply to actions enumerated in this section.

The venue of an action to recover damages against a railroad company for injury to livestock is the county where the injury occurred.

The venue of an action for guardianship under Title 5, Subtitle 3 of the Family Law Article is in the county where the court has jurisdiction over the child in need of assistance case under Title 3, Subtitle 8 of this article.