<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<section article="gcj" article_name="Courts and Judicial Proceedings" number="6-312" title_number="6" title_name="Personal Jurisdiction, Venue, Process and Practice" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="Process">
  <level label="a">
    <text>In this section, “person” has the meaning stated in Rule 1-202 of the Maryland Rules.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>This section applies to a person who is a defendant subject to a complaint, counterclaim, cross-claim, or third-party complaint.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a party may effect service by delivering a copy of the summons and the complaint to a defendant personally or by leaving copies of the summons and complaint at the defendant’s dwelling house or usual place of abode with a person of suitable age and discretion residing at the dwelling house or place of abode or by delivering a copy of the summons and the complaint to an agent authorized by appointment or law to receive service of process.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Any service under this subsection is as effective as actual personal service.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>The method of service provided in this subsection is in addition to and not exclusive of any other means of service that may be provided by statute or rule for obtaining jurisdiction of a defendant.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>This section does not affect any defense, including noncooperation, available to an insurer or a person who has a self-insurance plan under the terms of the applicable insurance or self-insurance plan.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>A defendant who is subject to the provisions of this section is deemed to have consented to service of process as described in this section.</text>
  </level>
</section>
