Cal. Civ. Code § 8-315
Md. Code Ann., Real Property Art. Title 8 — Landlord and Tenant
Operative Text
(a) If a tenant removes the tenant’s goods from the leased premises, and the officer can find no goods of the tenant on the premises, the officer shall report that fact to the court. If the court is satisfied the goods of the tenant have been removed, it may issue an order to follow goods under distress within six months after filing of an action of distress. The order shall authorize levy on the removed goods at any place the goods can be found within the jurisdiction of the court. (b) If the goods are removed outside the court’s jurisdiction, the plaintiff may file with the court in the jurisdiction where the goods are located, a certified copy of the original action of distress, together with a verified petition setting forth (i) the fact of the original petition for distress, (ii) the premises to which the tenant has removed the goods, and (iii) the name and address of the occupant of the premises. If the occupant of the premises to which the goods are removed is a person other than the tenant, an order shall be served by first-class mail or by an officer on the other person giving the occupant seven days from the date of service of the order to protest seizure of the goods. If not protested, the order becomes final and authorizes any officer to seize and remove the goods. (c) Entry to premises under an order to follow goods under distress may be forcible.
Maryland Real Property § 8-315 governs what happens when a tenant moves personal property off a leased premises while a landlord's distress action (a legal proceeding to seize goods for unpaid rent) is pending. If the goods remain within the court's jurisdiction, the court may issue an 'order to follow goods' authorizing a levy wherever the goods are found. If the goods have crossed into another jurisdiction, the landlord may file a certified copy of the original distress action in that new jurisdiction, and a third-party occupant of the location where the goods now sit must be given seven days' notice to contest seizure before any order becomes final.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 8-315, a landlord pursuing a distress action should be aware that a tenant's removal of goods from the leased premises does not automatically end the proceeding. If goods remain within the court's jurisdiction, a compliant operator typically works with the court to obtain an order to follow goods, which can authorize levy at any location within that jurisdiction. If goods have moved out of the jurisdiction, operators generally file a certified copy of the original distress action in the appropriate new jurisdiction and ensure that any third-party occupant of the new location receives proper notice before seizure proceeds.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 8-315 of Maryland's Real Property Code means that moving personal belongings off a leased property does not necessarily protect them from a landlord's distress action for unpaid rent. If the goods are relocated to a premises occupied by someone other than the tenant, that third-party occupant has a seven-day window from service of the order to formally protest the seizure of those goods. Tenants and affected third parties who believe a distress action or follow-goods order is improper may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid provider to understand available options, including filing a protest with the court that issued the order.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 14, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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