Cal. Civ. Code § 8-905
Md. Code Ann., Real Property Art. Title 8 — Landlord and Tenant
Operative Text
(a) MLSC shall develop an informational pamphlet in both English and other languages MLSC determines appropriate: (1) Describing the legal rights of tenants and the access to counsel established under this subtitle; and (2) Providing information on resources available to tenants. (b) A sheriff or constable shall provide a copy of the pamphlet described under subsection (a) of this section in addition to the process served on a tenant, an assignee, or a subtenant in accordance with the following provisions of this article: (1) An eviction proceeding for a failure to pay rent under § 8–401 of this title; (2) An eviction proceeding for a tenant holding over under § 8–402 of this title; and (3) An eviction proceeding for a breach of lease under § 8–402.1 of this title.
Under Maryland Real Property § 8-905, the Maryland Legal Services Corporation (MLSC) is required to create an informational pamphlet—available in English and other languages as appropriate—that outlines tenants' legal rights and the right-to-counsel resources established under this subtitle, as well as other available tenant resources. When a sheriff or constable serves process on a tenant, assignee, or subtenant in connection with certain eviction proceedings—specifically those for failure to pay rent, holding over, or breach of lease—they must also hand over a copy of this pamphlet. The provision ensures that tenants receive basic information about their rights at the moment they are formally notified of an eviction action.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 8-905, the obligation to distribute the MLSC informational pamphlet falls on the sheriff or constable serving process, not on the landlord directly. However, property owners and managers initiating eviction proceedings under §§ 8-401, 8-402, or 8-402.1 should be aware that this pamphlet distribution is a required part of the service-of-process procedure in Maryland. Compliant operators generally familiarize themselves with these procedural requirements so they understand what tenants will receive and what rights tenants are being informed of at the outset of an eviction action.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Maryland Real Property § 8-905 entitles tenants, assignees, and subtenants to receive an MLSC-produced pamphlet at the time they are served with eviction papers in failure-to-pay-rent, holdover, or breach-of-lease proceedings. This pamphlet is designed to inform recipients of their legal rights and the right-to-counsel resources available under Maryland law. Tenants who did not receive this pamphlet alongside their eviction notice may wish to contact a local tenant-rights organization or legal aid office to understand what options, including raising a procedural issue as part of their response, may be available to them.
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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