{"data":{"id":"us-md/md.-code-labor-and-employment-3-1103","jurisdiction":"us-md","citation":"Md. Code, Labor and Employment § 3–1103","heading":"","body":"(a) An employer may dispute a lien for unpaid wages by filing a complaint in the circuit court for the county where property of an employer is located.\n(b) A complaint filed under this section shall:\n(1) be filed within 30 days after notice is served on the employer; and\n(2) include:\n(i) the name of the employer that owes the employee the wages and the name of the employee to whom the wages are owed;\n(ii) a copy of the notice to establish a lien for unpaid wages served on the employer under § 3–1102 of this subtitle;\n(iii) a statement of any defense to the lien for unpaid wages; and\n(iv) an affidavit containing a statement of facts that support any defenses raised.\n(c) The employer or employee may request an evidentiary hearing.\n(d) If an employer files a complaint, the circuit court shall determine whether to issue an order establishing a lien for unpaid wages:\n(1) within 45 days after the date on which the complaint was filed; and\n(2) based on a preponderance of the evidence in which the employee has the burden of proof to establish the lien for unpaid wages.\n(e) (1) If a circuit court issues an order to establish a lien for unpaid wages, the employee is entitled to court costs and reasonable attorney’s fees.\n(2) If a circuit court determines the effort to establish a lien for unpaid wages to have been frivolous or made in bad faith, the court may award court costs and reasonable attorney’s fees to an employer.","path":["Article - Labor and Employment"],"source_url":"https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gle\u0026section=3-1103","current_through":"2026-01-01","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T19:59:38Z","sha256":"57f37e98666c4d89c8a7d555aa8284114a36c5cc491e15bd1d2afa07a8448595","source_id":"us-md","stale":false,"prev":"us-md/md.-code-labor-and-employment-3-1102","next":"us-md/md.-code-labor-and-employment-3-1104"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}