§ StatuteRates

Maryland Prejudgment Interest Rate

United States  Maryland prejudgment interest is discretionary — here is the rate courts apply.

Current rate
6% per year — the rate courts apply when prejudgment interest is awarded
Set by statute Discretionary

In Maryland, prejudgment interest is discretionary: a court may award it, and when it does the rate is 6% per year under Md. Const. Art. III, sec. 57. Availability depends on claim type under the three-category common-law framework (Buxton v. Buxton): (1) AS OF RIGHT (mandatory) where "the obligation to pay and the amount due had become…

When Maryland prejudgment interest applies

Availability depends on claim type under the three-category common-law framework (Buxton v. Buxton): (1) AS OF RIGHT (mandatory) where "the obligation to pay and the amount due had become certain, definite, and liquidated by a specific date prior to judgment" — e.g., written contracts to pay money on a day certain (bills of exchange, promissory notes), sums payable under leases as rent, bonds, and readily-ascertainable conversion claims.

When it starts accruing

For "as of right" liquidated claims: from the date the sum became due/certain (the specific date prior to judgment on which the fixed amount was owed and withheld). For contract claims generally: from the date of breach/when payment was due.

Simple or compound

Simple. The Court of Appeals in Buxton (following Md. Nat'l Bank v. Cummins, 322 Md. 570) limited prejudgment interest to simple interest at 6%.

→ Compare with the Maryland post-judgment interest rate (interest after judgment)

Prejudgment interest under Md. Const. Art. III, sec. 57 — 6% (simple interest). This is PREjudgment interest (accruing before entry of judgment) and is separate from Maryland’s post-judgment rate; availability is limited by claim type (see the page). Verify against the statute text. Not legal advice.

Effective-date history

1 data point on record. Full history in the JSON API.
Effective dateRateBasis
July 9, 2026 6% Statute

Source & provenance

Latest value retrieved July 10, 2026 (02:55 UTC) from the official source:
https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/Pubs/LegisLegal/2025-constitution-maryland-us.pdf

Reference data only — not legal, tax, or financial advice. Always confirm the controlling value against the official source and, where applicable, the governing statute or court before relying on it.