Disclaimer - This page offers some general information about Maryland land records. Residential or commercial property transfers can be made complex. There may likewise be tax consequences for residential or commercial property transfers. Consider calling a Maryland lawyer or Maryland title business to help you with a residential or commercial property transfer.

What are Land Records?

Every Maryland County and Baltimore City has a Department of Land Records located in that County's Circuit Notary's Office. These departments maintain records about genuine residential or commercial property in the county that are available on a variety of media from "well-bound books" to digitally scanned images.

What can be taped at Land Records?
The Department of Land Records can tape any "instrument" (or legal file) that affects somebody's legal interest in real residential or commercial property. Common documents recorded in land records are deeds, mortgages, liens, powers of attorney, and specific leases.

Read the law: Maryland Code, Real Residential Or Commercial Property § § 3-101, 3-102, and Commercial Law § 9-501( a)( 1 )

What is a deed?
A deed is a written document that gives ownership rights to a piece of land. In a deed, someone, called the grantor, provides their ownership rights in land to a 2nd person, called the beneficiary. Deeds consist of important information about the residential or commercial property and the regards to the residential or commercial property transfer.

What can the clerks at the Department of Land Records do?
Clerks at the Department of Land Records are accountable for accepting documents that meet the requirements for addition in land records, turning down documents that do not, and keeping records. Clerks might also collect certain payments at the time documents are submitted. When you come to the Department of Land Records, you should have your documents ready to provide to the clerk. The clerks can answer just a couple of minimal questions. The clerks can not:

- Help you complete files or forms
- Review your files prior to being presented for recording
- Tell you if your documents will achieve your goals
- Perform a title look for you
- Give you legal suggestions

In lots of counties, the clerks can not accept a file into land records till the county's finance or treasurer's workplace backs the file and gathers taxes.

Read the law: Maryland Code, Real Residential Or Commercial Property § 3-104

How can I get Information from Land Records?

How do I look up a deed?
Deeds are public information. This indicates anybody can view and get a copy of a deed. Deeds can be seen for complimentary online through mdlandrec.net. You should create an account with the Maryland State Archives to view deeds on mdlandrec.net. Many courthouses also have computer system terminals you can use to search or examine deeds. If you have a deed reference number, or need additional assistance discovering a deed, a clerk in the Department of Land Records can assist discover the deed for you. Should you want copies of any file, the expense is $.50 per page.

Where can I find a deed reference number?
Every deed recorded in land records has a referral number that refers to the book and page number where it is kept. (Sometimes deeds utilize the Latin words "liber" for book and "folio" for page.) Search for referral numbers online through the Maryland Department of Assessments. Select a county and then go into the residential or commercial property address. The reference number appears under the owner information area in the leading right corner of the page. The book number is first, followed by a backslash, then the page number.

How do I find a lien?
Finding all liens on a residential or commercial property is hard. There are various kinds of liens. Only some are taped in land records. If you are planning on transferring residential or commercial property, consider looking for help from an attorney or title company to locate liens.

- Liens versus residential or commercial property can be taped at the Department of Land Records along with deeds. Look for liens online utilizing Maryland Land Records (mdlandrec.net).
- Some liens come from court judgments. If this happens, the lien may not be at Land Records. Go to Maryland Case Search to look for court judgments versus the residential or commercial property's owner.
- Unpaid taxes on the residential or commercial property might result in a lien. Visit your local county or city's finance office to find residential or commercial property tax or other local liens.

Can I inspect if a home remains in foreclosure at Land Records?
Foreclosure cases are not kept at the Department of Land Records. The Civil Clerk at the Circuit Court handles foreclosure cases. You can search for a foreclosure case by searching the owner's name on Maryland Case Search.

How do I record a deed?

You can check out about the actions to tape a new deed at the People's Law Library. Preparing a deed is made complex. Small mistakes can have significant repercussions and be tough to fix. There may likewise be tax repercussions for residential or commercial property transfers. Consider talking to an attorney before you prepare any documents

What are the costs connected with recording deeds?
Please keep in mind that Chapter 538 from the 2020 Session of the Maryland General Assembly offers that the existing $40 additional charge on recordable instruments recorded among the land records and funding declaration records will advance and after July 1, 2020. To learn more, see page 15 through 16 here.

Deeds and other files have costs, additional charges, and taxes you should pay to tape-record them in land records. Some fees are paid directly to the Land Records Department. Others need to be paid to your regional county or city finance office or other local government offices. Fees charged by the Land Records Department are noted in the Circuit Court charge schedule. Clerks at the Land Records Department can respond to some questions about the fees you need to pay and where you should go to pay them. Below is a list of expenses connected with recording and transferring deeds. Seek professional assistance from a Maryland attorney or title company to figure out the exact costs of any particular transaction.

- Recording fees and additional charges
- Recordation tax
- State transfer tax
- County transfer tax
- Non-Resident tax

How do I take someone's name off a deed? How do I include somebody's name to a deed?
To take somebody's name off a deed, a brand-new deed should be prepared to move the residential or commercial property from all of the existing owners to all of the staying owners. Similarly, to add someone to a deed a new deed must be prepared to move the residential or commercial property from all current owners to all brand-new and current owners. The brand-new deed should then be taped in land records.

You can check out the steps to tape a brand-new deed at individuals's Law Library. Preparing a deed is made complex. Small mistakes can have significant consequences and be hard to repair. Consider speaking with a Maryland lawyer before you prepare any documents.

What if a person noted on a deed has died?
When somebody dies, changing legal ownership of their residential or commercial property usually does not occur at the Department of Land Records. Instead, there is a legal procedure to distribute their residential or commercial property called estate administration. An estate can be opened at the Register of Wills in the county where the deceased person lived at their time of death. More details on the estate administration process can be found at the People's Law Library.

What is a deed in lieu of foreclosure?
If a residential or commercial property owner falls behind on the mortgage, the lender that holds the mortgage can foreclose on the residential or commercial property. Foreclosure implies the loan provider can litigate and ask to sell the residential or commercial property by auction. A deed in lieu can be done rather of auctioning the residential or commercial property. This suggests that the residential or commercial property owner will transfer ownership of the home straight to the loan provider. The loan provider needs to consent to accept a deed in lieu of foreclosure.

If you are facing foreclosure and need support, call the Maryland HOPE Hotline at 1-877-462-7555. Housing therapists can assist you explore your choices.

What is a quitclaim deed?
In routine deeds, the grantor warrants typically that there are no issues with the title. If it ends up that there is an issue with the residential or commercial property's title or other ownership rights, the grantor can be held accountable.

In a quitclaim deed, the grantor makes no promises that they have a great title to the residential or commercial property. The grantor does not even guarantee that they own the residential or commercial property. Instead, the grantor just moves whatever interest, if any, they have in the residential or commercial property. By accepting a quitclaim deed, the beneficiary takes obligation for any issues with the ownership rights to the residential or commercial property.

What is a life estate?
A residential or commercial property owner with a life estate has ownership rights of their residential or commercial property till they pass away. When the homeowner dies, an individual named in the deed immediately becomes the owner of the residential or commercial property. Life estates have some crucial benefits and downsides over regular residential or commercial property ownership. Speak with a legal representative before you established your life estate.

What is a contract of sale?
An agreement of sale is a written arrangement to transfer ownership of residential or commercial property. The agreement does not trigger the legal ownership of the residential or commercial property to change. The deed is the file which has the legal result of moving the residential or commercial property. The agreement will specify regards to the transfer including who will compose a new deed and when the deed ought to be signed. An agreement of sale undergoes taxes. If the contract falls through the tax is not refundable.

Can I submit deeds online?
In some counties, deeds and other files for the Department of Land Records may be submitted online at Simplifile. A present list of Land Records Departments and County Finance Offices that permit electronic filing of deeds can be found here. Read about the requirements for electronic filing here. You can use an electronic signature if you total and send an Affidavit of Intent to Use Electronic Signature.

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Which Forms?

Maryland Land Instrument Intake Sheet Instructions.
Maryland Land Instrument Intake Sheet.
Addendum State of Maryland Land Instrument Intake Sheet.
Procedures for Implementing the Maryland Real Residential Or Commercial Property Electronic Recording Act.
Affidavit of Intent to Use Electronic Signatures (Paper Documents).
Notice of Lis Pendens (Md.
Rule 12-102 (b)). Notice of Termination of Lis Pendens (Md. Rule 12-102( d))

Which Court?

- Land Records workplaces are in each county's Circuit Court

Important Government Offices

County Land Records Offices - The land records workplace for each county is in that county's circuit court.
Department of Assessments and Taxation.
Maryland Comptroller.
County Finance Offices

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