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What Is a Lien Certificate and Why Do I Need One When Transferring My Baltimore City or County Property Title?

A lien certificate is a document issued by the city or county finance office that identifies municipal charges owed to the city or county. A lien certificate will state any outstanding taxes or utilities owed, as well as any property violations and unpaid citations. Note that neither the city nor the county will record a […]

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Do I Need to Update My Maryland Property Deed if My Name Has Changed?

The simple answer is no. Maryland law does not require a new deed to reflect your name change. However, you can avoid complications by doing so, especially if you decide to sell or refinance your property. Name consistency across all legal documents can make life easier for you.   If you decide to change your […]

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How Do I Establish Domestic Partnership to Avoid Property Deed Transfer Taxes in Maryland?

If you are considering adding or removing a domestic partner from a property deed, and would like to avoid transfer taxes, you will need to provide proof of domestic partnership. Maryland state law allows for eleven ways to prove domestic partnership.    1. A joint housing lease or joint liability for a mortgage or other […]

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How Do I Fix an Imperfect Deed in Maryland?

Imperfect deeds can impact a title and, consequently, your rights of ownership. Common errors that render a deed imperfect include insufficient legal descriptions, incorrect or misspelled names, missing witnesses, or the lack of a notary stamp.   While the original deed in Maryland cannot be amended, a confirmatory deed can be executed and recorded, providing […]

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What Happens To Property After Divorce In Maryland?

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In Maryland, a married couple may own property together as tenants by the entirety. In order for a tenancy by the entirety to exist, the following five conditions must exist: 1. Tenants must acquire the property at the same time. 2. Tenants must have equal interest in the property. 3. Tenants must acquire title by […]

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May 15, 2019 – Baltimore City Office of Finance Hacked, Deed Recording Delays

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We recently learned that the computer system at the Baltimore City Office of Finance has been hacked, causing the City of Baltimore to shut down the computer systems for the Tax and Land Records and the Office of Finance indefinitely. As a result, Baltimore City is unable to issue lien certifications, utility bills, or tax […]

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Maryland Estate Planning; How Can I Transfer a Deed?

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In order to change the name on a deed, a new deed must be created. Drafting a deed is an extensive process. The deed needs to include if there was consideration for the change. The deed needs to have a certificate of preparation and signature stating who created it. Also, the deed needs to be […]

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Recorded Deed Notice Letters

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Beware of solicitation letters titled “Recorded Deed Notice” attempting to provide you with a copy of your deed and property assessment profile for a fee. These letters are scams. Your attorney will provide you with an e-copy of your deed at the end of the deed preparation process. Companies send these to everyone who had […]

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Adding Spouses to the Deed of a Bequeathed Property

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The deceased bequeaths house to family member in their will. The family member wants to add their spouse to the deed as Tenant by Entireties (T by E). The best way to handle this situation is to draft and file separate deeds, showing the clear chain of title. The reason for this is that there […]

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How Multiple People Can Hold Title in the Same Property in Maryland

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There are three major types of concurrent ownership in Maryland that can be written into a deed: Tenants in Common each own a share of the property as an individual with no right of survivorship. Therefore, if one co-tenant dies, his interest passes to his own heirs, not the other co-tenants. In this type of […]

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