# Commercial Law (GCL)

## Title 17. Disposition of Abandoned Property

### Subtitle 4. Abandoned Property in Possession of a Museum

#### Section 17-401

(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.

(b) "Address of the lender" means the most recent address of a lender as shown on the museum's records pertaining to property on loan from the lender.

(c)

  (1) "Conservation measure" means any action taken toward the long-term preservation of property.

  (2) "Conservation measure" includes examination, documentation, treatment, and preventive care of property, supported by research and education.

(d) "Lender" means a person whose name appears on the records of a museum as the person legally entitled to, or claiming to be legally entitled to, property held by the museum.

(e) "Loan" means a deposit of property not accompanied by a transfer of title to that property.

(f) "Museum" means an institution located in the State that:

  (1) Is operated by a person primarily for education, scientific, historic preservation, or aesthetic purposes; and

  (2) Owns, borrows, cares for, exhibits, studies, archives, or catalogs property.

(g) "Permanent loan" means a loan of property to a museum for an indefinite period.

(h) "Property" means a tangible object under a museum's care that has intrinsic historic, artistic, scientific, or cultural value.

(i) "Undocumented property" means property in the possession of a museum for which the museum cannot determine the owner by reference to the museum's records.

(j) "Unsolicited donation" means any property that is left in the control of a museum that is from an unknown source and can be reasonably assumed to have been intended as a gift to the museum.

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Md. Code Ann., Com. Law (as displayed at mgaleg.maryland.gov, October 16, 2026)