# Commercial Law (GCL)

## Title 9. Secured Transactions

### Subtitle 5. Filing

#### Section 9-516

(a) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b), communication of a record to a filing office and tender of the filing fee or acceptance of the record by the filing office constitutes filing.

(b) Filing does not occur with respect to a record that a filing office refuses to accept because:

  (1) The record is not communicated by a method or medium of communication authorized by the filing office;

  (2) An amount equal to or greater than the applicable filing fee is not tendered;

  (3) The filing office is unable to index the record because:

    (A) In the case of an initial financing statement, the record does not provide a name for the debtor;

    (B) In the case of an amendment or information statement, the record:

      (i) Does not identify the initial financing statement as required by Sec. 9-512 or Sec. 9-518, as applicable; or

      (ii) Identifies an initial financing statement whose effectiveness has lapsed under Sec. 9-515;

    (C) In the case of an initial financing statement that provides the name of a debtor identified as an individual or an amendment that provides a name of a debtor identified as an individual which was not previously provided in the financing statement to which the record relates, the record does not identify the debtor's surname; or

    (D) In the case of a record filed or recorded in the filing office described in Sec. 9-501(a)(1), the record does not provide a sufficient description of the real property to which it relates;

  (4) In the case of an initial financing statement or an amendment that adds a secured party of record, the record does not provide a name and mailing address for the secured party of record;

  (5) In the case of an initial financing statement or an amendment that provides a name of a debtor which was not previously provided in the financing statement to which the amendment relates, the record does not:

    (A) Provide a mailing address for the debtor; or

    (B) Indicate whether the name provided as the name of the debtor is the name of an individual or an organization;

  (6) In the case of an assignment reflected in an initial financing statement under Sec. 9-514(a) or an amendment filed under Sec. 9-514(b), the record does not provide a name and mailing address for the assignee;

  (7) In the case of a continuation statement, the record is not filed within the six-month period prescribed by Sec. 9-515(d); or

  (8) The information required by Sec. 9-502(e) is not provided or recordation tax payable is not tendered with the financing statement.

(c) For purposes of subsection (b):

  (1) A record does not provide information if the filing office is unable to read or decipher the information; and

  (2) A record that does not indicate that it is an amendment or identify an initial financing statement to which it relates, as required by Sec. 9-512, Sec. 9-514, or Sec. 9-518, is an initial financing statement.

(d) A record that is communicated to the filing office with tender of the filing fee, but which the filing office refuses to accept for a reason other than one set forth in subsection (b), is effective as a filed record except as against a purchaser of the collateral which gives value in reasonable reliance upon the absence of the record from the files.

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