<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<section article="gcp" article_name="Criminal Procedure" number="13-403" title_number="13" title_name="Other Forfeitures" subtitle_number="4" subtitle_name="Violations of the Maryland Mortgage Fraud Protection Act">
  <level label="a">
    <text>Property or an interest in property may not be forfeited if the owner establishes by a preponderance of the evidence that the violation of the Mortgage Fraud law was committed without the owner’s actual knowledge.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, property used as the principal family residence may not be forfeited under this subtitle unless one of the owners of the property was convicted of a violation of the Mortgage Fraud law.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Without a conviction, a court may order a forfeiture of property used as the principal family residence if the owner of the family residence:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>fails to appear for a required court appearance; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>fails to surrender to the jurisdiction of the court within 180 days after the required court appearance.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>Property used as the principal family residence by a husband and wife and held by the husband and wife as tenants by the entirety may not be forfeited unless:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>the property was used in connection with:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>a violation of the Mortgage Fraud law; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>an attempt or conspiracy to violate the Mortgage Fraud law; and</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>both the husband and wife are convicted of:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>a violation of the Mortgage Fraud law; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>an attempt or conspiracy to violate the Mortgage Fraud law.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
