# Financial Institutions (GFI)

## Title 12. Miscellaneous Institutions and Activities

### Subtitle 10. Maryland Debt Settlement Services Act

#### Section 12-1003

This subtitle does not apply to:

(1) The following persons when engaged in the regular course of their respective businesses and professions:

  (i) An attorney at law who is admitted to the Maryland Bar while the attorney at law is providing professional legal services in an attorney-client relationship;

  (ii) An escrow agent;

  (iii) A certified public accountant;

  (iv) A banking institution, other-state bank, national banking association, credit union, or savings and loan association;

  (v) A person that:

    (1) Provides a bill payer service, as defined in Sec. 12-401 of this title;

    (2) Does not initiate any contract with individual creditors of a debtor to compromise a debt or arrange a new payment schedule; and

    (3) Does not provide any debt counseling services;

  (vi) A person that provides an accelerated mortgage payment service, as defined in Sec. 12-401 of this title;

  (vii) A title insurer, title insurance agency, or abstract company; or

  (viii) A judicial officer or a person acting under a court order;

(2) A person while performing services incidental to the dissolution, winding up, or liquidation of a partnership, corporation, or other business enterprise;

(3) A trade or mercantile association acting in the course of arranging the adjustment of debts with a business establishment;

(4)

  (i) A mortgage lender, as defined in Sec. 11-501 of this article:

    (1) That is licensed by the Commissioner; and

    (2) While engaged in the mortgage lending business, as defined in Sec. 11-501 of this article; or

  (ii) An employee of a mortgage lender; or

(5) A collection agency, as defined in Sec. 7-101 of the Business Regulation Article:

  (i) That is licensed by the State Collection Agency Licensing Board; and

  (ii) While engaged in the collection agency business, as defined in Sec. 7-101 of the Business Regulation Article.

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