# Real Property (GRP)

## Title 13. Land Patents

### Subtitle 2. Administration of Title

#### Section 13-201

(a) The Commissioner of Land Patents shall administer this title and, in the manner provided in it, issue all patents.

(b) The Commissioner may appoint any person to assist in the performance of the duties imposed by this title.

#### Section 13-202

In administering this title:

(1) The Commissioner shall:

  (i) Determine whether a patent may be issued under this title; and

  (ii) Adopt a seal for land patent proceedings; and

(2) The Commissioner may:

  (i) Administer oaths and affirmations in land patent proceedings; and

  (ii) Do anything else necessary to carry out the provisions of this title.

#### Section 13-203

(a) After consultation with the Commission and a committee of three clerks, the Commissioner shall adopt regulations to carry out the provisions of this title.

(b)

  (1) The committee of clerks shall be selected by the State of Maryland Court Clerks Association. They shall serve until their successors are selected.

  (2) The clerks may not receive any additional compensation for serving on the committee, but shall be entitled to reimbursement for their expenses from the fees of their office, in accordance with the regulations governing reimbursement of expenses incurred for attendance at meetings of appointed committees of the Association.

#### Section 13-204

(a)

  (1) The Commissioner has custody of and shall maintain all records relating to the application for and issuance of patents. For this purpose, the Commissioner may require the clerk of any court to produce, at the expense of the Commissioner, true copies of any land records maintained by that clerk.

  (2) On request of any person, the Commissioner shall certify a copy of any land patent record he maintains.

  (3) The Commissioner shall provide for the preservation, indexing, filming, and publication of the patent records in his custody.

(b) The Commissioner shall maintain a patent docket and a separate index for that docket.

(c) In accordance with Sec. 13-203 of this subtitle, the Commissioner shall adopt regulations to govern the use, preservation, repair, and maintenance of the patent records and patent docket.

#### Section 13-205

In accordance with the procedures of Sec. 13-203 of this subtitle for adopting regulations, the Commissioner shall adopt a schedule of costs to be charged by the Commissioner.

#### Section 13-206

(a) The Commissioner annually shall complete and mail to the supervisors of assessments a list of any certificates that have become ready for patent.

(b) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (c) of this section, the list shall contain:

  (1) The description or name of the land;

  (2) The quantity of land; and

  (3) The person who is entitled to patent.

(c) If the list contains certificates adding vacant land to any original tract, in addition to the information required under subsection (b) of this section, the list shall contain:

  (1) The description or name of the original tract; and

  (2) The quantity of vacancy added.

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