Plain Text Law

Real Property (GRP) — Title 5. Statute of Frauds

Statutes in effect as of October 1, 2026.

Subtitle 1

Md. Code Ann., Real Prop. § 5-101 (2026)
Title 5. Statute of Frauds
Subtitle 1

§ 5–101Copy Citation

Every corporeal estate, leasehold or freehold, or incorporeal interest in land created by parol and not in writing and signed by the party creating it, or his agent lawfully authorized by writing, has the force and effect of an estate or interest at will only, and has no other or greater force or effect, either in law or equity.
Md. Code Ann., Real Prop. § 5-102 (2026)
Title 5. Statute of Frauds
Subtitle 1

§ 5–102Copy Citation

Section 5-101 of this title is not applicable to a leasehold estate not exceeding a term of one year.
Md. Code Ann., Real Prop. § 5-103 (2026)
Title 5. Statute of Frauds
Subtitle 1

§ 5–103Copy Citation

No corporeal estate, leasehold or freehold, or incorporeal interest in land may be assigned, granted, or surrendered, unless it is in writing signed by the party assigning, granting, or surrendering it, or his agent lawfully authorized by writing, or by act and operation of law.
Md. Code Ann., Real Prop. § 5-104 (2026)
Title 5. Statute of Frauds
Subtitle 1

§ 5–104Copy Citation

No action may be brought on any contract for the sale or disposition of land or of any interest in or concerning land unless the contract on which the action is brought, or some memorandum or note of it, is in writing and signed by the party to be charged or some other person lawfully authorized by him.
Md. Code Ann., Real Prop. § 5-105 (2026)
Title 5. Statute of Frauds
Subtitle 1

§ 5–105Copy Citation

Except as provided in § 5-107 of this title, every declaration of trust, or amendment to it, respecting land shall be manifested and proved by a writing signed by the party who by law is enabled to declare the trust, or by his last will in writing, or else it is void.
Md. Code Ann., Real Prop. § 5-106 (2026)
Title 5. Statute of Frauds
Subtitle 1

§ 5–106Copy Citation

Every assignment of any beneficial interest in a trust, the assets of which wholly or partially consist of land, is void unless the assignment is:
(1)
In writing signed by the assignor or his agent lawfully authorized by writing; or
(2)
By his last will in writing.
Md. Code Ann., Real Prop. § 5-107 (2026)
Title 5. Statute of Frauds
Subtitle 1

§ 5–107Copy Citation

This title is not applicable where any grant is made of any interest in land by which a trust arises or results by implication or construction of law, or where a trust is transferred or extinguished by operation of law.
Md. Code Ann., Real Prop. § 5-108 (2026)
Title 5. Statute of Frauds
Subtitle 1

§ 5–108Copy Citation

Nothing in this title may be construed as negating any additional requirement of this article for the effective granting of estates or interests in land.