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<chapter num="39" heading="Lien for Unpaid Wages" title_num="09" subtitle_num="12">
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".01" heading="Definitions.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>Terms Defined.</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>“Employer Complaint to Dispute Lien for Unpaid Wages” means the complaint filed by an employer in circuit court to dispute a Notice to Employer of Intent to Claim Lien for Unpaid Wages.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>“Notice to Employer of Intent to Claim Lien for Unpaid Wages” means the written form or comparable notice that an employee serves on an employer stating the employee’s intent to claim a lien for unpaid wages.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <text>“Wage Lien Statement” means the form that may be recorded by an employee after a lien for unpaid wages has been established pursuant to Labor and Employment Article, §3-1104, Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".02" heading="Notice of Claim for Unpaid Wages.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>An employee shall serve his or her employer with a Notice to Employer of Intent to Claim Lien for Unpaid Wages on a form that contains the information specified in §B of this regulation, a sample of which may be found on the Department’s website.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>The form shall include the following:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>The name and address of the individual seeking a lien;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>The name of the business or individual for whom the employee performed work;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <text>The dates of employment;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(4)">
        <text>The dates for which wages are due but were not paid;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(5)">
        <text>The basis for the claim that wages were due but were not paid;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(6)">
        <text>The monetary amount of the lien sought;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(7)">
        <text>The real or personal property, or both, against which the lien is sought along with a description adequate to identify the property, name of owner, and location; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(8)">
        <text>Notice to the employer of their right to dispute the lien by filing a complaint within 30 days of receipt of the notice.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="C.">
      <text>An employee shall serve the employer by:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>Delivering personally a copy of the Notice to Employer of Intent to Claim Lien for Unpaid Wages to the employer;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>Leaving a copy of the Notice to Employer of Intent to Claim Lien for Unpaid Wages at the employer’s home or place of dwelling with a resident of suitable age and discretion; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <text>Mailing a copy of the Notice to Employer of Intent to Claim Lien for Unpaid Wages to the employer by certified mail requesting, “Restricted Delivery—Show to whom, date, and address of delivery”.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".03" heading="Employer Complaint to Dispute Notice to Employer of Intent to Claim Lien for Unpaid Wages.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>An employer may dispute a lien for unpaid wages by filing a complaint in the circuit court for the county where the property of the employer is located.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>The complaint disputing a lien for unpaid wages shall include the following:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>The date that the employee served the Notice to Employer of Intent to Claim Lien for Unpaid Wages on the employer;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>An explanation of why the wages claimed by the employee are not due and owing by the employer;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <text>A description of supporting documents with the supporting documents attached; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(4)">
        <text>A certificate of service reflecting service upon the employee.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".04" heading="Wage Lien Statement.">
    <text>A Wage Lien Statement shall include the following:</text>
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>A description of the property;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>The name of the property owner;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="C.">
      <text>The monetary amount of the lien;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="D.">
      <text>A copy of the Notice to Employer of Intent to Claim Lien for Unpaid Wages and proof of service of the notice; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="E.">
      <text>A copy of a court order establishing the lien for unpaid wages if the lien for unpaid wages is established in a court.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".05" heading="Recording Lien.">
    <text>If an employer does not dispute a Notice to Employer of Intent to Claim Lien for Unpaid Wages or if a court orders the establishment of a lien, an employee may record the Wage Lien Statement together with proof of service.</text>
  </regulation>
  <annotations>
    <annotation type="Authority">Labor and Employment Article, §3-1110, Annotated Code of Maryland</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Effective date: July 7, 2014 (41:13 Md. R. 751)</annotation>
  </annotations>
</chapter>