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<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".02" citation="COMAR 31.16.03.02" title_num="31" subtitle_num="16" chapter_num="03" 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>“Act” means Insurance Article, §22-103, Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>“Beneficial owner” means a person, other than the buyer in a real estate transaction, for whose benefit a title insurer or title insurance producer is entrusted to hold trust money.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>“Buyer” means a buyer in a real estate transaction.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>“Commissioner” means the Maryland State Insurance Commissioner.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>“Financial institution” means:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>A financial institution located in the State; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Subject to approval of the Banking Board in the Maryland Department of Labor, a financial institution outside the State that complies with the requirements of Insurance Article, Title 22, Subtitle 1, Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>Law Firm.</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>“Law firm” means an association of attorneys who are admitted to practice before the Court of Appeals of the State, and who:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Are primarily engaged in the practice of law; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Solicit, procure, or negotiate title insurance contracts only as an incident of the practice of law.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>“Law firm” includes a sole practitioner.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>“Law firm” does not include:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>An attorney or an association of attorneys who own, operate, or share an interest in a title agency; or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>An attorney who is employed by a title agency as a title insurance producer or title insurance broker.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(7)">
      <text>“MAHT account” means an account established with a financial institution for the benefit of the Maryland Affordable Housing Trust.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(8)">
      <text>“Maryland Affordable Housing Trust (MAHT)” means the fund created under Housing and Community Development Article, Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(9)">
      <text>“Mortgage” includes a deed of trust.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(10)">
      <text>“Person” means an individual, joint venture, partnership, corporation, trust, foundation, association, limited liability company, or any other legal entity.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(11)">
      <text>Title Agency.</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>“Title agency” means a business formed for the primary purpose of acting as a title insurance producer.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>“Title agency” includes a sole proprietor, partnership, corporation, or limited liability company.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(12)">
      <text>Title Insurance Producer.</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>“Title insurance producer” means a person who, for compensation, in any manner solicits, procures, or negotiates title insurance contracts.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>“Title insurance producer” includes a person who provides escrow, closing, or settlement services which may result in the issuance of a title insurance contract.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>“Title insurance producer” does not include individuals employed and used by title insurance producers for the performance of clerical, stenographic, and similar office duties.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(13)">
      <text>“Trust money” means a deposit, payment, or other money that a person entrusts to a title insurer or a title insurance producer to hold for a buyer or beneficial owner in connection with a real estate escrow, settlement, closing, or title indemnification.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>