Real Property – Recordation and Land Records – Requirements

HB 347 updates Maryland's requirements for recording land documents like deeds and mortgages. It mandates that all recorded instruments must use 10-point black type on white paper with specific margins (3-inch top, 1-inch sides), replacing older formatting rules. The bill also clarifies that "deeds of trust" only secure debt (not voluntary grants) and streamlines electronic recordation processes for county clerks. These changes directly affect real estate professionals, property owners, and attorneys who file property documents in Maryland. The bill modifies multiple sections of Maryland's real property code to standardize and modernize land record procedures.