Are you looking for information on where to find mortgage records in Maryland? The Department of Land Records is the place to go for any legal documents that affect a person's interest in real estate. This includes deeds, mortgages, liens, powers of attorney, and certain leases. The Maryland Judiciary, court clerks, and the Maryland State Archives have come together to provide up-to-date access to all verified land registration instruments in the state. The Digital Image Retrieval System for Land Registration in Maryland is available free of charge to those who request a username and password.
Users are encouraged to submit comments and report any issues they encounter to the Maryland State Archives. In accordance with Maryland state law, real estate deeds must be executed and recorded in order to be valid and provide notice of the transfer. Generally, these documents are recorded in the county where the property is located. However, Baltimore City is independent of Baltimore County and has its own recording system.
The Clerk of Court is responsible for registering and maintaining land records. When a person or persons are named on a real estate deed, it changes the ownership of the property. This process is known as “transmission”. A new deed is prepared and recorded to show the desired property change, whether it's buying or selling a property or giving away or sharing ownership.
To change the names on a real estate deed, you'll need to file a new deed with the Land Records Division of the Circuit Court in the county where the property is located. The secretary will record the new deed. The Department has some of the most important records created by the government, dating back to July 1777. The registry employee will calculate fees and taxes and stamp the document with the date and time of filing as soon as it's received. You can also search for records purchased as gifts or deposits by private donors, such as personal letters, diaries, religious records, newspapers, photographs, maps, and documents.
Before filing a deed for registration with the Clerk's Office, all deeds must be reviewed and sealed by the Queen Anne's County Finance Office. A statement of any actual consideration paid must be included in each taxable instrument offered for registration as part of its recitals or recognition or appear in a separate affidavit accompanying the instrument. In addition to records available in the Office of the Clerk, you can find government records dating back to 1634 at the Maryland State Archives.
