reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MD. Family Law Code Ann. §  2-402 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Family Law|Title 2 - Marriage|Subtitle 4 - Licensing and Performance|Section 2-402 - Application for License

    (a)    An applicant for a license may apply to the clerk only at the office of the clerk during regular office hours.    (b)    Except as provided in subsection (d) of this section, to apply for a license, 1 of the parties to be married shall:        (1)    appear before the clerk and give, under oath, the following information, which shall be placed on an application form by the clerk:            (i)    the full name of each party;            (ii)    the place of residence of each party;            (iii)    the age of each party;            (iv)    whether the parties are related by blood or marriage and, if so, in which degree of relationship;            (v)    the marital status of each party; and            (vi)    whether either party was married previously, and the date and place of each death or judicial determination that ended any former marriage;        (2)    sign the application form; and        (3)    provide the clerk with the Social Security number of each party who has a Social Security number.    (c)    The Social Security numbers of the parties:        (1)    shall be included in the electronic file for the marriage license application; and        (2)    except as provided in § 4–334 of the General Provisions Article, may not be disclosed as part of the public record of the marriage license application.    (d)    If the parties to be married are not residents of the county where the marriage ceremony is to be performed, the clerk shall accept, instead of the application specified in subsection (b) of this section, an affidavit from 1 of the parties to be married. The affidavit shall:        (1)    contain the information required by subsection (b) of this section; and        (2)    be sworn to under oath before a clerk or other comparable official in the county, state, province, or country where the party resides.    (e)    Until a license becomes effective, a clerk may not disclose the fact that an application for a license has been made except to the parent or guardian of a party to be married.
MD. Family Law Code Ann. §  2-403 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Family Law|Title 2 - Marriage|Subtitle 4 - Licensing and Performance|Section 2-403 - Forms of License and Certificates

    (a)    (1)    A license shall read substantially as follows:    “State of Maryland and County of ........... To any individual authorized by the laws of this State to perform a marriage ceremony. You are hereby authorized to join together in matrimony according to the rules and ceremonies of your church, society or religious sect and the laws of this State, or according to the laws of this State, the following individuals:
MD. Family Law Code Ann. §  2-404.1 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Family Law|Title 2 - Marriage|Subtitle 4 - Licensing and Performance|Section 2-404.1 - Premarital Preparation Course

    (a)    (1)    A county may discount a marriage license fee under § 2-404(a) of this subtitle if the couple to be married has completed, within 1 year before the date of the application for the license, a premarital preparation course that meets the requirements specified in this section.        (2)    The amount of any discount shall be determined by the county governing body.    (b)    A premarital preparation course shall:        (1)    include instruction regarding:            (i)    conflict management;            (ii)    communication skills;            (iii)    financial responsibilities; and            (iv)    children and parenting responsibilities; and        (2)    consist of at least 4 hours of instruction.    (c)    A premarital preparation course may be conducted by:        (1)    a clinical professional counselor or a clinical marriage and family therapist licensed under Title 17, Subtitle 3A of the Health Occupations Article;        (2)    a psychologist licensed under Title 18 of the Health Occupations Article;        (3)    a social worker licensed under Title 19 of the Health Occupations Article;        (4)    an official representative of a religious institution if the representative has relevant training; or        (5)    any other qualified provider approved by a county governing body.    (d)    (1)    A premarital preparation course provider shall register with the clerk by filing a written affidavit containing:            (i)    the provider’s name, address, and telephone number;            (ii)    a summary of the provider’s qualifications and training; and            (iii)    a statement that the provider shall comply with the course requirements specified in this section.        (2)    The clerk may establish a roster of area premarital preparation course providers, including those who offer the course on a sliding fee scale or for free.    (e)    (1)    A premarital preparation course provider shall provide to each couple who completes the course a certificate of completion that specifies:            (i)    the names of the couple;            (ii)    the name of the provider; and            (iii)    the date of completion of the course.        (2)    To receive a discounted marriage license fee under this section, an applicant for a license shall verify completion of a premarital preparation course by filing with the clerk a valid certificate of course completion issued in accordance with paragraph (1) of this subsection.    (f)    Any cost for a premarital preparation course shall be paid by the applicant for a marriage license.    (g)    The discount authorized by this section may not be applied to any fee used to fund domestic violence programs.
MD. Family Law Code Ann. §  2-405 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Family Law|Title 2 - Marriage|Subtitle 4 - Licensing and Performance|Section 2-405 - Issuance of License

    (a)    The clerk for the county in which a marriage ceremony is to be performed may issue and deliver a license at the time the application is made.    (b)    A license may be issued only at the office of the clerk during regular office hours.    (c)    (1)    If either party to be married is known to be of an age where the parental or guardian’s consent and oath, or the licensed physician’s certificate, required by § 2–301 of this title, is required, the clerk shall obtain the consent and oath or the certificate before issuing the license.        (2)    (i)    The clerk’s record required under this title shall include:                1.    the consent and oath required by § 2–301 of this title, if written; or                2.    the fact that consent was given and an oath was made, if given and made in person.            (ii)    The licensed physician’s certificate required by § 2–301 of this title may not be made a part of the clerk’s record.        (3)    After an individual has been issued a license in accordance with the provisions of this subtitle, the clerk who issued the license shall seal the licensed physician’s certificate. Except on order of the court, the licensed physician’s certificate shall remain sealed.    (d)    (1)    Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, a license is not effective until 6 a.m. on the second calendar day after the license is issued.        (2)    For good cause shown, a judge of the circuit court for the county in which the application is made may sign an authorization for a license to become effective at a time before the waiting period expires, as stated in the authorization, if 1 of the parties to be married is:            (i)    a resident of this State; or            (ii)    a member of the United States armed forces.    (e)    If, during the questioning of an applicant for a license, the clerk finds that there is a legal reason why the applicants should not be married, the clerk shall withhold the license unless ordered by the court to issue the license.    (f)    A license may be delivered personally or by mail to:        (1)    either of the parties to be married; or        (2)    any person authorized in writing by either of the parties to accept delivery.    (g)    (1)    The Maryland Department of Health shall provide to each clerk:            (i)    birth control information; and            (ii)    a list of the family planning clinics located in the county where the license is issued.        (2)    When the clerk issues a license, the clerk shall make the information and list available to each applicant for a license.    (h)    (1)    A clerk may not predate an application for a license.        (2)    A clerk who violates any provision of this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject:            (i)    for a first offense, to a fine not exceeding $100; and            (ii)    for each subsequent offense, to a fine not exceeding $500 or imprisonment not exceeding 90 days or both.
MD. Family Law Code Ann. §  2-406 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Family Law|Title 2 - Marriage|Subtitle 4 - Licensing and Performance|Section 2-406 - Performance of Ceremony

    (a)    (1)    In this subsection, “judge” means:            (i)    a judge of the District Court, a circuit court, the Court of Special Appeals, or the Court of Appeals;            (ii)    a judge approved under Article IV, § 3A of the Maryland Constitution and § 1–302 of the Courts Article for recall and assignment to the District Court, a circuit court, the Court of Special Appeals, or the Court of Appeals;            (iii)    a judge of a United States District Court, a United States Court of Appeals, or the United States Tax Court; or            (iv)    a judge of a state court if the judge is active or retired but eligible for recall.        (2)    A marriage ceremony may be performed in this State by:            (i)    any official of a religious order or body authorized by the rules and customs of that order or body to perform a marriage ceremony;            (ii)    any clerk;            (iii)    any deputy clerk designated by the county administrative judge of the circuit court for the county; or            (iv)    a judge.    (b)    Within 6 months after a license becomes effective, any authorized official may perform the marriage ceremony of the individuals named in the license.    (c)    (1)    An individual may not perform a marriage ceremony unless the individual is authorized to perform a marriage ceremony under subsection (a) of this section.        (2)    An individual who violates this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine of $500.    (d)    (1)    An individual may not knowingly perform a marriage ceremony between individuals who are prohibited from marrying under § 2-202 of this title.        (2)    An individual who violates the provisions of this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine of $500.    (e)    (1)    An individual may not perform a marriage ceremony without a license that is effective under this subtitle.        (2)    An individual who violates the provisions of this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $500.    (f)    The county administrative judge of the circuit court for the county shall designate:        (1)    when and where the clerk or deputy clerk may perform a marriage ceremony; and        (2)    the form of the marriage ceremony to be recited by the clerk or deputy clerk and the parties being married.    (g)    This section does not affect the right of any religious denomination to perform a marriage ceremony in accordance with the rules and customs of the denomination.
MD. Family Law Code Ann. §  2-407 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Family Law|Title 2 - Marriage|Subtitle 4 - Licensing and Performance|Section 2-407 - False Statements

    (a)    An individual may not knowingly make any material false statement to obtain or to help another individual to obtain a license or marriage ceremony in violation of this title or of any order of court under § 2-405 of this subtitle.    (b)    An individual who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of perjury.
MD. Family Law Code Ann. §  2-408 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Family Law|Title 2 - Marriage|Subtitle 4 - Licensing and Performance|Section 2-408 - Solicitation of Individuals Contemplating Marriage; Advertising in Solicitation of Marriages

    (a)    An authorized official may not give or offer to give any reward to any person as an inducement to direct to the authorized official any individual who is contemplating marriage.    (b)    An authorized official who violates the provisions of subsection (a) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $50 for each offense.
MD. Family Law Code Ann. §  2-409 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Family Law|Title 2 - Marriage|Subtitle 4 - Licensing and Performance|Section 2-409 - Signing and Disposition of Marriage Certificates

    (a)    Each marriage certificate shall contain:        (1)    the name, signature, and title of the authorized official who performs the marriage ceremony; or        (2)    if the individuals are married in a Society of Friends marriage ceremony, the signatures of the individuals and the attestation of the certificate by 2 overseers of the marriage ceremony.    (b)    (1)    The authorized official who performs the marriage ceremony shall:            (i)    hand 1 marriage certificate to the individuals; and            (ii)    return, within 5 days from the date of the marriage ceremony, the other marriage certificate to the clerk who issued the license to which the certificates were attached, but if the authorized official who performs the marriage ceremony dies or resigns, some other individual shall return the certificate.        (2)    If the individuals are married in a Society of Friends marriage ceremony, they:            (i)    may keep 1 marriage certificate; and            (ii)    within 5 days from the date of the marriage ceremony, shall return the other marriage certificate to the clerk who issued the license to which the certificates were attached.    (c)    If the marriage certificate is not returned within 6 months after the date on which the license becomes effective, the clerk who issued the license shall attempt to determine whether the marriage ceremony was performed and, if so, the name of the authorized official who performed the marriage ceremony.    (d)    (1)    An individual who performs a marriage ceremony or who is married in a Society of Friends marriage ceremony may not violate the provisions of subsection (b)(1)(ii) or (2)(ii) of this section.        (2)    An individual who violates any provision of this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine in an amount that the court considers appropriate.
MD. Family Law Code Ann. §  2-501 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Family Law|Title 2 - Marriage|Subtitle 5 - Records|Section 2-501 - Marriage License Book

    Each clerk shall keep in the clerk’s office a marriage license book, which shall contain:         (1)    a complete record of each license issued;        (2)    a complete record of all matters the clerk is required to ascertain that relate to the rights of an individual to obtain a license;        (3)    in regular order, the items testified to by the applicants for a license as required under this title;        (4)    properly indexed, the name of each individual who intends to be married; and        (5)    the date each certificate was filed and the name of the authorized official who performed the ceremony.
MD. Family Law Code Ann. §  2-502 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Family Law|Title 2 - Marriage|Subtitle 5 - Records|Section 2-502 - Foreign Marriage Record Book; Certificate of Records

    (a)    In this section, “foreign marriage” means a marriage ceremony:        (1)    performed outside this State; and        (2)    in which 1 or both of the parties were or are citizens of this State.    (b)    Each clerk shall keep a foreign marriage record book in the clerk’s office. The clerk shall record a foreign marriage when presented with either:        (1)    a certificate of marriage signed by the individual who performed the marriage ceremony; or        (2)    an official certified copy of a marriage record.    (c)    On request, the clerk shall provide, under the seal of the court, certification of a foreign marriage in the same manner as the clerk issues certification of a marriage ceremony performed in this State.
MD. Family Law Code Ann. §  2-503 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Family Law|Title 2 - Marriage|Subtitle 5 - Records|Section 2-503 - Reports to Secretary of Health; Duplication of Records

    (a)    At the intervals that the Secretary of Health sets, each clerk shall send to the Secretary:        (1)    a copy of the record of each marriage that the clerk licenses and records;        (2)    a report of each divorce that the court grants;        (3)    a report of each annulment of a marriage that the court:            (i)    grants; or            (ii)    effects by entering a conviction of bigamy or of marrying within any prohibited degree; and        (4)    a report of any change in a marriage, divorce, or annulment record, in which the clerk shall certify that the change is correct and conforms to the corresponding record of the clerk.    (b)    The report of a divorce or annulment or of a change in a marriage, divorce, or annulment record shall be made on the form that the Secretary of Health provides.    (c)    (1)    The Secretary of Health may make photostatic, photographic, or microphotographic copies of the original marriage records of a clerk.        (2)    The Secretary of Health may not remove any original marriage record from the custody of the clerk.        (3)    The Secretary of Health shall:            (i)    make the copies in a manner that does not interfere with the orderly transaction of business by the clerk; and            (ii)    bear the cost of making the copies.    (d)    The clerk may not receive any extra compensation for sending a report or record to the Secretary or for making records available to the Secretary.    (e)    A clerk who violates any provision of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine of $10 for each offense.
MD. Family Law Code Ann. §  4-101 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Family Law|Title 4 - Spouses|Subtitle 1 - Definition|Section 4-101 - "Secretary" Defined

    In this title, “Secretary” means the Secretary of Human Services.
MD. Family Law Code Ann. §  4-201 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Family Law|Title 4 - Spouses|Subtitle 2 - Spouses' and Third Persons' Rights|Section 4-201 - Domicile

    (a)    A spouse may have a domicile that is different from the domicile of the other spouse.    (b)    The domicile of each spouse shall be determined by the same factors used to determine the domicile of any individual who is capable of having an independent domicile.
MD. Family Law Code Ann. §  4-202 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Family Law|Title 4 - Spouses|Subtitle 2 - Spouses' and Third Persons' Rights|Section 4-202 - Rights of Surviving Spouse

    A surviving spouse who brings a personal action to recover in right of the deceased spouse shall allege:         (1)    specifically how the debt or right accrued to the deceased spouse; and        (2)    stating further that, by marriage, the debt or right devolved on the surviving spouse.
MD. Family Law Code Ann. §  4-203 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Family Law|Title 4 - Spouses|Subtitle 2 - Spouses' and Third Persons' Rights|Section 4-203 - Right of Married Woman to Hold, Use, and Dispose of Property

    (a)    A married woman, as if she were unmarried:        (1)    holds her property for her separate use; and        (2)    may dispose of her property independently.    (b)    (1)    A married woman may appoint by deed or may petition an equity court to appoint a trustee to hold, use, or dispose of the property on behalf of the married woman.        (2)    The court shall state in the appointment the powers of the trustee.
MD. Family Law Code Ann. §  4-204 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Family Law|Title 4 - Spouses|Subtitle 2 - Spouses' and Third Persons' Rights|Section 4-204 - Married Woman's Right to Deal as if Unmarried

    A married woman may do any of the following, as if she were unmarried:        (1)    engage in a business;        (2)    make a contract with any person, including her husband, whether or not she is engaged in business;        (3)    bind herself and her assigns by a covenant running with or related to real property or chattels real deeded to her on or after March 19, 1867;        (4)    form a partnership with any person, including her husband;        (5)    sue on any contract, including a contract made with her husband;        (6)    sue for the recovery, security, or protection of her property;        (7)    sue for any tort committed against her; and        (8)    appoint counsel to represent her in an action brought under § 4–205(b) or (c) of this subtitle or § 4–301(b) of this title.
MD. Family Law Code Ann. §  4-205 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Family Law|Title 4 - Spouses|Subtitle 2 - Spouses' and Third Persons' Rights|Section 4-205 - Right to Deal With Married Woman as if Unmarried

    (a)    A husband may sue his wife on a contract made with her, as if she were unmarried.    (b)    (1)    A third person may take any of the following actions with or against a married woman, as if the married woman were unmarried:            (i)    make a contract;            (ii)    sue on the contract, whether the contract was made before or during the woman’s marriage;            (iii)    sue for a tort, whether the woman committed the tort before or during her marriage; and            (iv)    execute on a judgment.        (2)    A third person may maintain an action at law or in equity against a married woman in her married name.    (c)    If the rent is in arrears under a lease entered into with a married woman for a definite term or a term of years renewable forever, then, as if the woman were unmarried, the landlord may levy on goods under distress.    (d)    (1)    A depositary that returns to a married woman money she deposited before or during her marriage is validly discharged from any obligation concerning the money by a receipt from the woman.        (2)    If the deposit was made in fraud of the husband’s creditors, a creditor of the husband may attach or, by injunction, restrain the payment of the money.