(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.
(2) “Attorney” means an individual admitted to practice law by the Court of Appeals of the State.
(3) (i) “Law firm” means an association of attorneys in a law partnership, professional corporation, sole proprietorship, or other business entity who:
1. are primarily engaged in the practice of law; and
2. solicit, procure, or negotiate title insurance contracts only as an incident to the practice of law.
(ii) “Law firm” includes a sole practitioner.
(iii) “Law firm” does not include:
1. an attorney or an association of attorneys who own, operate, or share an interest in a title agency; or
2. an attorney who is employed by a title agency as a title insurance producer.
(4) (i) “Title agency” means a business entity, other than a law firm, formed for the primary purpose of soliciting, procuring, or negotiating title insurance contracts and providing settlement services.
(ii) “Title agency” includes a sole proprietor, partnership, or corporation.
(b) Subject to this section, the Commissioner may issue a limited lines license to an attorney who solicits, procures, or negotiates title insurance contracts to act as a title insurance producer.
(c) All licensing provisions of this subtitle apply to:
(1) an attorney who solicits, procures, or negotiates title insurance contracts; and
(2) title agencies even if the title agency is established or owned by an attorney or an association of attorneys.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this subtitle:
(1) (i) the licensing, bonding, education, experience, and examination requirements of this subtitle relating to title insurance producers do not apply to law firms; and
(ii) except as otherwise provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the bonding, education, experience, and examination requirements of this subtitle relating to title insurance producers do not apply to attorneys.
(2) The bonding requirements of this subtitle are applicable to:
(i) an attorney or an association of attorneys who own, operate, or share an interest in a title agency; and
(ii) an attorney who is employed by a title agency as a title insurance producer.
Structure Maryland Statutes
Title 10 - Regulation of Insurance Professions
Subtitle 1 - Insurance Producers
Section 10-102 - Scope of Subtitle
Section 10-103 - License Required
Section 10-105 - Qualifications of Individual Applicants -- Life and Health Insurance and Annuities
Section 10-106 - Qualifications of Business Entity
Section 10-107 - Examinations -- in General
Section 10-108 - Examinations -- Insurance Other Than Life and Health Insurance and Annuities
Section 10-109 - Examinations -- Life and Health Insurance and Annuities
Section 10-110 - Advisory Boards
Section 10-111 - Applications for License
Section 10-112 - Issuance of License
Section 10-113 - Scope of Licenses
Section 10-114 - Conducting Business as Limited Liability Company, Partnership, or Corporation
Section 10-115 - Term and Renewal of License
Section 10-116 - Continuing Education
Section 10-116.1 - Reinstatement of License
Section 10-117 - Changes to License
Section 10-118 - Appointments and Terminations
Section 10-119 - Nonresident Insurance Producers
Section 10-120 - Temporary Licenses
Section 10-121 - Title Insurance Producers
Section 10-121.1 - Title Insurance Producer Independent Contractors
Section 10-122 - Limited Lines Licenses -- Sellers of Travel Insurance
Section 10-123 - Limited Lines Licenses -- Motor Vehicle Insurance
Section 10-124 - Limited Lines Licenses -- Employees of Health Maintenance Organizations
Section 10-126 - Denials, Suspensions, Revocations, and Refusals to Renew or Reinstate; Penalties
Section 10-127 - Cancellation of Policy if Premiums Paid to Insurance Producer
Section 10-128 - Signature or Countersignature of Policies
Section 10-128.1 - Regulations Regarding Maintenance of Records
Section 10-129 - Misrepresentation as Independent Insurance Producer
Section 10-130 - Commission Only to Licensed Insurance Producer
Section 10-131 - General Penalty
Section 10-132 - Violations by Title Insurance Producers
Section 10-133 - Certain Exclusive Appointment Agreements Prohibited