(a) A professional corporation shall acquire, or cause to be acquired by a qualified person, the stock of a stockholder, at a price that represents the fair value of the stock as of the date of death or disqualification of the stockholder or transfer of the stock if:
(1) The stockholder dies;
(2) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, the stockholder becomes a disqualified person; or
(3) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, the stock is transferred by operation of law or court judgment to a disqualified person.
(b) (1) If the price for stock is determinable in accordance with the articles of incorporation or bylaws of the corporation, or by private agreement, that price controls.
(2) If the price is not determinable, under paragraph (1) of this subsection, the corporation shall acquire the stock in accordance with the provisions of § 5-114 of this subtitle.
(3) If the disqualified person rejects the corporation’s purchase offer, either the disqualified stockholder, personal representative, transferee, or the corporation may commence a proceeding under § 5-115 of this subtitle to determine the fair value of the stock.
(c) This section does not require the acquisition of stock in the event of disqualification if the disqualification lasts less than 5 months from the date the disqualification or transfer occurs.
(d) This section and § 5-114 of this subtitle do not prevent or relieve a professional corporation from paying pension benefits or other deferred compensation to a former stockholder if otherwise permitted by law, including amounts payable pursuant to an agreement between a judge and his former law firm as provided in § 1-203 of the Courts Article.
(e) A provision for the acquisition of stock contained in a professional corporation’s articles of incorporation or bylaws, or in a private agreement, is specifically enforceable.
Structure Maryland Statutes
Title 5 - Special Types of Corporations
Subtitle 1 - Professional Service Corporations
Section 5-102 - Single or Multiple Professions; Corporate Form
Section 5-104 - Limitation on Activities; Investments
Section 5-105 - Professional Service to Be Performed Through Licensed Individuals
Section 5-106 - Corporate Name -- General Requirements
Section 5-107 - Inclusion of Stockholder's Surname; Exception
Section 5-108 - Certificate of Authorization for Use of Corporate Name
Section 5-109 - Issuance of Stock
Section 5-110 - Statement on Stock Certificate
Section 5-111 - Transfer of Stock
Section 5-112 - Electing to Be Professional Corporation
Section 5-114 - Acquisition of Stock Upon Death or Disqualification of Stockholder; Proceedings
Section 5-115 - Proceeding to Determine Fair Value
Section 5-116 - Assessment of Costs and Fees in Appraisal Proceeding
Section 5-117 - Directors and Officers
Section 5-118 - Proxy; Voting Trusts
Section 5-119 - Relationship With Client or Patient
Section 5-120 - Privileged Communications
Section 5-121 - Liability for Negligent or Wrongful Act
Section 5-123 - Cessation in Rendering Professional Services
Section 5-124 - Proceeding to Dissolve Professional Corporation
Section 5-125 - Foreign Professional Corporation
Section 5-126 - Foreign Professional Corporation -- Required Information
Section 5-127 - Foreign Professional Corporation -- Revocation of Certificate
Section 5-128 - Adoption of Regulations
Section 5-129 - Jurisdiction Not Restricted; Effect on Standards of Professional Conduct
Section 5-130 - Repeal of Statute by Enactment
Section 5-132 - Suspension or Revocation of Articles of Incorporation