Md. Code, General Provisions, Title 1

Md. Code, General Provisions, Title 1
in effect

Md. Code, General Provisions § 1-102

(a) “Administrator” includes an executor and a personal representative. (b) “Executor” includes an administrator and a personal representative. (c) “Personal representative” includes an administrator and an executor.

Md. Code, General Provisions § 1-103

(a) “Adult” means an individual at least 18 years old. (b) Except as provided in § 1–401(b) of this title, as it pertains to legal age and capacity, “minor” means an individual under the age of 18 years.

Md. Code, General Provisions § 1-104

Except as used in Title 3, Subtitle 2 of the Criminal Law Article, “assault” means assault in any degree unless a specific degree of assault is specified.

Md. Code, General Provisions § 1-105

In this Code, a code of public local laws, a municipal charter, a resolution or ordinance of a county or municipal corporation, or a rule, regulation, or directive of a unit of the State or a political subdivision of the State: (1) “certified mail” and “registered mail” include the uses, procedures, and fees of the United States Postal Service; (2) “certified mail” includes “registered mail”; and (3) “registered mail” includes “certified mail”.

Md. Code, General Provisions § 1-107.1

§1–107.1. In statutory causes of action created by this Code to protect civil rights or consumer rights, “damages” or “losses”: (1) means money claimed by, or ordered to be paid to, a person as compensation for loss or injury resulting from the violation of the person’s rights or protections; and (2) includes reasonable nominal damages.

Md. Code, General Provisions § 1-108

(a) This section does not apply to the review of cases from: (1) the Workers’ Compensation Commission; (2) the Health Care Alternative Dispute Resolution Office; or (3) the Maryland Insurance Administration under § 27–1001 of the Insurance Article. (b) In a statute providing for de novo judicial review or appeal of a quasi–judicial administrative agency action, “de novo” means judicial review based on an administrative record and any additional evidence that would be authorized by § 10–222(f) and (g) of the State Government Article.

Md. Code, General Provisions § 1-109

In a statute that authorizes a gift to or for the use of the State or any of its officers or units, “gift” includes an inter vivos gift, inter vivos endowment, bequest, devise, legacy, or testamentary endowment of any interest in real or personal property.

Md. Code, General Provisions § 1-109.1

§1–109.1. (a) With respect to any State program of benefits, rights, or privileges applicable to a veteran under this Code, “honorable discharge” includes discharge that is less than honorable: (1) solely due to the sexual orientation or gender identity of the individual being discharged; (2) based on a statement or consensual act of the individual being discharged related to the individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity, if the statement or consensual act was prohibited by the military or naval service at the time of discharge; or (3) if the Department of Veterans and Military Families determines an individual is eligible for State benefits based on the criteria established in 38 C.F.R. § 3.12. (b) A veteran shall submit to the Secretary of Veterans and Military Families documentation that provides the basis for the veteran’s discharge.

Md. Code, General Provisions § 1-111

(a) In this Code and any regulation or directive adopted under it, “legal holiday” means: (1) January 1, for New Year’s Day; (2) (i) January 15, for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday; or (ii) if the United States Congress designates another day for observance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday, the day designated by the United States Congress; (3) February 12, for Lincoln’s birthday; (4) the third Monday in February, for Washington’s birthday; (5) March 25, for Maryland Day; (6) Good Friday; (7) (i) May 30, for Memorial Day; or (ii) if the United States Congress designates another day for observance of Memorial Day, the day designated by the United States Congress; (8) June 19, for Juneteenth National Independence Day; (9) July 4, for Independence Day; (10) the first Monday in September, for Labor Day; (11) September 12, for Defenders’ Day; (12) (i) October 12, for Columbus Day; or (ii) if the United States Congress designates another day for observance of Columbus Day, the day designated by the United States Congress; (13) November 11, for Veterans’ Day; (14) the fourth Thursday in November, for Thanksgiving Day; (15) the Friday after Thanksgiving Day, for American Indian Heritage Day; (16) December 25, for Christmas Day; (17) each statewide general election day in the State; and (18) each other day that the President of the United States or the Governor designates for general cessation of business. (b) Except as otherwise expressly provided in the Code, a legal holiday shall be observed on: (1) the date specified in subsection (a) of this section; or (2) if that date falls on a Sunday, on the next Monday after that date.

Md. Code, General Provisions § 1-113

(a) Unless otherwise provided, in a law, resolution, or court order, judgment, or decree that refers to publishing a legal advertisement or legal notice, words such as “newspaper” or “newspaper in general circulation” mean a publication that: (1) has at least four pages; (2) habitually contains news items, reports of current events, editorial comments, advertising matter, and other miscellaneous information that is of public interest and is found generally in an ordinary newspaper; (3) has been published and distributed, by sale, from an established place of business at least once a week for 6 months or more before publication of the advertisement or notice; (4) has general circulation throughout the community where the publication is published; and (5) qualifies for Periodicals rates for mailing through the United States Postal Service. (b) Subject to subsection (a) of this section and for purposes of the public general laws of the State, in Prince George’s County, “newspaper in general circulation” includes a newspaper that: (1) is designated by the County Council as a newspaper of record; or (2) (i) qualifies under subsection (a) of this section with respect to Prince George’s County; and (ii) is published by a small business as defined in § 14–201 of the State Finance and Procurement Article. (c) Subject to subsection (a) of this section and for purposes of the public general laws of the State, in Dorchester County, if a law, resolution, or court order, judgment, or decree requires the county to publish a legal advertisement or legal notice: (1) any required advertisement or notice shall be published and distributed through print and digital format; (2) the time period required for publication starts once the first advertisement or notice appears in print or digital format; and (3) if there is no print and digital publication that meets all of the qualifications under subsection (a) of this section, the advertisement or notice may be placed in any digital publication that can be accessed in Dorchester County and that regularly contains local news and information for Dorchester County.

Md. Code, General Provisions § 1-114

“Person” includes an individual, receiver, trustee, guardian, personal representative, fiduciary, representative of any kind, corporation, partnership, business trust, statutory trust, limited liability company, firm, association, or other nongovernmental entity.

Md. Code, General Provisions § 1-115

(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, “state” means: (1) a state, possession, territory, or commonwealth of the United States; or (2) the District of Columbia. (b) When capitalized, “State” means Maryland.

Md. Code, General Provisions § 1-117

(a) “Veteran” has the meaning stated in § 9–901 of the State Government Article. (b) With respect to any State program of benefits, rights, or privileges applicable to a veteran under this Code, “veteran” includes, if the individual is eligible under 38 U.S.C. § 101, a member of the commissioned corps of: (1) the Public Health Service; or (2) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or its predecessor, the Coast and Geodetic Survey.

Md. Code, General Provisions § 1-203

In this Code and any regulation or directive adopted under it, the phrase “may not” has a mandatory negative effect and establishes a prohibition.

Md. Code, General Provisions § 1-204

A reference to “the Annotated Code of Maryland”, “the Annotated Code”, “the Maryland Code”, “the Code”, or “this Code” means a code of the public general laws of the State that has been adopted and made evidence of the public general laws of the State under § 10–201 of the Courts Article.

Md. Code, General Provisions § 1-205

(a) Except as otherwise expressly provided, the repeal, repeal and reenactment, or amendment of a statute does not release, extinguish, or alter a criminal or civil penalty, forfeiture, or liability imposed or incurred under the statute. (b) A repealed, repealed and reenacted, or amended statute shall remain in effect for the purpose of sustaining any: (1) criminal or civil action, suit, proceeding, or prosecution for the enforcement of a penalty, forfeiture, or liability; and (2) judgment, decree, or order that imposes, inflicts, or declares the penalty, forfeiture, or liability.

Md. Code, General Provisions § 1-207

(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, if two or more amendments to the same section are enacted at the same or different sessions of the General Assembly, and one of the amendments makes no reference to and takes no account of the other, the amendments shall be construed together and each shall be given effect, if possible, with due regard to the wording of their titles. (b) If the amendments are irreconcilable and it is not possible to construe them together, the latest in date of final enactment shall prevail.

Md. Code, General Provisions § 1-208

Unless otherwise provided by law, the caption or catchline of a section or subsection that is printed in bold type, italics, or otherwise: (1) is intended as a mere catchword to indicate the contents of the section or subsection; and (2) (i) may not be considered as a title of the section or subsection; and (ii) may not be considered as a title if the section, subsection, caption, or catchline is amended or reenacted.

Md. Code, General Provisions § 1-209

(a) The rule of construction established by this section applies to an amendment adopted before, on, or after July 1, 1973. (b) Except as otherwise provided, when a public general law or public local law refers to a portion of the Code or to any other law, the reference applies to any amendment to that portion of the Code or other law.

Md. Code, General Provisions § 1-210

(a) Except as otherwise provided, the provisions of all statutes enacted after July 1, 1973, are severable. (b) The finding by a court that part of a statute is unconstitutional or void does not affect the validity of the remaining portions of the statute, unless the court finds that the remaining valid provisions alone are incomplete and incapable of being executed in accordance with the legislative intent.

Md. Code, General Provisions § 1-301

(a) The standard time in the State shall be that of the 75th meridian of longitude west from Greenwich. (b) The standard time described under subsection (a) of this section shall regulate all courts, banking institutions, public offices, and legal or official proceedings.

Md. Code, General Provisions § 1-302

(a) In computing a period of time described in a statute, the day of the act, event, or default after which the designated period of time begins to run may not be included. (b) The last day of the period of time computed under subsection (a) of this section shall be included unless: (1) it is a Sunday or legal holiday, in which case the period runs until the end of the next day that is not a Sunday or legal holiday; or (2) the act to be done is the filing of a paper in court and the office of the clerk of the court is not open on the last day of the period of time, or is closed for a part of a day, in which case the period runs until the end of the next day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, legal holiday, or day on which the office is not open the entire day during ordinary business hours. (c) (1) When the period of time exceeds 7 days, intermediate Sundays and legal holidays shall be counted in computing the period of time. (2) When the period of time is 7 days or less, intermediate Sundays and legal holidays may not be counted in computing the period of time.

Md. Code, General Provisions § 1-303

(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, an individual attains a specified age on the day of the anniversary of the individual’s birth. (b) An individual born on February 29 attains a specified age on March 1 of any year that is not a leap year.

Md. Code, General Provisions § 1-401

(a) (1) The age of majority is 18 years. (2) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section or as otherwise specifically provided by statute, an individual at least 18 years old is an adult for all purposes and has the same legal capacity, rights, powers, privileges, duties, liabilities, and responsibilities that an individual at least 21 years old had before July 1, 1973. (b) An individual who has attained the age of 18 years and who is enrolled in secondary school has the right to receive support and maintenance from both of the individual’s parents until the first to occur of the following events: (1) the individual dies; (2) the individual marries; (3) the individual is emancipated; (4) the individual graduates from or is no longer enrolled in secondary school; or (5) the individual attains the age of 19 years.

Md. Code, General Provisions § 1-403

(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, unnumbered revised articles of the Annotated Code of Maryland may be cited as: “§ ___ of the __________ Article”. (b) A section of the Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article may be cited as: “§ ___ of the Courts Article”.

Md. Code, General Provisions § 1-404

(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. (2) “Delivery by electronic means” means the delivery of a notice or communication by a unit to an e–mail address at which an individual has consented to receive notices or communications from the unit. (3) “Disabled person” has the meaning stated in § 13–101 of the Estates and Trusts Article. (4) “Guardian of the person” means a guardian of the person of a disabled person appointed under Title 13, Subtitle 7, Part II of the Estates and Trusts Article. (5) “Unit” means an executive agency, a department, a board, a commission, or any other instrumentality of the State. (b) (1) This section applies only to a notice or communication that is required to be delivered by first–class mail. (2) This section does not apply to any notice or communication: (i) from a unit in the Judicial Branch of State government; (ii) regarding eligibility, benefits, or services for a medical assistance program established under Titles 7, 10, 14, or 15 of the Health – General Article; or (iii) that is required to be delivered by certified or registered mail. (c) Subject to subsection (e) of this section, a unit may deliver by electronic means instead of by first–class mail a notice or communication to an individual if the unit meets the requirements of: (1) the federal 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act; and (2) Title 21, Subtitle 1 of the Commercial Law Article in obtaining the individual’s consent to have notices or communications sent to that individual by electronic means. (d) A notice or communication delivered in accordance with subsection (c) of this section shall be considered equivalent to delivery by first–class mail. (e) (1) A unit may deliver a notice or communication to an individual by electronic means under this section only if the individual has affirmatively consented to delivery by electronic means instead of by first–class mail and has not withdrawn the consent. (2) If a provision requiring a unit to deliver notice or communication to an individual expressly requires the recipient to verify or acknowledge receipt of the notice or communication, the unit may deliver the notice or communication by electronic means only if the method used provides a means for the individual to electronically verify or acknowledge receipt of the notice or communication. (f) (1) Before an individual consents to receive notices or communications from a unit by electronic means instead of by first–class mail, the unit shall provide to the individual a clear and conspicuous statement informing the individual of: (i) any right or option of the individual to have the notices or communications provided or made available by the unit in paper or another nonelectronic form; (ii) the individual’s right to withdraw consent to have notices or communications from the unit delivered by electronic means, including information on how the individual may withdraw consent; (iii) any conditions or consequences imposed on the individual if the individual withdraws consent; (iv) whether the individual’s consent applies: 1. only to notices or communications related to a particular transaction; or 2. to identified categories of notice or communications from the unit that may be delivered by electronic means; (v) how an individual who consents to delivery of a notice or communication by electronic means may obtain a paper copy of the notice or communication; (vi) how the individual can update their contact information; and (vii) the hardware and software requirements for access to and retention of a notice or communication delivered by electronic means. (2) When an individual gives a unit consent to deliver notices and communications by electronic means instead of by first–class mail, the individual shall confirm the consent electronically, in a manner that reasonably demonstrates that the individual can access the information in the electronic form that the unit uses to give notices or communications. (3) If the hardware or software requirements needed to access or retain a notice or communication delivered by electronic means change in a way that creates a material risk that an individual will not be able to access or retain a subsequent notice or communication to which the consent applies, the unit shall provide to the individual: (i) a statement setting forth the revised hardware and software requirements for access to and retention of a notice or communication delivered by electronic means; and (ii) a copy of the statement required under paragraph (1) of this subsection. (g) (1) A withdrawal of consent by an individual under this section: (i) shall be effective within a reasonable period of time after the unit receives the notice of the withdrawal of consent from the individual; and (ii) does not affect the legal effectiveness, validity, or enforceability of a notice or communication delivered by electronic means to the individual before the withdrawal of consent is effective. (2) Failure to comply with subsection (f)(3) of this section may be treated, at the election of the individual, as a withdrawal of consent for purposes of this section. (h) A unit that provides delivery of notices or communications by electronic means under this section shall: (1) establish a process for a guardian of the person of a disabled person to: (i) withdraw the disabled person’s consent to have notices or communications from the unit delivered by electronic means; and (ii) request that notices and communications regarding the disabled person be delivered to the guardian of the person; and (2) provide notice of the process on the unit’s website. (i) Nothing in this section may be interpreted to: (1) require a unit to deliver notices or communications by electronic means instead of by first–class mail; or (2) affect policies, procedures, systems, or protocols for the delivery of notices or communications by electronic means implemented by a unit under any other provision of law.
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatutesFetched: 10/16/2026

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