Any deed or document that effects a change of ownership must be accompanied by: (1) a completed intake sheet, (2) a copy of the complete deed for submission to the Department of Assessments and Taxation, (3) certificate of preparation by a Maryland Attorney or one of the parties named in the instrument, (4) check payable to the Clerk of Circuit Court for the proper amount of recording fees, state recordation tax and transfer tax, (5) a certificate of residency and/or an affidavit of total payment amount and a separate check for the exact amount of the Non-Resident Withholding Tax made payable to the Clerk of Circuit Court. (You may obtain information on the certification of residency and/or total payment of Non-Resident Withholding tax by calling 1-800-638-2937 or on the Comptroller’s website at www.marylandtaxes.com.  DEEDS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED BY MAIL TO THE CLERK OF CIRCUIT COURT UNLESS THE PREREQUISITES TO RECORDING HAVE BEEN MET.  

1.  Prior to presenting a deed for recording, all deeds must be reviewed and stamped by the Treasurer of Calvert County, located in the Courthouse, 175 Main Street, Prince Frederick, Md. 20678.  410-535-1600 ext. 2272.

2.  Deeds must: have a certificate of preparation by a Maryland Attorney or one of the parties named in the instruments, be signed by the grantors which should be acknowledged before a Notary Public, and contain the legal description of the property including the property tax ID.

     Deeds meeting the prerequisites to recording may be presented to the Clerk of Circuit Court, 175 Main Street, Prince Frederick, Md. 20678. 

3. Costs

  Recording Fees:
$20.00 for any deed nine (9) pages or less in length or if it involves solely a principal residence or
$75.00 for any deed ten (10) pages or more in length.

  Surcharge:
$20.00 for all documents including financing statements recorded in land records except notices of sale, powers of attorney.

  Taxes, if applicable
Taxes are based on the actual consideration to be paid including the amount of any mortgage or deed of trust assumed by the grantee.  A statement of the amount of actual consideration shall either be included in every taxable instrument offered for record as part of its recitals or as part of the acknowledgment, or be contained in a separate affidavit accompanying the instrument.  The affidavit is to be signed under the penalties of perjury by a party to the instrument or the agent of such party. 

  State Recordation Taxes, if applicable:
$5.00 per each $500.00 of consideration, round up to the nearest $500.00.

  State Transfer Taxes:
½ of 1% of the consideration. 

There is a .25% state transfer tax rate for first-time Maryland home buyers purchasing a principal place of residence.  If there are multiple grantees on the deed, all must be either first-time Maryland home buyers acquiring their principal residence or persons joining in the deed and purchase money deed of trust as co-makers or guarantors.  To qualify for this exemption, each grantee must provide a statement under oath, signed by the grantee stating that the grantee is a first-time Maryland home buyer who will occupy the residence as a principal residence or is a co-maker or guarantor of the purchase money mortgage/deed of trust who will not occupy the residence as a principal residence.  The State Transfer Tax on such a deed is payable by the seller and may not be shifted to the purchaser. 

  County Transfer Tax:
   None in Calvert County

Other Recording Fees:
$10.00 for a release nine(9) pages or less in length
$15.00 for a notice of sale
$20.00 for a power of attorney
$20.00 for any other instrument nine(9) pages or less in length or for any instrument over nine(9) pages if it involves solely a principal residence
$75.00 for any other instrument ten(10) pages or more in length.

Surcharge:
$20.00 for all documents including financing statements recorded in land records except, notices of sale, powers of attorney.

FOR LEGAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE CONTACT AN ATTORNEY.