TASK FORCE TO STUDY RECORDING DEEDS FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Chair: John C. Wobensmith, Secretary of State


[photo, Wineland Building (State House in background), 16 Francis St., Annapolis, Maryland] Appointed by Governor: Kathleen H. Blough; James F. X. Cosgrove; Brett M. Dieck, Esq.; Matthew B. Fox; Katherine M. Grimley; Dorothy J. Lennig, Esq.; April M. Maenner; Frederick Smalls.

Appointed by Senate President: Susan C. Lee

Appointed by House Speaker: Anne Healey

Wineland Building (State House in background), 16 Francis St., Annapolis, Maryland, February 2014. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.


Ex officio: Josaphine B. Yuzuik, designee of Attorney General; W. David Rawle, designee of Secretary of Commerce; Lourdes R. Padilla, Secretary of Human Services; Timothy D. Baker, State Archivist; Michael L. Higgs, Jr., Director of Assessments & Taxation.

Staff: Anne H. Hoyer

c/o Office of Secretary of State
Fred L. Wineland Building, 16 Francis St., Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 260-3875
e-mail: anne.hoyer@maryland.gov

In July 2016, the Task Force to Study Recording Deeds for Victims of Domestic Violence was formed (Chapter 602, Acts of 2016).

The Task Force studied and made recommendations on how to protect the identity and address of a participant in the Address Confidentiality Program when recording a deed that transfers real property to or from a Program participant. The Office of Secretary of State administers the Maryland Safe at Home Address Confidentiality Program for victims of domestic violence or human trafficking to keep their location confidential from perpetrators seeking to find them. Currently, that program has special procedures for victims when interacting with the Motor Vehicle Administration, the State Board of Elections, or any public school. However, the address of a victim is still at risk of discovery on a deed, which is a public record.

In December 2017, the Task Force submitted its final report to the Governor and General Assembly.

Authorization for the Task Force ended December 31, 2017.

Maryland Constitutional Offices & Agencies
Maryland Departments
Maryland Independent Agencies
Maryland Executive Commissions, Committees, Task Forces, & Advisory Boards
Maryland Universities & Colleges
Maryland Counties
Maryland Municipalities
Maryland at a Glance


Maryland Manual On-Line

© Copyright Maryland State Archives