Section 17-316 - Sale of abandoned property delivered to Administrator. - Maryland Statutes

§ 17-316. Sale of abandoned property delivered to Administrator.
 

(a)  Sale to be by bid.- Except as provided in this subsection, all abandoned property under this title, other than money delivered to the Administrator under this title, shall be offered for sale by the Administrator within 1 year of delivery. The sale shall be to the highest bidder at public sale in whatever place in the State affords the most favorable market for the property involved. The Administrator may decline the highest bid and reoffer the property for sale if the price bid is insufficient. The Administrator need not offer any property for sale if, the probable cost of sale exceeds the Administrator's estimation of the value of the property. 

(b)  Notice to precede sale.- Any sale held under this section shall be preceded by a single publication of notice at least three weeks in advance of the sale in a newspaper of general circulation in the county where the property is to be sold. 

(c)  Purchaser acquires clean title.- The purchaser at any sale conducted by the Administrator under this section shall receive title to the property purchased, free from every claim of the owner or prior holder of it and of every person who claims through or under them. The Administrator shall execute all documents necessary to complete the transfer of title. 

(d)  State immune from suit.- No action by any person may be brought or maintained against the State or any officer of the State for or on account of any transaction entered into pursuant to and in accordance with the provisions of this section. 
 

[An. Code 1957, art. 95C, § 15; 1975, ch. 49, § 3; 1981, ch. 752; ch. 773, § 2; ch. 774, § 2; 2005, ch. 25, § 13.]