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Terms Used In Maryland Code, INSURANCE 16-110

  • Affidavit: A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
  • Assets: (1) The property comprising the estate of a deceased person, or (2) the property in a trust account.
  • Decedent: A deceased person.
  • Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
  • including: means includes or including by way of illustration and not by way of limitation. See
  • Intestate: Dying without leaving a will.
  • minor: means an individual under the age of 18 years. See
  • state: means :

    (1) a state, possession, territory, or commonwealth of the United States; or

    (2) the District of Columbia. See
(a) If a resident of the State dies intestate and leaves an estate that consists of assets, including life insurance proceeds, in a total amount not exceeding $1,000, an insurer may pay the life insurance proceeds to the decedent‘s surviving spouse, child, or parent, without the grant of letters of administration, if the individual to whom payment is to be made provides the insurer with:

(1) an affidavit that states that the entire estate of the decedent, including life insurance proceeds, does not exceed $1,000; or

(2) a letter of administration as provided by the Small Estate Law, §§ 5-601 through 5-607 of the Estates and Trusts Article.

(b) The insurer may pay the share of a minor to an institution or to a relative of the minor, with custody of the minor, without requiring the institution or relative to be appointed the legal guardian of the minor.

(c) Payment by an insurer under this section, or under a facility of payment clause in a policy of life insurance, discharges the insurer from all further liability with respect to the life insurance proceeds.