Cal. Civ. Code § 8-308
Md. Code Ann., Real Property Art. Title 8 — Landlord and Tenant
Operative Text
Goods levied on under distress shall be held in custodia legis.
Under Md. Code Ann., Real Prop. § 8-308, when a landlord exercises the legal remedy of distress—a process by which a tenant's personal property is seized to satisfy unpaid rent—the seized goods are placed into the custody of the law (custodia legis). This means the property is held under legal protection and control, and neither party may freely dispose of or reclaim it outside of the legal process. The provision establishes the formal legal status of distrained goods while the distress proceeding is pending.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Md. Code Ann., Real Prop. § 8-308, landlords who pursue a distress action should understand that any goods seized in that process are immediately placed under the custody of the law, not under the landlord's personal control. Compliant operators generally refrain from selling, moving, or otherwise interfering with distrained property outside of the procedures established by Maryland law. Because distress is a formal legal remedy with strict procedural requirements, property managers typically work with legal counsel familiar with Maryland's distress statutes when pursuing this remedy.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Md. Code Ann., Real Prop. § 8-308, if your personal property has been seized through a distress action, that property is held in custodia legis—meaning it is under the protection and control of the law, not simply in the landlord's possession to do with as they please. This legal status may provide grounds to challenge any unauthorized handling or disposal of the seized goods. Tenants in this situation may consider consulting a tenant-rights organization or reviewing Maryland's distress statutes to understand the procedural rights available during the pendency of such a proceeding.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 14, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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