ART. 44. ] ALIENATION BY DEED.

387

certifying to the official character and signature of the justice of
the peace taking the same, and all deeds of conveyance of property
in this State which may have been recorded without the seal of the
notary public before whom the acknowledgment was taken, having
been first attached when the grantor resided in another State, and
the acknowledgment was made in that State, are hereby declared to
be valid to all intents and purposes, as if such defect and omission

notarial seal,
made valid

did not exist; provided, that the execution and acknowledgment of
such deeds in all other respects conformed to the laws of this State,
in such cases made and provided, saving, nevertheless, the rights

Proviso.

of bond fide purchasers and incumbrancers without notice, also ex-
cepting such as are now in suit pending in courts of law or equity.

Purchasers, etc.,
without notice

26, All deeds of conveyance heretofore or hereafter duly exe-
cuted, acknowledged, and recorded, according to law, among the
land records in any county in this State by executors of the last
will and testament, executed with the formalities required for the
passing of real estate, by the laws of this State, and proved ac-
cording to law, of any non-resident testator conveying lands lying
in said county, shall be as valid and effectual 111 law and equity as
if made by executors under last will and testament, duly executed,
proved, and recorded in the office of register of wills in this State,
for lands lying therein, and whose sales of real estate under the
authority of said will were duly made and reported to, and ratified
by an Orphans' Court in this State; provided, that an authenticated

1872, c 451
Deeds by non-
resident execu-
tors
44 Md 112

copy of the said last will and testament shall have been filed and
recorded in a register's office of this State, in the county where the
lands lie; and provided, further, that full authority was given by
the said last will and testament to the executors to sell and convey
the said real estate.

Copy of will to
be recorded.

BONDS OF CONVEYANCE

27. Every bond, writing obligatory, or contract for the convey-
ance of real estate, or any interest, or estate of, in, or relating to
real estate, and every bond, writing obligatory, or contract for the
leasing and demising, for any term of years, of real estate, may
be executed, acknowledged, and recorded, in the same manner as
deeds of real estate are required by this article to be executed,
acknowledged, and recorded, and as if such bonds, writings obliga-
tory, and contracts, were deeds as aforesaid; and a certified copy of
the record of any such bond, writing obligatory, or contract, shall
be received as evidence of such bond, writing obligatory, or contract,
as fully as a like copy of the record of any such deed duly executed,
acknowledged, and recorded, in the manner aforesaid, would be evi-
dence of such deed.

1865, c 47
Bonds of con-
veyance to be
executed, ac-
knowledged,
and recorded
3 Md Chan 381.