Maryland Vessel Bill of Sale with DNR Certification
MARYLAND VESSEL BILL OF SALE
Before you use this: Maryland DNR's current registration guidance identifies the seller, buyer, sale date, seller signature, price, and vessel description as bill-of-sale essentials. For a Maryland titled boat, deliver the original assigned title too; Natural Resources § 8-715(i) requires it. DNR calls for an original certified or notarized bill when the title assignment lacks the buyer's name, sale date, or price, and for a used vessel from a non-title state. This bill includes DNR's certification statement. The buyer of a vessel subject to Maryland titling applies for title within 30 days after acquisition under § 8-715(e).
Sale date: [__/__/____] Place of sale: [CITY, STATE]
1. Seller and buyer
Seller's full legal name: [________________________________]
Seller's address: [________________________________]
Additional owner of record, if any: [________________________________]
Buyer's full legal name: [________________________________]
Buyer's address: [________________________________]
2. Vessel and included property
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Hull identification number | [________________________________] |
| Year and manufacturer | [________________________________] |
| Model and length | [________________________________] |
| Current registration or boat number | [________________________________] |
| Title number and issuing state, if titled | [________________________________] |
| Engine make, model, and serial number, if included | [________________________________] |
| Trailer make, year, and VIN, if included | [________________________________] |
Other equipment included: [________________________________]
Items excluded: [________________________________]
The parties will complete separate transfer papers for any trailer or other separately titled item.
3. Price and terms of sale
Seller sells the vessel and included property described above to Buyer for $[________].
Deposit paid: $[________] on [__/__/____]
Balance due: $[________] by [PAYMENT METHOD] on [__/__/____]
Delivery date, time, and place: [________________________________]
Risk of physical loss passes upon: [DESCRIBE DELIVERY EVENT]
Known liens or other ownership claims: [NONE OR DETAILS]
Payoff and lien-release arrangement: [________________________________]
Known damage or defects disclosed by Seller: [NONE OR DETAILS]
Agreed condition and any repair or warranty promise: [WRITE TERMS; DO NOT LEAVE BLANK]
Seller represents that Seller has authority to sell the ownership interest stated here and has disclosed the known third-party claims identified above. Buyer accepts the sale on these written terms.
4. Ownership documents delivered
☐ Original Maryland or other state title, properly assigned to Buyer
☐ Prior registration or official vessel record from a non-title state
☐ Original lien release, if shown on title or registration
☐ Manufacturer's certificate of origin, if applicable
☐ Other documents: [________________________________]
Documents delivered now: [________________________________]
Documents to be delivered later, with date and responsible party: [________________________________]
The parties will keep signed copies of this bill and evidence of document delivery. Buyer will complete the current DNR title and registration application and confirm any excise-tax documentation with DNR.
5. Seller certification and signatures
DNR certification: I declare and affirm under penalty of perjury that the facts in this bill of sale are true and correct
Seller signature: [________________________________] Date: [__/__/____]
Seller printed name: [________________________________]
Additional owner signature, if any: [________________________________] Date: [__/__/____]
Additional owner printed name: [________________________________]
Buyer signature: [________________________________] Date: [__/__/____]
Buyer printed name: [________________________________]
If DNR requires a notarized bill for this transaction, complete a notarial acknowledgment before filing. A notary public authorized in another state may perform the act; Maryland recognizes that act under Md. Code, State Government § 18-210.
Sources
About this template
- Last updated
- October 27, 2026
- Citations checked
- October 27, 2026
- Jurisdiction
- Maryland
- Category
- Contracts & Agreements
Legal authority
- Md. Code, Natural Resources § 8-715(e)
- Md. Code, Natural Resources § 8-715(i)
- Maryland DNR, Boat Registration — vessel bill-of-sale requirements
- Maryland DNR, Boat Registration — certified bill of sale
A contract is a written record of what two or more parties agreed to and what happens if someone does not follow through. Clear language, defined terms, and clean signature blocks keep disputes small and enforceable. The most common mistakes in contracts come from vague promises, missing details about timing or payment, and skipping standard protective clauses like governing law and dispute resolution.
Not legal advice
This template is provided for informational purposes. We recommend having an attorney review any legal document before signing, especially for high-value or complex matters.
Checked against the law it cites
A reviewer verified this template's legal citations against the official source on October 27, 2026.
Md. Code, Natural Resources § 8-715(e) (checked October 27, 2026): "Every owner of a vessel subject to titling under the provisions of this subtitle shall apply to the Department for issuance of a certificate of title for the vessel within 30 days after acquisition."
Md. Code, Natural Resources § 8-715(i) (checked October 27, 2026): "A person may not sell, assign, or transfer a vessel titled by the State without delivering to the purchaser or transferee a certificate of title with an assignment on the certificate of title showing title in the purchaser or transferee."
Maryland DNR, Boat Registration — vessel bill-of-sale requirements (checked October 27, 2026): "A bill of sale must include the names of the buyer and the seller, date of sale, seller’s signature, purchase price and vessel description (year, manufacturer, hull identification number and/or current registration number)."
Maryland DNR, Boat Registration — certified bill of sale (checked October 27, 2026): "A certified bill of sale is a bill of sale that contains the following statement: "I declare and affirm under penalty of perjury that the facts in this bill of sale are true and correct"."
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