2013 Maryland Code
INSURANCE
§ 8-605 - Representation of viator; viator status not limited to owner or holder of policy

§8-605.

(a) Notwithstanding the manner in which the viatical settlement broker is compensated, a viatical settlement broker is deemed to represent only the viator and owes a fiduciary duty to the viator to act according to the viator’s instructions and in the best interest of the viator.

(b) For purposes of this subtitle, a viator may not be limited to an owner or certificate holder of a policy that insures the life of an individual who is terminally ill or chronically ill.

§ 8-605 - 1. Duties of viatical settlement brokers.

(a) Disclosure of services. -- At the time of each application for a viatical settlement, a viatical settlement broker shall provide to the viator a written disclosure that, at a minimum, contains a description of the services required by statute to be provided by the viatical settlement broker to the viator.

(b) Direct or indirect purchase by broker prohibited. -- A viatical settlement broker may not purchase a policy that is the subject of a viatical settlement brokerage contract between the viatical settlement broker and a viator directly or indirectly through:

(1) a person owning or controlling an interest in the viatical settlement broker; or

(2) a person in which any interest is owned or controlled by the viatical settlement broker.

(c) Time for submission of offers, counteroffers, acceptances, rejections. -- A viatical settlement broker shall submit to the viator all offers, counteroffers, acceptances, and rejections relating to the placement of the viator's policy within 72 hours after receipt by the viatical settlement broker.

(d) Disclosure of compensation calculation methods. --

(1) A viatical settlement broker shall provide to the viator a written disclosure of the amount and method of calculating the viatical settlement broker's compensation, including anything of value received by a viatical settlement broker for the placement of a policy.

(2) A viatical settlement broker shall provide the disclosure required under this subsection no later than 72 hours before the viatical settlement contract is signed by all parties to the contract.