(a) Any person who owns real estate in Montgomery County may post a property bond. Before the clerk of the circuit court or his deputy or the administrative clerk of the district court or his deputy shall approve or accept such bond, a search of the records of the circuit court, including liens and judgments pertaining to the realty to be offered as security, shall be made by the central bail bond clerk or his designee. Reasonable court costs may be assessed for such search to be paid by the person offering the security. In the absence of negligence or willful dereliction, no clerk or deputy shall be personally liable for any loss sustained upon forfeiture of a property bond. Once the property bond has been posted, the central bail bond clerk shall record the amount of the bond as a lien against the real estate of the person offering the security in Montgomery County.
(b) Nothing in this article shall affect the right of any person to be his own recognizance upon the posting of proper security. (1966, ch. 349, § 1; 1971, ch. 765, § 4.)