HOA documents, illegal?

Hello,

Our governing documents are signed by the director, (the builder) and another person, and they posed as each other's witnesses as well. We are governed by the state of MD and the county as well.
Thank you.

I see that I did not actually ask my question,

Our HOA documents are governed by the state and county, and they are signed by the directors. Those same people are also the witnesses to each others signature which it was all set up. Is that legal in signing a contract? Does that void the contract?
Thank you

Joann

More information needed.

Are you asking about Covenants, Bylaws, Rules and Regulations? They are all "docs".

Are you asking about docs registered with the deed?

Are you talking about the docs you agreed to abide with when you bought?

What makes you ask?

My first blush is if they are the original "docs" registered with the deed then they are valid unless portions are against the law, then laws will prevail no matter what the docs say.

Thanks.

Sounds like to me..... the developer made the bylaws, signed them and then had them witnessed. Since he is the developer, he can do whatever he wants.

Thanks to all, Steve has it correct and it has been turned over to the homeowners. I am asking as I just discovered it myself as I was looking the document over. I am a homeowner and board member. It feels as if that should be wrong, and from what I've researched,the person who has a vested interest in said documents/contract can not witness signatures.
thanks again!

Do not tell that to members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints... The book of Mormon was witnessed by vested parties. Technically, so was much of the New Testament. And honestly, the entire Bible was re-written at one point at the behest of a guy with a HUGE vested interest in it, by a bunch of clerics with HUGE vested interests in it as well.

For each specific document you will need to see if there is a state requirement regarding how they are signed. I know from experience that in my state articles of incorporation and bylaws do not require a notary or other witnesses. I am not aware of any statutes in my state that require signatures on a declaration to be witnessed or notarized. If there is no requirement in your state for notaries or other witnesses when signing the particular documents then the fact that one person claimed to witness the other's signature is irrelevant.

Having had some experience in the past with people who call themselves "developers," my first guess would be that whatever your builder recorded was not likely reviewed by an attorney. This is because attorneys want to be paid either before or when they provide their services and "developers" rarely have enough cash to cover those costs.

Thanks so much for all of your help! I will research further from here!