When a person dies, that person (the “decedent”) may or may not have left a will. If the decedent did not have a will, Maryland law determines how the decedent’s property will pass to the family of the decedent. If the decedent had a will, whoever has or finds the will of the decedent is required to file the will to the Register of Wills in the county where the decedent made their permanent residence (or “domiciled”) at the time of death. A will has no power until it has been admitted to probate.

In Maryland there are two kinds of probate – administrative and judicial. Administrative probate is for uncontested wills and is handled by the county register of wills. Judicial probate is usually for contested wills and is handled by the county Orphan’s Courts.

Read the Law: Md. Code, Estates and Trusts §§ 4-202 and 5-102

A petition for probate must be filed with either the Register of Wills or with the correct Orphan’s Court. A personal representative for the estate will be appointed. The priority for appointing a personal representative is generally

1. Anyone named to be the personal representative in the will 
2. Surviving spouses and surviving children if no will exists 
3. Residuary legatees (persons granted the remainder of the estate in the will)
4. Surviving children if a will exists
5. Other relatives of the person who died
6. Decedent’s largest creditor or other people named in the will.

When the register of wills or orphan’s court appoints a personal representative, it grants the representative letters of administration. Letters of administration empower the representative to distribute the assets in the estate.

Read the Law: Md. Code, Estates and Trusts § 5-104

Assets of the estate are generally distributed after payment of administration expenses, funeral expenses, inheritance taxes, and other debts of the decedent according to the will. If the decedent didn’t have a will, the decedent’s property will go to the decedent’s relatives (if any) according to Maryland Law.

Read the Law: Md. Code, Estates and Trusts §§ 3-101 to 3-112

Estates are either small or regular estates. Small estates are estates that are worth $50,000 or less.  Regular estates are estates valued at more than $50,000. If the only heir is a spouse, small estate status extends up to a value of $100,000.

Read the Law: Md. Code, Estates and Trusts § 5-601

The personal representative pays the debts of the estate, distributes assets of the estate, reports to the court what he or she did, and closes the estate. The court rules for estate administration are found in Title 6 of the Maryland Rules.

Read the Law: Md. Code, Estates and Trusts § 10-101 and Title 6 of the Maryland Rules