Estate Management - Register of Wills Information by County

Information by County

Below is a list of Register of Willis offices for each county in Maryland.

The Office of the Register of Wills website has more information.

 

ALLEGANY COUNTY

THINGS TO KNOW: The Allegany Office

• does not accept filings via e-mail or fax.
• recommends that clients call the office first so they can be advised on exactly what to bring with them.
• does not publish then notice in the newspaper. If publication is required, the office will provide the client with necessary form, but the client must go to the newspaper office to pay for the service.
• A Resident Agent Form (Form 1106) is needed if the personal representative is out of state.

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ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY

THINGS TO KNOW: The Anne Arundel Register of Wills Office

• does not accept filings via e-mail or fax.
• requires the filing fee to be paid up front. Check or money order are acceptable.
• The estate will be published in the Baltimore Sun.
• Overnight and urgent documents can be sent to the physical address.

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BALTIMORE COUNTY

THINGS TO KNOW:

• The Baltimore County office does not accept filings by email or fax.
• In order to open an estate, an individual must bring:
  • Proof of death (obituary, death certificate, medical examiner’s report)
  • Original will OR if will is stored at Register’s office, a receipt for the will
  • Funeral bill
  • Car titles/appraisal value (Kelley BB okay)/whether there is a lien + lien amount or it is paid off
  • Property deed/appraisal (tax value okay)/whether there is a lien + lien amount or if it is paid off
  • Statements for value of bank accounts/stocks/insurance policies at time of death
  • Names & addresses of any interested person
  • To serve notice via certified mail for interested persons, it costs $5.50 per notice
  • If the primary trustee of the will is out of state, the party must bring in the name of an individual in Maryland who can accept service and documents for that person
• Fees can be paid by cash, check, or money order, made out to the Register of Wills and are typically calculated at the time the person meets with the estates deputy in the office. (Credit cards are not accepted.) The payment chart is listed online and can be found at http://registers.maryland.gov/main/fees.html.
• Forms are located at http://registers.maryland.gov/main/forms.html.
• There are two ways to meet with the office: either schedule an appointment in advance or drop-in during office hours. If dropping in, arrive NO LATER THAN 3:00pm to be seen the same day.
• The most common problem staff notices: people not bringing bank statements or other interests because they can’t access them after the person’s death. The Register’s office will try to help person figure out how to access these before they schedule another appointment for the person to come back in.

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BALTIMORE CITY

THINGS TO KNOW:

• Baltimore City Register of Wills does not accept estate filings by email or by fax.
• The State of Maryland recommends that each individual looking to open an estate make an appointment with an estates deputy. To make an appointment in Baltimore City, call the above-listed numbers during their business hours.
• In order to open an estate, an individual must bring:
  • Proof of death (obituary, death certificate, medical examiner’s report)
  • Original will OR if will is stored at Register’s office, a receipt for the will
  • Funeral bill
  • Car titles/appraisal value (Kelley BB okay)/whether there is a lien + lien amount or it is paid off
  • Property deed/appraisal (tax value okay)/whether there is a lien + lien amount or if it is paid off
  • Statements for value of bank accounts/stocks/insurance policies at time of death
  • Names & addresses of any interested persons (To serve notice via certified mail for interested persons, it costs $5.50 per notice)
  • If the primary trustee of the will is out of state, the party must bring in the name of an individual in Maryland who can accept service and documents for that person
• Forms are located at http://registers.maryland.gov/main/forms.html.
• All payments for publication (when publication has to be run on the estate) must be made by money order, made out to “The Daily Record.” Fees for the Register of Wills office can be paid in cash, check or money order made to the Register of Wills. The payment chart is listed online and can be found at http://registers.maryland.gov/main/fees.html.
• The administration office suggested that if we get a client attempting to open a small estate in Baltimore City, to get information about date of death, the size of the estate, how many interested parties are in the estate, and basic pertinent information; then to call the administration office for that individual and give the information to get a thorough list of what is needed, such as the fees that will need to be paid (e.g., payment for publication in the Daily Record, etc.), the amounts that will be due, and forms of payment that are required (e.g., cash, check, or money order).

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CALVERT COUNTY

THINGS TO KNOW: 

• Does not accept filing via email or fax.
• Can only file documents by mailing hard original copy with original signature.
• Probate fee is not paid up front, while some offices require you to pay postage for notices , Calvert doesn’t. If it’s a judicial fee, you do need to pay filing fee with notice up front. Checks are acceptable method of payment.
• Estates are published in the Calvert Recorder. The county won’t bill you for the publication, however, the newspaper will.
• In this country there’s no bonding company, you have to get bonding company to get your bond.

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CAROLINE COUNTY

• Can only file documents by mailing (or delivering in person) hard original copy with original signature.
• Does not accept filing via email or fax.
• All filing fees must be paid up front, Checks are accepted
• Estates are published in the Times Record.

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CARROLL COUNTY

THINGS TO KNOW:

1. The Carroll County office does not accept filings via e-mail or fax.
2. Publication is in the Carroll County Times. The Register will send the Times an order of publication, and then the Times bills the personal representative.

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CECIL COUNTY

THINGS TO KNOW:

1. The Cecil County office does not accept filings via e-mail or fax.
2. Publication is in either the Cecil Whig or the Cecil Guardian, and must be prepaid. The paper will either give the personal representative a receipt to take back to the Register, or fax the receipt directly to the Register.

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CHARLES COUNTY

• The office does not accept filings via e-mail or fax.
• If you are opening an estate, please arrive at our office by 3:30 p.m. to allow ample time for the process.
• Mail sent to 11 Washington Avenue will be returned to sender.

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DORCHESTER COUNTY

The office does not accept filings via e-mail or fax.

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FREDERICK COUNTY

• Does not accept filings via email or fax.
• Appointments are recommended
• Auditing accounts is by appointment only

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GARRETT COUNTY

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HARFORD COUNTY

The office does not accept filings via e-mail or fax.

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HOWARD COUNTY

• The office does not accept filings via e-mail or fax.
• Please call before going to open an estate so that staff members can explain what will be required

 

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KENT COUNTY

The office does not accept filings via e-mail or fax.

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MONTGOMERY COUNTY

More information is available in the Estate Booklet (revised 8/2017): http://registers.maryland.gov/main/region/montgomery/Montgomerybooklet2017.pdf (En Espanol)

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PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY

• If you need a wheelchair, please call the office before your visit so they can accommodate you.
• The office does not accept filings via e-mail or fax.

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QUEEN ANNE’S COUNTY

• Extended hours are available by appointment only on the 4th Tuesday of the month in coordination with the evening meetings of the Board of County Commissioners.
• The office does not accept filings via e-mail or fax.

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ST. MARY’S COUNTY

The office does not accept filings via e-mail or fax.

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SOMERSET COUNTY

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TALBOT COUNTY

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WASHINGTON COUNTY

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WICOMICO COUNTY

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WORCESTER COUNTY

The office does not accept filings via e-mail or fax.