General Estate Information Guide

The purpose of this publication is to provide a quick-reference explanation of the procedural matters involved in the administration of estates. If you would like a more thorough version, please refer to the Administration of Estates Booklet. Nothing contained herein is intended to advise anyone as to the legal remedies for a particular circumstance. The Register of Wills and employees may assist with the necessary forms but cannot render legal advice. It is hoped that this brochure will be useful to you in answering general questions on how to proceed with the administration of an estate.

REVISED AS OF JANUARY 1, 2004, AND EFFECTIVE FOR PERSONS DYING ON OR AFTER THAT DATE UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED. VARYING LAWS MAY APPLY FOR PERSONS DYING PRIOR THERETO. ESTATES AND TRUSTS LAWS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE BY THE LEGISLATURE AT ANY TIME.

Maryland law requires that the custodian of a document appearing to be the last Will (including Codicils, if any) of the decedent shall file it promptly with the Register of Wills in the county where the decedent was domiciled at the time of death, even if it is not to be offered for probate. When there are any assets in the decedent's name alone (including interests held as a tenant-in-common), they must be reported to the Register of Wills. A Personal Representative must be appointed by the Register of Wills or the Orphans' Court before disposing of any assets. When appointed, Letters of Administration will be issued to the Personal Representative.

Forms and procedures herein are mandated by Maryland Code and Maryland Rules. (Forms are available from the Register of Wills Office.)

SMALL ESTATES
Assets subject to administration valued at $50,000 or less ($100,000 if the spouse is the sole legatee or heir)
For persons dying prior to October 1, 2012, the Small Estate limit is $30,000 or less
(or $50,000 or less if the sole heir or legatee is the surviving spouse)

Petition for Probate with Schedule B attached (Required appraisals must be submitted. The value of each item shall be fairly appraised as of the date of death. The Personal Representative may appraise corporate stocks listed on a national or regional exchange or over-the-counter securities, debts owed to the decedent, bank accounts, building or savings and loan association shares, and money. All other assets must be appraised by qualified disinterested appraisers. For persons dying on or after January 1, 1998, an alternate procedure is available for valuing real estate.)
List of Interested Persons listing the names and addresses of those named in the Will, if any, and those who would inherit if there were no Will. (See "How Will My Property Be Distributed If I Die Without A Will?" )
Consent to Appointment of Personal Representative (Only applicable if the person named in the Will, if any, or the person entitled to appointment, is not applying.)
Appointment of Resident Agent if petitioner is not a Maryland resident
Proof of Execution of Will if Will lacks an attestation clause
Information Report listing trusts, jointly held property, retirement and P.O.D. accounts, gifts made within two years of death, and other non-probate property
Notice of Appointment ~ Notice to Creditors designating an approved newspaper for publication may be required for certain small estates. (Leave dates blank except date of death.)
Bond (Required in certain small estates.)
Paid funeral bill
Copy of death certificate (available from Division of Vital Records)
Commissions are not available under a Small Estate administration.
Petition for Probate with Schedule C attached. A request for a Limited Order to locate the Assets or locate the Will requires the name, address and a statement as to why the limited order is necessary. The limited order will either allow the search for assets titled in the name of the decedent or the entrance of the safe deposit box in the presence of the Register of Wills or authorized deputy to locate the Will for delivery to the office.

If more than four Letters of Administration are required, an additional fee of $1.00 each will be charged.

Estate is at least:

But less than:

Petition for Probate with Schedule A attached
Notice of Appointment ~ Notice to Creditors designating an approved newspaper for publication (Leave dates blank except date of death.)
Bond (Required by law. )*
Consent to Appointment of Personal Representative (Only applicable if the person named in the Will, if any, or the person entitled to appointment, is not applying.)
Appointment of Resident Agent if petitioner is not a Maryland resident
Proof of Execution of Will if Will lacks attestation clause
List of Interested Persons** (names and addresses of those named in the Will, if any, and those who would inherit if there were no Will as set forth in "How Will My Property Be Distributed If I Die Without A Will?" )
Copy of death certificate (available from Division of Vital Records)

*In Judicial Probate, this form must be filed immediately after the Court appoints a Personal Representative or a Special Administrator.

**Must be filed (a) within 20 days after appointment of a Personal Representative under Administrative Probate, or (b) at the time of filing a Petition for Judicial Probate.

It is the duty of every Personal Representative or Special Administrator of a regular estate to timely file the following documents in the Register of Wills Office:

Inventory and Information Report -WITHIN THREE MONTHS from date of appointment, a complete Inventory with Schedules and an Information Report (see #6 under Small Estates) along with the required appraisals, must be submitted. The value of each item shall be fairly appraised as of the date of death and stated in the Inventory. The Personal Representative may appraise corporate stocks listed on a national or regional exchange or over-the-counter securities, debts owed to the decedent, bank accounts, building or savings and loan association shares, and money. All other assets must be appraised by qualified disinterested appraisers. (For persons dying on or after January 1, 1998, an alternate procedure is available for valuing real estate.)

First Account -WITHIN NINE MONTHS from the date of appointment, the First Account must be filed. The Account must include the inventoried assets and all activity of the administration. All receipts, including income, sales and redemptions, disbursements, distributions, and value of assets remaining in the hands of the Personal Representative must be reported. Documentation of transactions is required.

Subsequent Accounts -MUST BE FILED as required by law until the estate is closed.

Petitions for Personal Representative Commissions and Attorneys Fees- Fees and commissions are subject to Court approval UNLESS the person died on or after January 1, 1998 AND (1) each creditor, who has filed a claim that is still open, and all interested persons consent in writing to the payment; (2) the combined sum of commissions and attorneys fees does not exceed the amounts provided below; and (3) the signed written consent form states the amounts of the payments and is filed with the Register of Wills.

If the property subject to administration is:

Probate Fees-The following fees will be assessed at the time of filing the First Account. Additional fees will be assessed when filing each subsequent Account if the probate estate increases. The value of the probate estate is the sum of all Inventories, principal and income receipts, and increases realized on a disposition, less decreases realized (other than a distribution to beneficiaries). While the probate fee covers the cost of filing and recording documents in non-controversial estates, additional fees will be charged in controversial estates and for more than twelve Letters of Administration or two certified copies of the Will. The estate shall pay the expense of mailing the Notice of Appointment.

IMPORTANT: Effective October 1, 2022, no fees are due on Small Estates even if valued between $50,000 and $100,000 with a spouse as a sole heir or legatee.

Value Of Probate
Estate Is At Least:

But Less Than:

NOTICE: Effective October 1, 2022, the probate fees apply to estates opened on or after October 1, 2022.

MODIFIED ADMINISTRATION
For persons dying on or after October 1, 1997, Modified Administration is an option available to a Personal Representative within three months from the date of appointment. The process, which is to be completed within twelve months, is available only if all residuary legatees or heirs are exempt from inheritance tax or the decedent's personal representative and all trustees of any trusts are limited to the decedents Personal Representative, spouse and children, and if the estate is solvent and sufficient assets exist to satisfy all testamentary gifts. All of the stated persons must file a written consent. (Forms and reporting requirements are different from those noted above under Regular Estates.)

FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE
When the decedent died domiciled other than in Maryland owning real property in Maryland at the time of death, the person appointed Personal Representative in that jurisdiction shall file an Application by Foreign Personal Representative to Set Inheritance Tax with the Register of Wills for the county where the largest part in value of the Maryland property is located. This form, which lists the necessary requirements for filing, may be obtained from any Register of Wills Office in Maryland. Probate fees, costs and inheritance taxes will be assessed by the Register.

Commencing on appointment until the time for filing claims has expired, the Personal Representative shall make a reasonably diligent effort to ascertain the names and addresses of the decedent's creditors and mail or otherwise deliver to them a copy of the Notice of Appointment-Notice to Creditors.

INHERITANCE TAXES
(Effective for persons dying on or after July 1, 2000. Different laws apply for persons dying prior to that date.)

Property passing by Will or under the laws of intestacy
Any interest as a joint owner (other than a surviving spouse) in any real or personal property, including credit union, bank, or other financial institution accounts
A material part of the decedent's property transferred by the decedent within two years of death (other than a bona fide sale) in the nature of a final disposition or distribution, including any transfer that resulted in joint ownership of property, if the transfer is made in contemplation of death
Property over which the decedent retained any dominion at the time of death, including a beneficial interest, a power of revocation, or a power of appointment by Will or otherwise. This includes trusts, P.O.D. accounts, annuities or other public or private employee pension or benefit plans that are taxable for federal estate tax purposes, life estates and other interests less than absolute, in trust or otherwise

Property that passes from a decedent to or for the use of a grandparent, parent, spouse, child or other lineal descendant, spouse of a child or other lineal descendant, stepparent, stepchild, brother or sister of the decedent, or a corporation if all of its stockholders consist of the surviving spouse, parents, stepparents, stepchildren, brothers, sisters, and lineal descendants of the decedent and spouses of the lineal descendants
Life insurance benefits not payable to the estate of the insured
Grave maintenance up to $500 passing under a Will for the perpetual upkeep of graves
Property passing to a non-profit organization which is exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code if incorporated in Maryland or if there is a reciprocal agreement with the jurisdiction where the organization has its principal office
State, county or municipal corporations
Property administered under a Small Estate proceeding
Property passing to any one person not exceeding a total of $1,000
Personal property of a non-resident with the exception of tangible property located in Maryland
Income, including gains and losses, accrued on probate assets after the date of death of decedent (However, it is reportable to the State of Maryland as estate income.) (# 9 became effective January 1, 1998.)
Effective 7/1/09 - TG 7-203-1 - Specified property that passes from a decedent to or for the use of a domestic partner of a decedent; etc.
Effective 10/1/2019 - TG 7-203(m) - Real property subject to perpetual conservation easement.

Lineal Tax Rate applies to distributions to lineal heirs or legatees from a decedent dying prior to July 1, 2000, and may be obtained by contacting the Register of Wills Office.

Collateral Tax Rate of 10% applies to property passing to persons or organizations not identified as exempt. If the decedent died prior to July 1, 2000, brothers and sisters are included in collateral, however, their rate varies and is determined by the date of death.

"How will my estate be distributed if I die without a Will?"

Spouse and minor children of the decedent- spouse receives one-half, children share remaining one-half
Spouse and children (all adult) of the decedent-spouse receives $40,000 ($15,000 if date of death is prior to 10/1/2017) plus one-half of remaining estate-children divide balance (the interest of a predeceased child passes to issue of that child)
Children only of the decedent-children (does not include step-children) divide entire estate (the interest of a predeceased child passes to issue of that child)
Spouse and parents of the decedent- spouse receives $40,000 ($15,000 if date of death is prior to 10/1/2017) plus one-half of remaining estate, if married less than 5 years - both parents divide balance or surviving parent takes balance. (If married more than 5 years see #5)
Spouse of the decedent without other heirs listed above-spouse receives entire estate
Parents of the decedent without other heirs listed above-both parents divide entire estate or surviving parent takes all
Brothers/sisters of the decedent without heirs listed above-brothers and sisters divide estate equally (share of deceased sibling goes to their issue-nieces and nephews of the decedent)
Grandparents without other heirs listed above-grandparents divide entire estate or, if deceased, to their issue (see applicable law for details)
Great-grandparent without other heirs listed above-great-grandparents divide entire estate or, if deceased, to their issue (see applicable law for details)
Step-children-if there are no heirs listed above
No living heirs or step-children-If decedent was a recipient of long-term care benefits under the Maryland Medical Assistance Program at time of death, net estate is paid to Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Otherwise, the net estate is paid to the Board of Education.

All references to "Estate or Administration" only control assets that are in the decedent's name alone or as tenants in common.