Estate administration · Maryland
Estate administration lawyer in Maryland
Estate administration, also called probate, is the court-supervised process of settling a person’s estate: confirming the will, appointing the personal representative, paying debts and taxes, and distributing what is left. In Maryland administrative probate is overseen by the Register of Wills and judicial probate is overseen by the Orphans’ Court. The probate process usually takes several months to more than a year. I help personal representatives and families through it.
- Overseen by
- Register of Wills or Orphans’ Court
- Usually takes
- Several months to over a year
- Run by
- The personal representative
- Skips probate
- Trust and beneficiary assets
If someone has asked you to be their personal representative, or a family member has died and you are not sure what comes next, the process is more manageable than it first appears.
- 1Open the estateA petition is filed with the Register of Wills to open the estate.
- 2Validate the willThe will is confirmed and the personal representative appointed.
- 3InventoryThe estate’s assets are identified and valued.
- 4Debts and taxesCreditors and taxes are paid from the estate.
- 5Distribute and closeWhat remains goes to the beneficiaries, and the estate is closed.
Talk with Tasnima Apol. You work with me directly, not an associate.
Call 443-333-9230Send a messageDo all estates have to go through probate?
Not everything does. Property held in a trust, or with a named beneficiary, such as many retirement accounts and life insurance policies, usually passes outside probate. Maryland also has a simpler process for smaller estates.
How long does estate administration take in Maryland?
Typically several months to more than a year, depending on the size and complexity of the estate and whether anyone disputes it.
Can an estate be contested?
Yes. Disputes can arise over whether the will is valid, who should serve as personal representative, or how assets are distributed. I help families resolve them, in negotiation or before the Orphans’ Court.
Questions people ask
What does a personal representative do?
Gathers and values the estate’s assets, pays debts and taxes, keeps the court and heirs informed, and distributes what is left according to the will or Maryland law.
What if there is no will?
Maryland law decides who inherits. See what happens if you die without a will in Maryland.
Can probate be avoided with planning?
Often, with a funded trust and up-to-date beneficiary designations.
Talk with Tasnima Apol
Just named personal representative?
Bring the will, a death certificate, and any recent statements for the person’s accounts. We will go through the first steps and the deadlines.
22½ West Street, Annapolis, MD 21401 · By appointment
General information, not legal advice for your situation.
- 1You call or write.
Tell me what is going on. I will tell you whether it is something I handle and what the first step would be.
- 2We meet, in person or by video.
A paid consultation where we go through your situation, the documents that matter, and your options under Maryland law.
- 3You decide, with a plan in hand.
If we work together, you will know the approach, the likely timeline, and how fees work before anything is filed.