Serves Prince George's, Howard, Montgomery and Anne Arundel counties from Main Street in Laurel. Handles Maryland probate and estate administration and helps successor trustees administer trusts, whether or not the firm drafted the trust, and assists trustees and beneficiaries in the probate court process. Tom Downs has limited his practice to estate planning, probate, trust administration and guardianship since 1995.
Probate in Anne Arundel County
Probate Court Record
Anne Arundel County Register of Wills
Anne Arundel County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-4:30 PM (walk-ins until 3:30 PM)
Office
2011-E Commerce Park Drive, Annapolis, MD 21401
Website
Filing in person
Walk-ins accepted
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
How to file probate in Anne Arundel County →
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
Do I need a lawyer for probate in Anne Arundel County? →Settling an estate in Anne Arundel County →
Asset Protection Firms Serving Anne Arundel County
Serves Prince George's County and six neighboring counties from Upper Marlboro, beside the county courthouse, with a Kensington office by appointment. Handles probate and trust administration, and litigates will contests, trust disputes, breach of fiduciary duty and guardianship disputes. Has practiced in Prince George's County since 1976.
All 7 Maryland asset protection firms serving Anne Arundel County →
Forms for Planning Your Estate in Maryland
Free forms for planning your estate in Maryland: will, living trust, pour-over will, powers of attorney and TOD deed. Prepare each form for Maryland.
$12/month
Revocable Living Trust
Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.
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Free
Pour-Over Will
In Maryland, a pour-over will is signed before 2Md. Est. & Trusts § 4-102Verified Oct 18, 2026View source witnesses and moves anything left outside the trust into it through probate.
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Free
Transfer on Death Deed
In Maryland, a transfer-on-death deed is signed before a notaryMd. Code, Real Prop. §§ 14-1001 to 14-1014Verified Oct 18, 2026View source, then recorded with the county before the owner's deathMd. Code, Real Prop. §§ 14-1001 to 14-1014Verified Oct 18, 2026View source.
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Free
Last Will and Testament
In Maryland, a will is signed before 2Md. Est. & Trusts § 4-102Verified Oct 18, 2026View source witnesses, and it is self-proved when properly executedMd. Est. & Trusts § 4-102Verified Oct 18, 2026View source.
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Tools for Planning Your Estate in Maryland
Free tools for planning your estate in Maryland: will and trust costs, trust or TOD deed, and the signing rules. Run each tool for Maryland and read its answer.
Trust or Will: Which Costs Less?
In Maryland, a will-based plan pays probate attorney fees of typically 2.1%Modeled estimate under Md. Est. & Trusts § 7-602 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.3%Modeled estimate under Md. Est. & Trusts § 7-602 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate; a funded revocable trust keeps those assets out of probate and off that fee.
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How Much Does a Revocable Living Trust Cost?
An attorney-prepared revocable living trust in Maryland runs $4,250Estimate: 10 hours at $425, Clio's Maryland Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $6,375Estimate: 15 hours at $425, Clio's Maryland Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source for an individual, against $0 to $549 up front plus a subscription with an online service.
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Do I Need a TOD Deed?
Maryland authorizes transfer on death deedsMd. Code, Real Prop. §§ 14-1001 to 14-1014Verified Oct 17, 2026View source: a recorded, revocable deed that passes real property at death outside probate.
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Are My Beneficiary Designations Protected?
Maryland does not revoke an ex-spouse as beneficiary at divorceMd. Code, Est. & Trusts § 4-105; § 14.5-604; § 17-112Verified Sep 15, 2026View source; employer plans under ERISA follow federal rules either way, so a 401(k) beneficiary changes only by a new designation.
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