Serves Montgomery, Prince George's, Frederick and Howard counties from Rockville. Dan Willard assists personal representatives, beneficiaries and others with probate administration and related probate litigation, including filing the will with the Register of Wills and obtaining letters. A husband-and-wife practice with over 25 years in Montgomery County that also handles construction and business litigation.
Probate in Frederick County
Probate Court Record
Frederick County Register of Wills
Frederick County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-4:30 PM (public office access until 4:00 PM)
Office
Courthouse, 100 West Patrick Street, Frederick, MD 21701
Website
Filing in person
Walk-ins accepted
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
How to file probate in Frederick County →
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
Do I need a lawyer for probate in Frederick County? →Settling an estate in Frederick County →
Probate Litigation Firms Serving Frederick County
Serves Carroll County and surrounding counties from Westminster, near the Carroll County courts. Guides personal representatives through opening the estate, the inventory and valuation, sale of assets, payment of taxes and debts, and distribution, and handles disputes over wills, undue influence and breach of fiduciary duty, as well as guardianship of the person and of the property. Gary W. Desper is a former Assistant Attorney General for Maryland; the first 30 minutes of a consultation are free for new clients.
Serves Howard, Baltimore, Carroll, Anne Arundel, Harford, Frederick and Montgomery counties from Columbia. Assists executors and beneficiaries with petitions for probate, the estate inventory, creditor claims and distribution, and litigates will contests and claims against trustees for breach of fiduciary duty.
Serves clients throughout Maryland from Potomac, with a second Maryland office in Baltimore. Its wills, trusts, estates and probate team handles probate court filings, estate administration and state and federal estate tax returns, and its attorneys serve as trustees and executors; a separate trusts and estates litigation group handles will and trust contests and breach of fiduciary duty claims.
Serves Maryland from offices in Annapolis and Towson. The firm administers estates and trusts, handles probate, and takes on estate and trust litigation, including will contests, caveat proceedings and fiduciary malfeasance claims.
All 6 Maryland probate litigation firms serving Frederick County →
Forms for Planning and Settling an Estate in Maryland
Free Maryland forms to plan or settle an estate: a will, trust, powers of attorney, TOD deed and the probate forms. Prepare each form for Maryland.
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Revocable Living Trust
Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.
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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 and Settling an Estate in Maryland
Free calculators and checklists to plan or settle an estate in Maryland: will and trust costs, probate, executor pay and taxes. Run each tool for Maryland.
How Much Does Probate Cost?
Probate on a $500,000 estate in Maryland costs an estimated $33,231Md. Est. & Trusts § 7-602 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source. Attorney fees run 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 under a reasonable-compensation standard.
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Who Inherits Without a Will?
Without a will in Maryland, descendants divide what passes to them per stirpesMd. Code, Est. & Trusts § 3-103Verified Oct 21, 2026View source, and an heir must survive the decedent by 30 daysMd. Code, Est. & Trusts § 3-110(a)Verified Oct 21, 2026View source to inherit.
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What Are the Creditor Claim Deadlines?
In Maryland, creditors have 6 monthsMd. Est. & Trusts § 8-103Verified Sep 8, 2026View source from the date of death to present claims; late claims are barred.
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How Do I Settle an Estate?
Settling an estate in Maryland: the personal representative files the estate inventory within 90 daysET §§ 7-201, 7-202, 7-203Verified Sep 15, 2026View source of appointment; creditors have 6 monthsMd. Code, Est. & Trusts §§ 7-103, 7-103.1, 8-103, 8-104, 8-105, 8-107Verified Oct 18, 2026View source to present claims; a simple estate closes in 6 months to 9 months.
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How Much Can an Executor Charge?
Maryland sets executor compensation by statute — about $19,080 on a $500,000 estate, roughly 3.8%Md. Est. & Trusts § 7-601Verified Sep 8, 2026View source.
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