Probate in Anne Arundel County

Probate Court Record

Anne Arundel County Register of Wills

Anne Arundel County

Hours

Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-4:30 PM (walk-ins until 3:30 PM)

Office

2011-E Commerce Park Drive, Annapolis, MD 21401

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 →

Probate Firms Serving Anne Arundel County

Serves Baltimore City and the surrounding counties from downtown Baltimore. Assists personal representatives in settling estates, from gathering assets and paying debts to distribution, tax returns and the estate accounting, and represents beneficiaries and excluded heirs in will contests and breach of fiduciary duty litigation. Serves estates of any asset level.

Since 1993Serves 6 countiesFree consultationEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationMedicaid PlanningWills Trusts

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.

Serves 4 countiesVirtual consultationsEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateTax PlanningGuardianship+3

Serves Baltimore City and Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Harford and Howard counties from an office in Canton. Guides executors and trustees through probate and estate and trust administration, including accountings, tax returns and distributions, and represents beneficiaries and fiduciaries in will and trust contests and breach of fiduciary duty disputes. The firm's roots date to 1939.

Since 1939Serves 5 countiesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate LitigationTrust Litigation

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.

Solo PracticeServes 6 countiesFree consultationEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationGuardianshipWills Trusts

Serves Calvert, Charles, St. Mary's, Prince George's, Anne Arundel and Montgomery counties from Prince Frederick. Handles probate and estate and trust administration, including stalled administrations, disputed accountings and issues raised by the Register of Wills or Orphans' Court, plus will contests, trust contests, creditor-claim litigation and guardianship proceedings. George E. Meng has practiced since 1973 and is consulted by other attorneys and fiduciaries on difficult probate and trust matters.

Serves 6 countiesFree consultationEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate LitigationTrust LitigationGuardianship

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.

Since 1976Serves 7 countiesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate LitigationTrust Litigation+6

All 15 Maryland probate firms serving Anne Arundel 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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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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Do I Need Probate?

In Maryland, estates valued at $50,000Md. Est. & Trusts § 5-601Verified Sep 8, 2026View source or less qualify for the Petition for Administration of Small EstateMd. Est. & Trusts § 5-601Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, a court procedure short of full probate.

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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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Can I Self-File Probate?

In Maryland, informal probate is availableMd. Est. & Trusts § 5-301 et seq. (administrative probate; Register of Wills appointment)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, and a self-represented executor can usually handle it for a simple, uncontested estate.

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