Probate in St. Mary's County

Probate Court Record

St. Mary's County Register of Wills

St. Mary's County

Hours

Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-4:30 PM

Office

Courthouse, 41605 Courthouse Drive, Room G008, Leonardtown, MD 20650

Filing in person

Walk-ins accepted

Self-represented filing

Allowed

Self-help forms

How to file probate in St. Mary's County →

Verified October 16, 2026 · Source

Do I need a lawyer for probate in St. Mary's County? →Settling an estate in St. Mary's County →

Probate Firms Serving St. Mary's County

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 Charles, St. Mary's and Calvert counties from La Plata, two blocks from the Charles County Circuit Court. Handles estate administration through the Register of Wills and Orphans' Court, including the petition to open the estate, estate tax returns, payment of creditor claims and distribution to heirs, and represents parties in contested wills, caveats and estate disputes. The firm traces its roots to 1907.

Since 1907Serves 3 countiesEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationElder LawTax PlanningWills Trusts

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

Serves Prince George's and Calvert counties from offices in Bowie and Prince Frederick. Represents trustees, executors, personal representatives and beneficiaries through probate and estate and trust administration, and drafts wills, trusts, medical directives and financial powers of attorney. Offers free initial consultations at both offices.

Serves 2 countiesFree consultationEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateWills Trusts

Serves Anne Arundel County from Millersville and takes trust administration matters statewide. Helps families administer a loved one's estate through probate and assists trustees with trust administration, alongside adult guardianship and Medicaid crisis planning. Limits its practice to estate planning and elder law; partner Greg Jimeno wrote "How To Protect Your Home And Life Savings In Maryland."

Serves the whole stateEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder LawGuardianship+4

Serves Kent County and the surrounding Eastern Shore from Chestertown and Anne Arundel County from Pasadena. Handles probate administration, including support when a dispute arises, for estates that often include farms and family businesses, and drafts wills, trusts, powers of attorney and advance medical directives. Spanish is spoken at the office.

Serves the whole stateFree consultationEstate PlanningProbateWills Trusts

All 10 Maryland probate firms serving St. Mary's 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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