Serves Carroll County from downtown Westminster, near the Register of Wills and Orphans' Court. Handles judicial and administrative probate with in-house preparation of estate tax and fiduciary income tax returns, represents clients in estate controversies before the Orphans' Court, and advises trustees administering inter vivos and testamentary trusts. Founded in 1959, the firm has prepared estate planning documents for thousands of individuals.
Westminster is in Carroll County.
Probate in Carroll County
Probate Court Record
Carroll County Register of Wills
Carroll County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-4:30 PM
Office
Courthouse Annex, 55 North Court Street, Room 124, Westminster, MD 21157
Website
Filing in person
Walk-ins accepted
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
How to file probate in Carroll County →
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
Do I need a lawyer for probate in Carroll County? →Settling an estate in Carroll 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.
$12/month
Revocable Living Trust
Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.
Get Started
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.
Get Started
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.
Get Started
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 Are Estate & Inheritance Taxes?
Maryland levies an estate taxMd. Tax-Gen. § 7-309Verified Sep 15, 2026View source above $5,000,000Md. Tax-Gen. § 7-309Verified Sep 15, 2026View source (top rate 16%Md. Tax-Gen. § 7-309Verified Sep 15, 2026View source) and an inheritance taxMd. Tax-Gen. §§ 7-202, 7-203, 7-204Verified Sep 15, 2026View source on beneficiaries; the federal estate tax applies above $15,000,00026 USC 2001(c), 2010; P.L. 119-21 §70106Verified Sep 15, 2026View source.
Calculate the Tax
What Taxes Apply to My Inheritance?
In Maryland, an inheritance is subject to a state inheritance taxMd. Tax-Gen. §§ 7-202, 7-203, 7-204Verified Sep 15, 2026View source at a rate set by the beneficiary's relationship; probate assets arrive when the estate closes, 6 months to 9 months for a simple estate.
Calculate the Tax
How Does Step-Up in Basis Work?
Inherited assets in Maryland take a basis reset to fair market value on the date of death26 USC § 1014Verified Sep 15, 2026View source, and the gain on a later sale faces ordinary income tax at the state's regular rates, plus a 2% surtax on the whole gain once federal AGI exceeds $350,000Md. Code, Tax-General § 10-105(a) (graduated rates; (a)(3)-(4) 2% net-capital-gain surtax); § 10-101(e), (g) (definitions of "federal adjusted gross income" and "individual"); § 10-102 (imposition)Verified Sep 15, 2026View source.
Calculate the Tax
When Do I Have to Withdraw an Inherited IRA?
See which federal withdrawal rules apply to an inherited IRA, Roth IRA, or employer plan, the deadline year, and the missed-withdrawal tax.
Check the Rules
What Does Estate Planning Actually Cost?
An attorney-prepared revocable 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 and a simple will $1,110Estimate: 3 hours at $370, Clio's Maryland Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $2,220Estimate: 6 hours at $370, Clio's Maryland Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source, against $0 to $549 up front plus a subscription with an online service.
Calculate Costs