© 2026 SimplyTrust Software Inc.
Maryland follows the "reasonable compensation" standard for trusteesMd. Code, Est. & Trusts § 14.5-708Verified May 31, 2026. Courts decide what's reasonable on a case-by-case basis, looking at trust size, complexity, and the trustee's actual work. Family-member trustees often waive the fee entirely. Professional trustees (banks, trust companies, attorneys) typically charge between 0.5% and 1.5% of trust assets per year, with corporate fiduciaries usually applying minimum annual fees. The Maryland trustee compensation calculator breaks it down by trust situation.
Trust administration in Maryland is typically faster than probate because trusts don't require court supervision. The main floor is the creditor claim period — 6 months in Maryland — during which the trustee can't safely make final distributions. Simple trusts often wrap up in 6-9 months; trusts that hold business interests, real property in multiple states, or that need to file estate tax returns can take longer. See the Maryland trustee checklist for the full process.
Estate planning attorneys in Maryland average $370 per hourClio Legal Trends Report 2025Verified Jan 1, 2025 for wills and estates work. Flat-fee packages run roughly $1,110–$2,220 for a simple individual will and $4,250–$6,375 for a basic revocable trust. Online and DIY services cost $30–$300 for the same documents — see the will cost calculator for a side-by-side comparison.
Maryland allows estates under $50,000 to use a simplified Petition for Administration of Small Estate procedure, which is a form rather than a court case and typically doesn't require an attorney. For larger estates, formal probate is involved enough that retaining counsel is usually practical — the procedural work is what they're there for. Use the Maryland probate calculator to estimate the costs.
In Maryland, the situations where retaining counsel is typically worth the cost are: blended families with children from prior relationships; ownership of a business, rental property, or significant investment assets; special-needs dependents who need a special-needs trust to preserve benefits; estates near or above the Maryland estate tax threshold; substantial property held in multiple states. If none of these describe your situation, the simpler online and DIY tools are often enough.
Search 4,004 estate law firms across 51 states.
Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to discuss your situation and verify their current practice areas and availability.
27 firms
Altman & Associates exclusively practices estate planning and trust administration law in Maryland, DC, and Virginia. Founded by Gary Altman, the firm serves individuals, families, and businesses from offices in Rockville, Columbia, Washington D.C., and Tysons Corner.
Location
11300 Rockville Pike, Suite 708Rockville, MD 20852
Phone
(301) 468-3220
Service Area
3 counties
Ally Legal Planning serves Howard County, Maryland and surrounding areas with estate planning, elder law, and probate services. Offers free initial consultations.
Location
5840 Banneker Road, Suite 100Columbia, MD 21044
Phone
(410) 746-0113
Service Area
3 counties
Serves Talbot County and the mid-Eastern Shore from Easton. Handles estate and trust administration, wills, beneficiary and asset-titling coordination, and fiduciary matters, with particular depth in family-farm succession planning.
Location
114 Bay Street, Building CEaston, MD 21601
Phone
(410) 822-4777
Established
2006
Service Area
1 county
Chesapeake Wills & Trusts has served Anne Arundel County and surrounding Maryland communities for over 20 years, focusing exclusively on estate planning and elder law. Attorney Greg Jimeno is the author of "How To Protect Your Home And Life Savings In Maryland."
Location
231 Najoles Road, Suite 400Millersville, MD 21108
Phone
(410) 590-1900
Service Area
1 county
Craig Ingram has practiced law in Garrett County since 1975. He is both an attorney and CPA, bringing combined legal and financial expertise to estate planning, wills, trusts, probate, and elder law matters for the Deep Creek Lake and Western Maryland communities.
Location
322 East Alder StreetOakland, MD 21550
Phone
(301) 334-3724
Service Area
1 county
The Law Office of Patrick J. Fitzgerald opened in December 2021 in Easton, Maryland and focuses on estate planning and estate and trust administration on Maryland's Eastern Shore. Patrick Fitzgerald is a Talbot County native.
Location
22 North Washington Street, Suite 200Easton, MD 21601
Phone
(410) 253-2488
Established
2021
Service Area
2 counties
Serves Anne Arundel County from Annapolis with a practice limited exclusively to estates and trusts. Handles estate and trust administration, estate planning, and fiduciary litigation, with more than 35 years focused on this area of law.
Location
151 West Street, Suite 301Annapolis, MD 21401
Phone
(410) 263-4876
Service Area
1 county
Geppert, McMullen, Paye & Getty has served Allegany and Garrett counties since 1950. Nicholas Monteleone focuses on estate planning, estate and income tax planning, trust administration, asset protection, special needs trusts, wealth transfers, and business succession planning.
Location
21 Prospect SquareCumberland, MD 21502
Phone
(301) 777-1515
Established
1950
Service Area
2 counties
HWK Law Group has a dedicated Hagerstown office serving Washington County with estate planning, elder law, and Medicaid planning services. The firm specializes exclusively in estate-related practice areas.
Location
33 West Franklin Street, Suite 100AHagerstown, MD 21740
Phone
(301) 739-1013
Established
2006
Service Area
1 county
Henninger & Henninger provides estate planning, trust and estate administration, and elder law services to Harford County families. Laura Henninger is both an attorney and CPA, bringing a unique tax and financial planning perspective to estate work.
Location
224 East BroadwayBel Air, MD 21014
Phone
(410) 836-5300
Established
1999
Service Area
1 county