Probate in Howard County

Probate Court Record

Howard County Register of Wills

Howard County

Hours

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

Office

Circuit Courthouse, 9250 Judicial Way, Suite 1100, Ellicott City, MD 21043

Filing in person

Walk-ins accepted

Self-represented filing

Allowed

Self-help forms

How to file probate in Howard County →

Verified October 16, 2026 · Source

Do I need a lawyer for probate in Howard County? →Settling an estate in Howard County →

Trust Litigation Firms Serving Howard County

Serves Montgomery and Howard counties from Rockville, with meeting locations in Columbia, Washington, D.C., Tysons Corner and Vienna. Handles estate and trust administration and probate and trust litigation, including will contests and breach of fiduciary duty. Practice is limited to estate law; a one-hour initial consultation is $500, applied to the engagement if retained.

Since 1996Serves 2 countiesVirtual consultationsEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate LitigationTrust Litigation+5

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 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 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 the whole stateEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate LitigationTrust Litigation+4

All 6 Maryland trust litigation firms serving Howard 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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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 Do I Settle a Trust?

Settling a trust in Maryland happens outside court: the trustee acts under the state's Uniform Trust CodeMd. Code Est. & Trusts § 14.5-101 et seq.Verified Oct 17, 2026View source, notifies the beneficiaries within 90 daysET §§ 14.5-813, 14.5-904; CJP § 5-101Verified Sep 15, 2026View source, then pays the debts and distributes under the trust's terms.

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What's Fair Trustee Compensation?

In Maryland, trustee compensation follows "reasonable compensation" (UTC § 708 or equivalent)Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 14.5-708Verified Sep 18, 2026View source unless the trust instrument sets a different amount.

Calculate the Fee

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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