Skip to main content
SimplyTrust
SimplyTrust
Create a TrustSettle an EstateForms & ToolsFreeResources
OverviewEstate Law
OverviewEstate Law
Attorneys
All Maryland Attorneys
Forms
Revocable Living Trust for Maryland ResidentsMaryland Last Will and TestamentMaryland Pour-Over WillMaryland Healthcare Power of AttorneyMaryland Financial Power of AttorneyMaryland Transfer on Death DeedVehicle Transfer on DeathMaryland EIN ApplicationMaryland Petition for Probate and LettersMaryland Notice to CreditorsMaryland Small Estate AffidavitLetter of InstructionDigital Assets Recovery Letter
Getting Prepared
Maryland Estate Planning Cost CalculatorMaryland Revocable Living Trust Cost CalculatorMaryland Will Cost CalculatorMaryland Life Insurance CalculatorMaryland Beneficiary Designation CheckerMaryland Name a Guardian GuideMaryland Burial & Cremation Law GuideMaryland Signing Requirements CheckerMaryland Document Portability CheckerMaryland Trust Need AssessmentMaryland TOD Deed AssessmentMaryland Vehicle TOD AssessmentMaryland Trust or Will Decision Tool
Someone Just Passed Away
Maryland Death Certificate CalculatorMaryland Probate Decision ToolMaryland Estate Settlement Plan
I'm an Executor
Maryland Probate Cost CalculatorMaryland Executor Fee CalculatorMaryland Self-File Probate AssessmentMaryland Executor Appointment GuideMaryland Creditor Claims DeadlinesMaryland Personal Property Value Estimator
I'm a Trustee
Maryland Trustee Compensation CalculatorMaryland Trust Settlement Plan
Taxes & Inheritance
Maryland Who Inherits CalculatorMaryland Estate & Inheritance Tax CalculatorMaryland Inheritance Tax GuideMaryland Step-Up Basis CalculatorMaryland Post-Death Tax Filing Guide
Maryland Agencies
Medicaid Estate RecoveryUnclaimed PropertyUnemployment BenefitsPublic Pensions
Federal Agencies
Administration for Community Living (ACL)Black Lung Benefits ProgramBureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS)Defense Health Agency (DHA)Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)DOD Casualty Assistance ProgramDrug Enforcement Administration (DEA)Energy Employees Occupational Illness Program (EEOICPA)Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)Federal Communications Commission (FCC)Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)Federal Election Commission (FEC)Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)Federal Student Aid (FSA)Federal Trade Commission (FTC)Indian Health Service (IHS)Internal Revenue Service (IRS)National Credit Union Administration (NCUA)National Personnel Records Center (NPRC)National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)NOAA Commissioned Officer CorpsOffice of Personnel Management (OPM)Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC)Radiation Exposure Compensation Program (RECA)Railroad Retirement Board (RRB)September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (9/11 VCF)Social Security Administration (SSA)Thrift Savings Plan (TSP)Transportation Security Administration (TSA)U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)U.S. Coast Guard Casualty Assistance ProgramU.S. Copyright OfficeU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)U.S. Department of StateU.S. Department of the TreasuryU.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (PHS)U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)United States Postal Service (USPS)USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA)
Home→Tools→State Estate Planning Guides→Maryland

How Does Estate Planning Work in Maryland?

Your complete Maryland estate planning overview: probate costs, will execution requirements, trust rules, and what happens if you die without a plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

Probate in Maryland uses reasonable compensation for attorney fees, typically 2.1-3.3% of the estate value — about $34,931 all-in on a $500,000 estate. Estates under $50,000 may qualify for Petition for Administration of Small Estate.

Simple estates in Maryland typically take 6-9 months through probate. Complex or contested estates can take 1-3 years. A revocable trust avoids probate entirely.

Maryland has adopted the Uniform Trust Code and does not require witnesses for trust execution. Notarization is not required for validity, though many financial institutions require notarized trust documents. The successor trustee can publish Maryland's optional creditor notice to shorten the claim window to 6 months; without it, the settlor's creditors have up to 6 months to bring a claim.

Maryland offers remote online notarization (RON) for estate planning documents. These tools, combined with revocable trusts and beneficiary designations, provide multiple ways to transfer assets without probate.

A healthcare power of attorney in Maryland requires 2 witnesses to be valid. A financial power of attorney requires 2 witnesses and notarization. A financial power of attorney is durable by default, so it stays in effect if you become incapacitated.

In Maryland, the executor must file an inventory of the estate's assets within 90 days of appointment. A revocable trust skips the court-supervised inventory entirely, so a trustee distributes assets without filing one.

In Maryland, divorce does not automatically revoke a beneficiary designation that names a former spouse — the former spouse remains the named beneficiary until the designation is changed.

Estate Planning in Maryland

Estate planning in Maryland is shaped by remote online notarization and the Uniform Trust Code. The choice between a will and a revocable trust depends on which of those features changes the cost or process for your situation, not on any single rule.

Probate in Maryland runs attorney fees on a reasonable-compensation standard, typically 2.1-3.3% of the estate value, with room to negotiate. A simple estate typically closes in 6-9 months, and the 6-month creditor-claim window sets the floor. Estates under $50K can use the Petition for Administration of Small Estate and avoid full probate administration. Maryland's small estate shortcut is a court procedure: the court's own order authorizes collection. There is no affidavit to present to a bank.

For a revocable trust, Maryland does not require witnesses for trust execution. Notarization isn't required for validity, though banks and title companies typically expect a notarized trust before they'll work with it. Maryland has adopted the Uniform Trust Code, so trust administration follows the same baseline rules used in most states.

Maryland offers remote online notarization for estate documents, so signing can happen over secure video. Combined with beneficiary designations on retirement accounts and payable-on-death registrations, these can move significant value outside probate without setting up a trust.

SimplyTrustSimplyTrust Editorial·Updated July 13, 2026

Sources

  • mgaleg.maryland.gov

Data sourced from Maryland estate law primary sources (4 pages reviewed). How we research.

Maryland Estate Planning Tools

  • Answer a specific Maryland question: How much does probate cost in Maryland? · Who inherits without a will in Maryland? · Do I need probate in Maryland? · How much does a will cost in Maryland? · How much does a trust cost in Maryland? · How do I sign a will in Maryland?

When you're ready, we're here.

A revocable living trust skips probate, stays private, and takes 15 minutes.

Get startedApp StoreGoogle Play
SimplyTrust app shown on a phone

Maryland Estate Planning Resources

In-depth guides covering Maryland probate laws, trust requirements, and estate planning strategies.

SimplyTrust Logo

Every family deserves a plan. We'll help.

Get startedApp StoreGoogle Play

Forms

  • Revocable Living Trust
  • Last Will and Testament
  • Pour-Over Will
  • Healthcare Power of Attorney
  • Financial Power of Attorney
  • Transfer on Death Deed
  • Vehicle Transfer on Death

Tools

  • Trust vs Will
  • Probate Calculator
  • Who Inherits
  • Estate Settlement
  • Death Tax Calculator
  • Life Insurance

Compare

  • Compare Services
  • vs LegalZoom
  • vs Trust & Will
  • vs Rocket Lawyer
  • vs Quicken WillMaker

Learn

  • Revocable Living Trusts
  • Last Will and Testaments
  • Articles
  • State Guides
  • Estate Law
  • Life Events

Directories

  • Law Firms
  • Financial Assets
  • Digital Assets
  • Government Agencies

Company

  • About
  • Careers
  • Contact
  • Create a Trust

SimplyTrust is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice, legal counsel, or attorney review. Information on this platform is for general informational purposes only. Use of SimplyTrust does not create an attorney-client relationship. You are solely responsible for all documents you create. For advice tailored to your circumstances, consult a licensed attorney in your state.

© 2026 SimplyTrust Software Inc. All rights reserved.

Privacy Policy·Terms of Service·Security··AI Access

All content, data, and calculations are proprietary. Automated scraping, systematic downloading, or data extraction is prohibited under our Terms of Service. Product visuals are simulated for illustrative purposes and may differ from actual experience. Logos provided by Logo.dev.

Is this your situation?

Get a complete guide for your specific circumstances.

New Baby or Adoption

New Baby or Adoption

Your family is growing. Your protection should too. Guardian nominations, trusts for minors, beneficiary updates, and the documents new parents need in place.

Learn more
Marriage

Marriage

What married couples need in place: one joint trust or two, wills, beneficiary updates, and the spousal rights your state grants you automatically.

Learn more
New Home

New Home

How to put your house in a revocable trust: the deed you record, what it does to your mortgage and property taxes, and when a TOD deed is simpler.

Learn more
Retirement

Retirement

Retirement changes your financial picture. Healthcare directives, beneficiary reviews, long-term care planning, and protecting what you've built.

Learn more