Free Maryland Petition for Probate

In Maryland, the petition asks the Register of Wills to appoint the personal representative, whose authority is proved by Letters of Administration; an informal (registrar) track is available.

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You & the Will

Maryland provides an official fillable petition; we complete it for you.

State Where the Estate Will Be Probated*

The state where the decedent was domiciled. Only states where a self-represented filer can prepare this document are listed.

Did the decedent leave a will?*

Yes — there is a will (request Letters Testamentary)No — there is no will (request Letters of Administration)

Your First Name*

Middle Name

Your Last Name*

Your Relationship to the Decedent*

How you are related to the person who died. Being named executor in the will is asked separately.

Your Street Address*

City*

ZIP Code*

Email Address*

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Yes. Maryland publishes Petition for Administration (RW1112), filed with the Register of Wills.

The petition. Letters are issued, never filled out: Register of Wills issues Letters of Administration after the court grants the petition. The petition asks the Register of Wills to admit the will where there is one and to appoint you, and it states who died, when and where, whether there is a will, who the heirs or beneficiaries are, and what the estate is worth.

Beside the petition, the Maryland packet carries: Proof of death: a death certificate (original or copy); other proof of death if a death certificate is not yet available; Original will and any codicils, if any (filed with the petition); Schedule A (RW1136) for a regular estate; Schedule B (RW1137) for a small estate; List of Interested Persons (RW1104), naming the heirs and legatees with addresses — due no later than 20 days after appointment (Est. & Trusts § 7-104); local offices commonly take it with the petition. The court's own checklist runs longer for particular cases. An estate of $50,000 or less files Maryland's small-estate petition instead; it also appoints a personal representative and issues Letters, so the form is chosen before filing.

Maryland's court filing fee is $0 - $10,000+ (based on estate value), paid to the Register of Wills when the petition is filed. Publication, certified copies and any bond premium are charged separately. The Maryland probate cost calculator sets the fee beside attorney and executor fees.

The Register of Wills reviews the petition and, where it is in order, grants it. Maryland requires a bond before Letters issue, unless the will or the beneficiaries waive it. Register of Wills then issues the Letters. With Letters in hand the representative opens the estate account, gives creditor notice and collects the assets; the Maryland estate settlement plan carries each step in order.

Opening Probate in Maryland

Before anyone can act for a Maryland estate, the Register of Wills must appoint a personal representative and issue Letters. Letters are an output of that appointment, never a form the representative completes; the document filed is the petition for probate and for Letters, and the Register of Wills issues Letters of Administration after the court grants it.

Maryland publishes Petition for Administration (RW1112) as the statewide petition; the document is that form, completed from the facts of the decedent, the estate and the heirs or beneficiaries. Signed, it is filed with the Register of Wills. An estate of $50,000 or less proceeds on Maryland's small-estate petition instead, which also appoints a personal representative and issues Letters, so the form is chosen before filing.

In Maryland, filed with the petition: Proof of death: a death certificate (original or copy); other proof of death if a death certificate is not yet available; Original will and any codicils, if any (filed with the petition); Schedule A (RW1136) for a regular estate; Schedule B (RW1137) for a small estate; List of Interested Persons (RW1104), naming the heirs and legatees with addresses — due no later than 20 days after appointment (Est. & Trusts § 7-104); local offices commonly take it with the petition.

The court filing fee is $0 - $10,000+ (based on estate value), paid to the Register of Wills when the petition is filed; publication, certified copies and any bond premium are charged separately. A bond is required before Letters issue, unless the will or the beneficiaries waive it. The Register of Wills reviews the petition and, where it is in order, grants it; the Register of Wills then issues the Letters.

SimplyTrust Editorial·Updated September 8, 2026

Legal Sources

Data sourced from Maryland statutes and official state code. How we research.

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Maryland sets executor compensation by statute — about $19,080 on a $500,000 estate, roughly 3.8%.

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In Maryland, informal probate is available, and a self-represented executor can usually handle it for a simple, uncontested estate.

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How Do I Get Appointed as Executor?

In Maryland, the Register of Wills appoints the personal representative and the Register of Wills issues Letters of Administration; an informal (registrar) track is available.

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In Maryland, creditors have 6 months from the date of death to present claims; late claims are barred.

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When an estate owes more than it holds, Maryland pays the claims in 12 classes in statutory order, beginning with fees due to the register.

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Maryland Estate Settlement Resources

In-depth guides covering Maryland probate, estate administration, and settling an estate.

Free Maryland Petition for Probate

In Maryland, the petition asks the Register of Wills to appoint the personal representative, whose authority is proved by Letters of Administration; an informal (registrar) track is available.

Progress0%

Opening Probate in Maryland

Free Maryland Petition for Probate

You & the Will

Is this your situation?

Named as Executor

Death of a Parent

Loss of a Spouse

Forms for Settling an Estate in Maryland

Notice to Creditors

Renunciation of Executor

Estate Inventory

Estate Closing

Letter of Instruction

Digital Assets Recovery Letter

Tools for Settling an Estate in Maryland

How Much Can an Executor Charge?

Can I Self-File Probate?

How Do I Get Appointed as Executor?

What Are the Creditor Claim Deadlines?

What Happens When an Estate Is Insolvent?

How Do I Open an Estate Account When Someone Dies?

What Is the Estate's Personal Property Worth for Probate?

Hire a Maryland Probate Attorney

Your kids shouldn't have to do this.

Maryland Estate Settlement Resources

Free Maryland Petition for Probate

You & the Will