Maryland allows informal probate, so many families settle straightforward estates in Howard County without hiring an attorney. A probate attorney earns the fee when the estate is contested, includes a business or out-of-state real estate, has unclear or insolvent debts, or when beneficiaries disagree.
Probate attorney fees in Maryland are based on reasonable compensation, billed hourly or as a flat fee. Ask a Howard County firm to quote a structure up front.
A probate attorney files the petition with the Register of Wills, publishes the required creditor notices, prepares the inventory and accounting, handles creditor claims and tax filings, and guides the final distribution. They represent the personal representative — not the beneficiaries — a distinction that matters if a dispute develops.
FirmColumbia, MD
Serves 1 county
Serves Howard County from Columbia. Handles estate and trust administration, from a one-time consultation at the outset to handling the whole administration, along with guardianship and elder law matters. Initial consultations for estate planning and probate are free, and attorneys meet clients at home or in the hospital.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 3 more
- Office
- 5840 Banneker Road, Suite 100Columbia, MD 21044
FirmBaltimore, MD
Since 1993 · Serves 6 counties
Serves Baltimore City and the surrounding counties from downtown Baltimore. Assists personal representatives in settling estates, from gathering assets and paying debts to distribution, tax returns and the estate accounting, and represents beneficiaries and excluded heirs in will contests and breach of fiduciary duty litigation. Serves estates of any asset level.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationMedicaid PlanningWills Trusts
- Office
- 201 N. Charles Street, Suite 2102Baltimore, MD 21201
FirmBaltimore, MD
Since 1939 · Serves 5 counties
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.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate LitigationTrust Litigation
- Office
- 3500 Boston Street, Suite 400Baltimore, MD 21224
Solo PracticeWestminster, MD
Serves 6 counties
Serves Carroll County and surrounding counties from Westminster, near the Carroll County courts. Guides personal representatives through opening the estate, the inventory and valuation, sale of assets, payment of taxes and debts, and distribution, and handles disputes over wills, undue influence and breach of fiduciary duty, as well as guardianship of the person and of the property. Gary W. Desper is a former Assistant Attorney General for Maryland; the first 30 minutes of a consultation are free for new clients.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationGuardianshipWills Trusts
- Office
- 43 North Court StreetWestminster, MD 21157
FirmColumbia, MD
Serves 2 counties
Serves Howard and Montgomery counties from offices in Columbia and Bethesda, with a Washington, DC office by appointment. Guides personal representatives through Maryland estate administration and probate, from petitioning for appointment and notifying heirs to creditor claims, inventories, accountings and distributions, and advises trustees and beneficiaries on trust administration. Also handles adult guardianship, Medicaid and long-term care planning, and special-needs planning.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 4 more
- Office
- 10500 Little Patuxent Parkway, Suite 650Columbia, MD 21044
FirmColumbia, MD
Serves 7 counties
Serves Howard, Baltimore, Carroll, Anne Arundel, Harford, Frederick and Montgomery counties from Columbia. Assists executors and beneficiaries with petitions for probate, the estate inventory, creditor claims and distribution, and litigates will contests and claims against trustees for breach of fiduciary duty.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationTrust Litigationand 3 more
- Office
- 5850 Waterloo Road, Suite 140Columbia, MD 21045
Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to verify their current practice areas and availability.
