How probate works in Kent County: the Register of Wills record, what the process costs, and how to file there.
Probate Court Record
Kent County
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Filing in person
Self-represented filing
Self-help forms
Filing in person
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About the court
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
Probate is the court-supervised process of settling someone's estate after they die — validating the will, paying debts and taxes, and transferring what's left to the heirs. In Kent County, probate runs through the Register of Wills at Courthouse, 103 North Cross Street, Chestertown.
The personal representative opens the case, gives notice to heirs and creditors, files an inventory of the estate's assets, settles outstanding debts and taxes, and then distributes the remainder under the will — or under Maryland intestacy law when there is no will.
Most Maryland estates take 9 months to 12 months to move through this process. 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 a claim, counted from the date of death.
What probate costs in Kent County, Maryland comes down to a handful of line items — the court filing fee, attorney and executor compensation, publication, and sometimes a bond — scaled by the estate's size and whether the will is contested. The case itself runs through the Register of Wills at Courthouse, 103 North Cross Street, Chestertown.
Maryland charges $0 - $10,000+ (based on estate value)Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 2-206(b)(2)-(5); § 5-606Verified Oct 17, 2026View source to open probate, the same in every county. Additional filings during administration — inventory, accounting, the final petition — add to the total.
Estimate the costs for this estate:
Attorney fees in Maryland are negotiated, typically 2.1%Modeled estimate under Md. Est. & Trusts § 7-602 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.3%Modeled estimate under Md. Est. & Trusts § 7-602 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value. Flat-fee arrangements are common for straightforward estates.
Maryland sets executor compensation by statute — about $19,080 on a $500,000 estate, roughly 3.8%Md. Est. & Trusts § 7-601Verified Sep 8, 2026View source. Family members who are also beneficiaries often waive the fee — executor pay is taxable income while inheritances are not.
Maryland requires publishing notice to creditors in a local newspaper, and the estate pays for it.
A surety bond may be required unless the will waives it or all beneficiaries consent. Premiums run roughly 0.5%Industry surety premium estimate; the bond itself under Md. Est. & Trusts § 6-102Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value annually.
Probate in Maryland typically runs 9 months to 12 months, and costs accrue throughout that period.
Probate cases in Kent County are filed at the Register of Wills. File in person during business hours or by mail.
Beside the filing office, the court lists a separate line for Toll-free.
In Maryland, informal probate is availableMd. Est. & Trusts § 5-301 et seq. (administrative probate; Register of Wills appointment)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, and a self-represented executor can usually handle it for a simple, uncontested estate.
For a full cost comparison and filing checklist, see the Kent County Self-Filing Assessment.
These are specific requirements for filing probate in this county. Following these guidelines will help avoid delays or rejected filings.
Appointments are taken for in-person service; call before arriving
SourceFiled with the opening petition at the Register of Wills: 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 petitionMd. Code, Est. & Trusts §§ 5-104 (priority), 5-201 (petition contents), 5-301 (administrative probate), 5-401 (judicial probate), 5-601 (small estate)Verified Aug 24, 2026View source.
In Maryland a death is registered locally, and in Kent County certified copies of the death certificate are issued by Kent County Health Department as well as by Maryland Department of Health - Division of Vital Records.
Vital Records Office Record
Kent County · Kent County Health Department
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Certified copy fees
| First certified copy | $25 |
| Each additional copy ordered at the same time | $20 |
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Coroner or Medical Examiner Record
Kent County · Office of the Chief Medical Examiner
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Serves this county
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Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Clearing title to real estate after a death, whether by a personal representative’s deed, an affidavit of survivorship, or a court order, happens at the Clerk of the Circuit Court.
Deeds and other real property documents for Kent County are recorded with the Clerk of the Circuit Court at 103 North Cross Street, Chestertown, MD 21620. Phone: 1-410-778-7460. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-4:30 PM.
The Clerk of the Circuit Court charges $60 for 1-9 pages, $115 for 10+ pages.
Kent County accepts electronic recording through Simplifile.
Recording Office Record
Kent County
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E-recording
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Recording fees
| 1-9 pages | $60 |
| 10+ pages | $115 |
| Transfer tax on a TOD deed | TOD deeds are exempt from transfer tax if the property is a primary or secondary residence of the transferor |
Md. Code, Real Property § 3-601(a)(2) (recording fee); Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 13-604(a)(2) ($40 surcharge)
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
Maryland allows informal probate, so many families settle straightforward estates in Kent 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 Kent 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.
FirmChestertown, MD
Serves Kent County from offices on Court Street in Chestertown, where the firm traces its practice to the early 1940s. Handles estate and trust administration and probate, alongside wills, trusts, powers of attorney and advance medical directives.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateWills Trusts
FirmPasadena, MD
Serves Anne Arundel, Queen Anne's and Carroll counties from a main office in Pasadena and appointment-only offices in Annapolis, Stevensville and Mt. Airy. Handles probate and estate administration, trust administration and counsel to trustees, and guardianships, along with estate, elder law and Medicaid planning, and has served the community for over 70 years.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 5 more
FirmMillersville, MD
Serves Anne Arundel County from Millersville and takes trust administration matters statewide. Helps families administer a loved one's estate through probate and assists trustees with trust administration, alongside adult guardianship and Medicaid crisis planning. Limits its practice to estate planning and elder law; partner Greg Jimeno wrote "How To Protect Your Home And Life Savings In Maryland."
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 5 more
FirmChestertown, MD
Serves Kent County and the surrounding Eastern Shore from Chestertown and Anne Arundel County from Pasadena. Handles probate administration, including support when a dispute arises, for estates that often include farms and family businesses, and drafts wills, trusts, powers of attorney and advance medical directives. Spanish is spoken at the office.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateWills Trusts
FirmPotomac, MD
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.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 5 more
FirmAnnapolis, MD
Serves Maryland from offices in Annapolis and Towson. The firm administers estates and trusts, handles probate, and takes on estate and trust litigation, including will contests, caveat proceedings and fiduciary malfeasance claims.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 5 more
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.
Data sourced from Maryland statutes and official state code. Fee percentages are modeled estimates; each figure's note says how. How we research.
Free tools for settling an estate in Maryland: whether probate is needed, executor and trustee pay, creditor deadlines, and inheritance taxes.
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.
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.
In Maryland, informal probate is availableMd. Est. & Trusts § 5-301 et seq. (administrative probate; Register of Wills appointment)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, and a self-represented executor can usually handle it for a simple, uncontested estate.
Browse vetted Maryland attorneys handling probate matters.
Each institution has a separate death claim process. Find yours below.
Get a complete guide for your specific circumstances.
Enter the estate value to see Maryland attorney fees, executor fees, court costs and the timeline.
General information about probate costs, not legal or financial advice. Fee bases vary by state and may use gross estate, personal property, inventory value or net property after debts. Actual costs vary by county, attorney and estate complexity. Consult a licensed attorney for legal questions.
Enter the estate value to see whether Maryland lets a self-represented person open probate, what the court requires, and what each route costs.
General information about filing probate without a lawyer, not legal advice. Both routes are priced by the probate cost estimator on the same estate; the attorney fee is the one line that differs. Actual costs vary by county, attorney and estate complexity. Consult a licensed attorney for legal questions.
