For most Somerset County homeowners, the house is what drags an estate into probate. A transfer-on-death deed or a living trust keeps it out—here is how to set up either one and record it locally.
For a Somerset County property owner, the biggest probate risk is the home itself. Real estate is what forces most families into the Register of Wills. The two tools that keep a Somerset County home out of probate are a transfer-on-death deed recorded with the Clerk of the Circuit Court, and a revocable living trust that holds title to the property.
Without a recorded beneficiary designation or a trust, Somerset County property passes through the Register of Wills — even simple Maryland probates run 6+ months. Maryland also lets owners name a transfer-on-death beneficiary on vehicle titles, which keeps cars out of the same process.
A transfer-on-death deed names a beneficiary who receives Somerset County property automatically at the owner's death, without probate. It is recorded with the Clerk of the Circuit Court during the owner's lifetime and can be revoked at any time.
Before recording, a Maryland transfer-on-death deed is signed with notary acknowledgmentMd. Code, Real Prop. §§ 14-1001 to 14-1014Verified Oct 18, 2026View source. The deed takes effect only if it is recorded before the owner's deathMd. Code, Real Prop. §§ 14-1001 to 14-1014Verified Oct 18, 2026View source.
Deeds and other real property documents for Somerset County are recorded with the Clerk of the Circuit Court at 30512 Prince William Street, Princess Anne, MD 21853. Phone: 1-410-845-4840. 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. Recording a 2-page transfer-on-death deed in Somerset County comes to $60. The office also requires a Maryland Land Instrument Intake Sheet with the deed, at no charge. A transfer-on-death deed is exempt from transfer tax if the property is a primary or secondary residence of the transferor.
Somerset County accepts electronic recording through Simplifile.
Recording Office Record
Somerset County
Phone
Hours
Office
Website
E-recording
Fees
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
FirmSalisbury, MD
Long Badger LLC (formerly Long Badger & Sheller LLP) in Salisbury, Maryland has extensive experience in the probate and estate administration process serving the Eastern Shore. Operating since 1969.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateWills Trusts
FirmSalisbury, MD
Serves the Eastern Shore of Maryland from Salisbury, with an Ocean City office by appointment only. Cynthia MacDonald guides executors through probate administration in probate courts across the Eastern Shore, represents clients in will contests and other estate disputes, and handles guardianship for incapacitated adults. Consultations are free, and Spanish interpretation is available.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationGuardianshipWills Trusts
FirmSalisbury, MD
Serves Wicomico County from Salisbury, with clients in Ocean City, Cambridge, and Princess Anne. Handles probate and estate administration for executors, including surveying the estate, preparing estate and income tax returns, identifying heirs, distributing assets, and representation at probate hearings, along with wills, trusts, and powers of attorney.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateWills Trusts
Solo PracticeSalisbury, MD
Serves Wicomico, Worcester, Somerset, Dorchester and Talbot counties from downtown Salisbury. Attorney Dirk W. Widdowson, in practice in Salisbury since 1979, handles estate probate, guardianship and estate planning alongside civil litigation, family, business and real estate matters.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateGuardianship
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
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. How we research.
Free forms for planning your estate in Maryland: a will, living trust, pour-over will, both powers of attorney, living will, and TOD deed.
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In Maryland, a codicil is signed before 2Md. Est. & Trusts § 4-102Verified Oct 18, 2026View source witnesses, like a will.
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In Maryland, a HIPAA release names who may receive your records and, as the state requires, names HIV/AIDS-related informationMd. Code, Health-Gen. § 18-336(b), (d), (f)Verified Jun 19, 2026View source expressly before a provider releases it.
Maryland treats a power of attorney as durable by defaultMd. Code, Est. & Trusts §§ 17-101 to 17-116, §§ 17-201 to 17-204; Md. Code, Real Prop. § 4-107; Md. Code, Gen. Prov. § 1-401Verified Sep 18, 2026View source, and it is signed before 2Md. Code, Est. & Trusts §§ 17-101 to 17-116, §§ 17-201 to 17-204; Md. Code, Real Prop. § 4-107; Md. Code, Gen. Prov. § 1-401Verified Sep 18, 2026View source witnesses and a notary.
In Maryland, a transfer-on-death deed is signed before a notaryMd. Code, Real Prop. §§ 14-1001 to 14-1014Verified Oct 18, 2026View source, then recorded with the county before the owner's deathMd. Code, Real Prop. §§ 14-1001 to 14-1014Verified Oct 18, 2026View source.
In Maryland, a Lady Bird deed is recognized by statuteMd. Code, Real Prop. § 4-108(a)Verified Oct 23, 2026View source: the owner keeps a life estate and the power to sell or convey the property without the granteeGrimes v. Gouldmann, 232 Md. App. 230 (2017), slip op. 1-2, 12Verified Oct 23, 2026View source.
Maryland allows a transfer-on-death beneficiary designation on a vehicle titleMd. Code, Transp. 13-115Verified Oct 21, 2026View source, filed through the Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA).
Free tools for planning your estate in Maryland: what a will or trust costs, whether you need a trust or TOD deed, and how documents are signed.
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In Maryland, a will-based plan pays probate attorney fees of 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 the estate; a funded revocable trust keeps those assets out of probate and off that fee.
An attorney-prepared revocable living trust in Maryland runs $4,250Estimate: 10 hours at $425, Clio's Maryland Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $6,375Estimate: 15 hours at $425, Clio's Maryland Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source for an individual, against $0 to $549 up front plus a subscription with an online service.
An attorney-prepared will in Maryland runs $1,110Estimate: 3 hours at $370, Clio's Maryland Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $2,220Estimate: 6 hours at $370, Clio's Maryland Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source, against $0 to $299 up front with an online service, and probate on a $500,000 estate adds about $33,231Md. Est. & Trusts § 7-602 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source.
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In Maryland, a parent names a guardian for a minor child in a willMd. Code, Est. & Trusts §§ 13–701, 13–702, 13–201, 13–207Verified Sep 15, 2026View source, and the nomination covers the child until the age of majority, 18Md. Code, Gen. Provisions § 1–401Verified Sep 15, 2026View source.
Probate in Maryland takes 6 months to 9 months for a simple estate and charges attorney fees of 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 the estate; assets held in a revocable trust skip both.
Estate planning articles for Maryland.
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