Estate Planning for St. Mary's County, Maryland Property Owners

For most St. Mary's 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.

Record a TOD deedWhere to recordLocal attorneys

For a St. Mary's 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 St. Mary's 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.

Skipping this planning step means the Register of Wills decides who receives the property: a simple Maryland probate takes 6+ months. Maryland also lets owners name a transfer-on-death beneficiary on vehicle titles, which keeps cars out of the same process.

Record a Transfer-on-Death Deed in St. Mary's County

A transfer-on-death deed names a beneficiary who receives St. Mary's 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.

Create a Maryland TOD deed →St. Mary's County signing requirements →

Where to Record Property Documents

Deeds and other real property documents for St. Mary's County are recorded with the Clerk of the Circuit Court at 41605 Courthouse Drive, Leonardtown, MD 20650. Phone: 1-301-475-7844 ext. 74579. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-4:30 PM.

Documents submitted by mail go to P.O. Box 676, Leonardtown, MD 20650.

The Clerk of the Circuit Court charges $60 for 1-9 pages, $115 for 10+ pages. A 2-page transfer-on-death deed costs $60 to record in St. Mary's County. 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.

St. Mary's County accepts electronic recording through Simplifile.

Recording Office Record

Clerk of the Circuit Court

St. Mary's County

Hours

Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-4:30 PM

Office

41605 Courthouse Drive, Leonardtown, MD 20650

Open in Google Maps

Mail

P.O. Box 676 Leonardtown, MD 20650

Verified October 16, 2026 · Source

Estate Planning Attorneys Serving St. Mary's County

FirmPrince Frederick, MD

Meng Law

Serves 6 counties

Serves Calvert, Charles, St. Mary's, Prince George's, Anne Arundel and Montgomery counties from Prince Frederick. Handles probate and estate and trust administration, including stalled administrations, disputed accountings and issues raised by the Register of Wills or Orphans' Court, plus will contests, trust contests, creditor-claim litigation and guardianship proceedings. George E. Meng has practiced since 1973 and is consulted by other attorneys and fiduciaries on difficult probate and trust matters.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 2 more

Office
85 Sherry Lane, Suite 1BPrince Frederick, MD 20678
Free consultation

FirmLa Plata, MD

Mudd, Mudd & Fitzgerald, P.A.

Since 1907 · Serves 3 counties

Serves Charles, St. Mary's and Calvert counties from La Plata, two blocks from the Charles County Circuit Court. Handles estate administration through the Register of Wills and Orphans' Court, including the petition to open the estate, estate tax returns, payment of creditor claims and distribution to heirs, and represents parties in contested wills, caveats and estate disputes. The firm traces its roots to 1907.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationElder Lawand 2 more

Office
116 La Grange AvenueLa Plata, MD 20646

FirmWaldorf, MD

Southern Maryland Law (Andrews, Bongar, Gormley & Clagett)

Since 1964 · Serves 3 counties

Serves Charles, St. Mary's and Prince George's counties from Waldorf and Lexington Park, where the firm has practiced since 1964. Partners Nasheia Smith and Dave Gormley handle wills, probate and estate administration. Free consultations are limited to injury and bankruptcy cases.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateWills Trusts

Office
11705 Berry Road, Suite 202Waldorf, MD 20603
Virtual consultations

FirmUpper Marlboro, MD

Powers & Worshtil, P.C.

Since 1976 · Serves 7 counties

Serves Prince George's County and six neighboring counties from Upper Marlboro, beside the county courthouse, with a Kensington office by appointment. Handles probate and trust administration, and litigates will contests, trust disputes, breach of fiduciary duty and guardianship disputes. Has practiced in Prince George's County since 1976.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 7 more

Office
5415 Water StreetUpper Marlboro, MD 20772

FirmBowie, MD

Pickett Law, LLC

Serves 2 counties

Serves Prince George's and Calvert counties from offices in Bowie and Prince Frederick. Represents trustees, executors, personal representatives and beneficiaries through probate and estate and trust administration, and drafts wills, trusts, medical directives and financial powers of attorney. Offers free initial consultations at both offices.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateWills Trusts

Office
16701 Melford Boulevard, Suite 400Bowie, MD 20715
Free consultation

FirmMillersville, MD

Chesapeake Wills & Trusts

Serves the whole state

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

Office
231 Najoles Road, Suite 400Millersville, MD 21108
See all 10 firms serving St. Mary's County →

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.

SimplyTrustSimplyTrust Editorial·

Legal Sources

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

Forms for Planning Your Estate in Maryland

Free forms for planning your estate in Maryland: a will, living trust, pour-over will, both powers of attorney, living will, and TOD deed.

Free

Last Will and Testament

In Maryland, a will is signed before 2Md. Est. & Trusts § 4-102Verified Oct 18, 2026View source witnesses, and it is self-proved when properly executedMd. Est. & Trusts § 4-102Verified Oct 18, 2026View source.

Get Started
Free

Codicil to a Will

In Maryland, a codicil is signed before 2Md. Est. & Trusts § 4-102Verified Oct 18, 2026View source witnesses, like a will.

Get Started
Free

Healthcare Power of Attorney

Maryland requires 2Md. Health-General Code Ann. § 5-603Verified Oct 15, 2026View source witnesses for a healthcare power of attorney; notarization is not requiredMd. Health-General Code Ann. § 5-603Verified Oct 15, 2026View source.

Get Started
Free

HIPAA Release

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.

Get Started
Free

Financial Power of Attorney

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.

Get Started
Free

Transfer on Death Deed

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.

Get Started
Free

Lady Bird Deed

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.

Get Started
Free

Vehicle Transfer on Death

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).

Get Started

All Maryland forms

Tools for Planning Your Estate in Maryland

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.

How Do I Sign Estate Documents?

In Maryland, a will is signed before 2Md. Est. & Trusts § 4-102Verified Oct 18, 2026View source witnesses, and notarization is not requiredMd. Est. & Trusts § 4-102Verified Oct 18, 2026View source.

Check the Rules

Will My Estate Documents Transfer?

Maryland recognizes a will signed under the law of the place where it was signedMd. Est. & Trusts § 4-104Verified Oct 18, 2026View source; a will signed in Maryland itself needs 2Md. Est. & Trusts § 4-102Verified Oct 18, 2026View source witnesses, and notarization is not requiredMd. Est. & Trusts § 4-102Verified Oct 18, 2026View source.

Get the Answer

Trust or Will: Which Costs Less?

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.

Calculate Costs

How Much Does a Revocable Living Trust Cost?

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.

Calculate Costs

How Much Does a Will Cost?

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.

Calculate Costs

How Does SimplyTrust Compare to LegalZoom, Trust & Will, and Other Services?

Compare what it costs to make a trust official across SimplyTrust, LegalZoom, Trust & Will, Rocket Lawyer, and Quicken WillMaker.

Compare Options

How Do I Name a Guardian for My Minor Children?

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.

See the Steps

Do I Need a Revocable Trust?

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.

Get the Answer

All Maryland tools

Maryland Estate Planning Articles

Estate planning articles for Maryland.