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Do I Need a Bond For a Maryland Small Estate?

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If you are an individual serving as the Personal Representative of a Maryland small estate, the short answer is: yes, you will need to secure a bond on behalf of the estate. However there are some exceptions: if the value of the estate is less than $10,000 (after funeral expenses & family allowances), if the […]

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Maryland Probate: Who Distributes The Estate’s Assets?

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Under Maryland law the named or appointed Personal Representative is responsible for the distribution of the estate assets. To reach the point in the estate administration where the law allows distribution, the Personal Representative must pass several stages and filings and should only distribute assets after approval from the Register of Wills and the Orphans’ […]

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Maryland Probate Fees

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The county Register of Wills office will assess estate administration fees per Maryland law. The fees are assessed when your attorney files the first account for the estate. Additional fees could be assessed if the value of the estate increases. The estate value is determined by reviewing the value of all assets included in the […]

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Maryland Probate: When Real Estate Is The Only Asset

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The Maryland code makes no distinction between personal property (e.g. motor vehicle) and real property (e.g. house & land; real estate) when setting forth the requirement that an estate must be opened for a decedent. There are many instances where an estate does not need to be opened, for example if the sole asset is […]

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Obtain a Maryland Death Certificate for Probate

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To administer an estate in Maryland the first step is to open the estate. This requires filing a Petition, with all supporting documents, bonds, fees, waivers, etc., with the appropriate Register of Wills. One of the many requirements in this filing is to include an original copy of the Maryland death certificate. The Register of […]

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Maryland Estate Administration, Valuation of Stocks

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In Maryland the Information Report and Inventory for an administration probate is due within three months of opening the estate. These must be filed by the attorney and/or the Personal Representative along with proper valuation of all assets and supporting documents and appraisals. Each asset has a particular way of being valued under Maryland law […]

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Maryland Probate: Do I Need a Surety Bond?

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If you are an individual serving as the Personal Representative of a Maryland estate, the short answer is: yes, you will need to secure a surety bond on behalf of the estate. The bond will be filed and/or presented to the appropriate county Office of the Register of Wills, Estate Administration or Probate Division. If […]

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What Death Taxes are Payable in Maryland?

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Both the federal and state governments impose taxes upon the property/estate of a decedent. A federal estate tax with graduated rates is imposed on all property interests that the decedent owned at the time of death. The federal estate tax applies to probate assets and also to non-probate assets. For example, joint property and insurance […]

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Maryland Probate: Creditor Filing Deadline

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How long do creditors have to file a claim against an estate in Maryland? Maryland Estates & Trusts law provides that creditors, except for those otherwise exempt by statute, have six (6) months from the date the decedent died to file claims. All claims against a Maryland estate of a decedent, whether due now or […]

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MD Estate Administration, Obtaining Will Copies

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Once a will or any other document has been filed with a Maryland estate, copies of those documents can be requested. Each county is different in how they manage the process but all will provide the documents upon request while charging a fee for the document and the number of pages requested. The request should […]

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