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How Do I Obtain Letters of Administration in Maryland?

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It’s possible you’ve asked this question because someone has passed away and the insurance company will not work with you until you have the letters of administration. Or a bank. Or a creditor. Or a landlord. Or a spouse. There are any number of people and institutions that will not communicate critical information to you […]

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Can I Obtain A Copy of Someone’s Will?

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In Maryland people are allowed to file their Wills for safekeeping with the Register of Wills in the county where they reside. While living, a person’s Will is not part of the public record and thus no one can have access to the Will. After the person has died, the Will becomes part of 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: Cremation and Notification

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I was recently asked a question that has been asked a few times: can a person authorize cremation in Maryland without notifying next of kin? In other words: can you make an order to be cremated without disclosing this information to others? The short answer: yes. You can indicate in your Will your desire to […]

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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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How to Close an Estate in Maryland Probate

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Under Maryland law, Estates & Trusts, the final approval of the final account, as submitted to the register of wills, automatically closes the estate. This can also terminate the appointment of the personal representative however there are circumstances where you may wish to request to keep the appointment open beyond the closing. Often additional accounts […]

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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 Probate, Duty to Protect Property

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As the Personal Representative (aka executor) of a Maryland estate, you are required to protect and maintain the assets of the estate. Among many other duties this includes protecting any real estate. According to a local insurance company water damage due to frozen pipes is the most frequent claim and damage done to property in […]

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Remove Yourself as Personal Representative, Maryland

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For various reasons the Personal Representative, who could also be an attorney, may wish to resign and be removed from the position. Each state has specific guidelines under the law and it is important that you look at the law for the state in which the estate is being administered. In Maryland the law requires […]

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Maryland Probate: Can Travel Expenses Be Reimbursed?

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If you are an individual serving as the Personal Representative of a Maryland estate, the short answer is: no. Expenses incurred by a Maryland Personal Representative in the course of the ordinary business of administration are part of the services for which the Personal Rep receives her commissions and are not allowable as separate expenses […]

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