Lawyers, Answer Questions  & Get Points Log In
Maryland Probate Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Real Estate Law and Probate for Maryland on
Q: My brother and I inherited our father's house with no lien (equal shares). I am buying his 1/2 interest in the property

based on the FMV. I am paying cash, no loan needed. I am wondering the pros/cons of either (1) transferring the property into our joint names first, then completing the buy-out after the estate is closed, or (2) doing the buy-out through the estate, then we distribute the house/funds accordingly.... View More

Cedulie Renee Laumann
Cedulie Renee Laumann
answered on Aug 31, 2023

Thanks for your post. One beneficiary/heir buying out the other(s) presents a fairly common scenario.

When an estate has enough other liquid assets, then to eliminate transfer taxes it often makes sense to distribute the real estate entirely to the child who wants to acquire it and...
View More

2 Answers | Asked in Probate for Maryland on
Q: How long should it take to be appointed personal representative in Maryland?

My wife applied to be the personal representative of my MILs estate on April 21, 2023. As of June 5th, there is no response from the court. The register of wills did not have the latest will and we don't have an original, but we had a copy. My wife is listed as the primary representative... View More

Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on Jun 7, 2023

Wow. You don't have the latest version of the will, and what you do have is only a copy. No, that's not good enough. You're heading for judicial probate on this one. That's why it's taking so long. There has to be a proceeding regarding what happened to the most recent... View More

View More Answers

2 Answers | Asked in Probate for Maryland on
Q: How long should it take to be appointed personal representative in Maryland?

My wife applied to be the personal representative of my MILs estate on April 21, 2023. As of June 5th, there is no response from the court. The register of wills did not have the latest will and we don't have an original, but we had a copy. My wife is listed as the primary representative... View More

John Michael Frick
John Michael Frick
answered on Jun 5, 2023

Ordinarily, you are required to make a court appearance and produce the original will to be appointed as the personal representative of a decedent's estate. The fact that you don't have the original, but do have a copy, tells me that you may be trying to do something without an attorney... View More

View More Answers

2 Answers | Asked in Real Estate Law, Estate Planning and Probate for Maryland on
Q: Hello, I am attempting to make sense of what rights I may have as tenants in common with my brother in my fathers's Will

In the Will, he states, "I give and devise unto my wife my real estate [home address] for the remainder of her natural life, or until she shall decide to reside elsewhere on a permanent basis, or until she shall remarry...she shall pay all maintenance cost, insurance, and property taxes at her... View More

Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on Jun 7, 2023

You may only have a future interest after your father's widow (your mother?) no longer is residing in the house. You have no present rights to enforce, unless it has to do with an accusation that your father's widow is causing "waste" to the property (e.g., not paying the taxes... View More

View More Answers

2 Answers | Asked in Real Estate Law, Estate Planning and Probate for Maryland on
Q: Hello, I am attempting to make sense of what rights I may have as tenants in common with my brother in my fathers's Will

In the Will, he states, "I give and devise unto my wife my real estate [home address] for the remainder of her natural life, or until she shall decide to reside elsewhere on a permanent basis, or until she shall remarry...she shall pay all maintenance cost, insurance, and property taxes at her... View More

Cedulie Renee Laumann
Cedulie Renee Laumann
answered on Jun 5, 2023

Hi and thanks for posting a real estate question.

The first variable is whether your father's wife is still living. This appears to be a life estate to your father's wife, with the life estate ending if the life tenant moves out or remarries.

You describe a position...
View More

View More Answers

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Maryland on
Q: Any legal ramifications for withholding a will when someone passes ?Also related, anyway to find attorney who prepared

My boyfriend of 10 years passed away April 1. He told me in 2020/2021 he had done a will & it was with his papers at his shop. He told me who the executor was & that his son wasn't to get anything. It was not filed with register of wills

I believe his son found the will.... View More

Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on May 31, 2023

Have you checked with the executor to see if he has a copy of the Will, or any correspondence regarding being named executor? Do you or anyone you know have access to the shop where the Will supposedly was stored? Do you know who he named as beneficiaries under his will?

The purported...
View More

1 Answer | Asked in Collections and Probate for Maryland on
Q: How long can creditors make claims on a decedent's estate? All notices were given and the estate closed in Dec 2022.

The decedent died on 3/08/2022. The Notice to Creditors was published in March 2022 just after the decedent passed. The estate closed on 12/19/2022. I am personal representative and am still getting bills for medical services provided back in May 2021 thru January 2022. Am I obligated to pay them?

Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on Mar 29, 2023

If these bills are Medicare or Medicaid-related, and are requesting reimbursements for benefits paid through those programs, then maybe. Otherwise, creditors have an outer deadline of 6 months from the date of death to file a formal claim in the estate (not simply mail bills--the claim if a formal... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Probate and Estate Planning for Maryland on
Q: My 2nd home is in Maryland. My 2 kids live there. My will gives it to them equally but can they live there thru probate?
Richard Sternberg
Richard Sternberg
answered on Mar 2, 2023

You need to discuss your situation with a lawyer. There are way too many unanswered questions. Is the home free & clear? Are there other heirs? Will the two heirs share it equally and get along in it? Do you want them to have the house or the proceeds from the house?

The short, and...
View More

View More Answers

2 Answers | Asked in Probate and Estate Planning for Maryland on
Q: My 2nd home is in Maryland. My 2 kids live there. My will gives it to them equally but can they live there thru probate?
Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on Mar 4, 2023

Yes, they can live there through probate, so long as the PR permits it (or the Will directs that they may). Are the contents of the house also going to the two children in the home, or are other persons receiving some of those contents? Until the house is distributed by deed to your two children,... View More

View More Answers

2 Answers | Asked in Tax Law, Real Estate Law and Probate for Maryland on
Q: Maryland Inheritance tax calculation. Based on amount before or after federal and state tax deductions?

I think I understand the "death" taxes in Maryland, but I am not positive on the calculations.

Are all taxes based on the value of the gross estate, or are some calculated based on the value after other taxes have been deducted?

For example:

Gross value of estate... View More

Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on Feb 26, 2023

Taxes are imposed on the gross estate. There are exemptions, credits and deductions that are/may be applicable. You absolutely need to pay a CPA to do these taxes for this size of an estate, as well as have estate counsel for the estate administration (or trust distribution). There are too many... View More

View More Answers

2 Answers | Asked in Tax Law, Real Estate Law and Probate for Maryland on
Q: Maryland Inheritance tax calculation. Based on amount before or after federal and state tax deductions?

I think I understand the "death" taxes in Maryland, but I am not positive on the calculations.

Are all taxes based on the value of the gross estate, or are some calculated based on the value after other taxes have been deducted?

For example:

Gross value of estate... View More

Cedulie Renee Laumann
Cedulie Renee Laumann
answered on Feb 27, 2023

Maryland inheritance tax is based on the relationship of the giver to the recipient, and is not tied to other death taxes, so on a $20M estate this could be $2M, $0 or nearly anything in between. (And if the tax is paid "outside" of the gift, Maryland will "tax the tax" and... View More

View More Answers

2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Maryland on
Q: Will excuses the need to post bond for the performance of duties. Do I still need nominal bond in MD?

Maryland probate estate value is $10,000 or more.

Will states: "I hereby excuse those persons named in or appointed pursuant to this Will as Personal Representatives from the necessity of posting any bond or other security for the faithful performance of their respective duties."... View More

Richard Sternberg
Richard Sternberg
answered on Feb 22, 2023

I agree with Ms. Laumann in almost all respects. I've never seen or heard of nominal bond being waived by prepaying taxes or probate costs. I believe that is because the nominal bond also covers potential unfilled claims of creditors, but I haven't researched that in a really long time.... View More

View More Answers

2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Maryland on
Q: Will excuses the need to post bond for the performance of duties. Do I still need nominal bond in MD?

Maryland probate estate value is $10,000 or more.

Will states: "I hereby excuse those persons named in or appointed pursuant to this Will as Personal Representatives from the necessity of posting any bond or other security for the faithful performance of their respective duties."... View More

Cedulie Renee Laumann
Cedulie Renee Laumann
answered on Feb 22, 2023

In a word, yes, even where a Will waives bond the Register can still require a nominal bond to cover anticipated inheritance tax and other court fees.

Wills almost always waive the bond requirement for monies going to people who may inherit. However the government doesn't...
View More

View More Answers

2 Answers | Asked in Business Law and Probate for Maryland on
Q: if someone owned a small business and you are co-president of the company and he dies with a non signed witness will,

and you are running the business do I have any rights?

Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on Jan 31, 2023

Your use of pronouns "someone", "you", "he" and "I" is beyond confusing. It is unclear who these pronouns are referring to, other than the "I."

I'll take a stab: the owner of the company died without a will, and you are...
View More

View More Answers

2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Maryland on
Q: Aunt died intestate in the state of Maryland.

No spouse, no children, no parents, no grandparents. One living sibling, and three deceased siblings. Does the living sibling receive everything, or do the children of the deceased siblings (nieces and nephews) receive a share?

Cedulie Renee Laumann
Cedulie Renee Laumann
answered on Nov 18, 2022

If there is no Will and no surviving spouse, parents or children / grandchildren, the nieces and nephews of the Deceased (children of the deceased sibling) receive under "representation". For example, if there were 4 siblings who either survived or who died with their own issue, then the... View More

View More Answers

2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Maryland on
Q: Aunt died intestate in the state of Maryland.

No spouse, no children, no parents, no grandparents. One living sibling, and three deceased siblings. Does the living sibling receive everything, or do the children of the deceased siblings (nieces and nephews) receive a share?

Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on Nov 19, 2022

No, the estate is split 4 ways "by representation": one-fourth share to the surviving sibling; one-fourth share for each deceased sibling who left surviving issue (children, grandchilden, etc.), which is further divided in equal shares among that deceased sibling's children.... View More

View More Answers

3 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Maryland on
Q: What happens if someone refuses to sign probate papers?

Everyone has already appeared in Orphan's court and agreed to the administators. Bit now one person is refusing to sign the approval papers. Can the court make everyone proceed with probate?

Cedulie Renee Laumann
Cedulie Renee Laumann
answered on Nov 11, 2022

The Court does not need everyone's consent to "proceed with probate". Consent may affect whether or not the appointed person needs to post full or nominal bond.

The law sets an order of priority for people to serve as Personal Representative. When multiple people with the...
View More

View More Answers

3 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Maryland on
Q: What happens if someone refuses to sign probate papers?

Everyone has already appeared in Orphan's court and agreed to the administators. Bit now one person is refusing to sign the approval papers. Can the court make everyone proceed with probate?

Richard Sternberg
Richard Sternberg
answered on Nov 10, 2022

Your question says you are in DC, but it is posed as a Maryland question, and I am going to guess the estate is filed in PG County, because, even though it's called Orphan's Court formally, in Montgomery, the hearings are in the Circuit Court by the Circuit Court bench, so laypeople never... View More

View More Answers

1 Answer | Asked in Probate and Estate Planning for Maryland on
Q: Dad died in MD with all (I think) assets in trust. Can I file for letters of Admin now, and open estate later if needed?

Montgomery county, only assets are in financial accounts. Valuable property was divided among children and charities before his death. He is to inherit money from his sister who died in 6 weeks prior to his death

Richard Sternberg
Richard Sternberg
answered on Oct 25, 2022

In Maryland, the way you get Letters of Administration is by filing a Petition for Probate. That opens an estate. If the assets are all in non-probate assets, they get listed separately in the Information Report.

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Real Estate Law and Probate for Maryland on
Q: Does estate have to be closed before beneficiary receives money.

I am a beneficiary, and I’m being told that I have to wait to receive any money until the account is closed. And that unless I sign over my rights to property to sell it that it cannot be closed. If I sign over my rights to the property they will close the estate and then said I would get any... View More

Richard Sternberg
Richard Sternberg
answered on Oct 20, 2022

If you are asking whether you can have the proceeds from the sale of the house before you agree that the house should be sold, the answer is sort of obvious. But, perhaps the real issue here is that you don't trust the personal representative or their counsel. If so, you should retain your own... View More

Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.

The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.

Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.