Objections (or, "exceptions") to an account may be made within 20 days following the court's notice approving the account. Note, this is not 20 days after receiving a copy of the account that has yet to be approved. In many cases, the audit department raises issues and requires... View More

Unless there is some malfeasance or basis to object to the PR's handling of the estate or performance as PR, then there is little reason to hire a lawyer. It will simply cost you money. Lawyers charge by the hour, and that can range depending on how experienced the lawyer is. A couple to... View More

The notices required to be mailed to interested persons by law are set forth in the Estates & Trusts Code and the Procedural Rules of Maryland. They are limited, but you will receive copies of any Accounts filed in the estate. However, all court proceedings and filings in an estate are open... View More

No. The PR merely has to account for the proceeds of the sale in the accounting (periodic and/or final accounts) and costs of sale. Distributions cannot be made to the estate heirs/legatees until after the final account is audited approved. The sale should be for fair market value, unless all... View More

Assuming the "family home" is in the probate estate, then yes, a Personal Representative of an estate can usually sell the property without getting permission from other family members. However, the Personal Representative must report the sale to the court and get the court to sign off... View More

This appears like a conclusion rather than a question. However, to the extent this is a question asking whether a Personal Representative can/should avoid appraising an asset to avoid tax, that would be a very ill-advised course of action. A Personal Representative has an obligation to appraise... View More

Generally speaking, the PR is supposed to report a value to all personal property, but a formal appraisal may or may not be required depending on the nature of the items. A coin collection can be valuable or of no particular value, so if it is worth thousands of dollars, an appraisal is probably... View More

If all interested parties agree that you should be paid, you should be able to work it out as either a claim or a partial renunciation. This is a matter to be discussed with the personal representative or the lawyer.

You can amend the inventory value based either on the tax assessed value or an appraisal by a certified real estate appraiser (not just a real estate agent doing a valuation—must be a certified appraisal). The tax basis in the Property is fixed as of the date of death regardless of whether the... View More

If the souse was purchased during the marriage, you can file a corrective deed by presenting the marriage certificate and the death certificate of the title holder and preparing the deed. That's sometimes helpful in keeping the title clean. If she was not married at the time of purchase, the... View More

I need to attach my disclaimer to the bottom of this answer, because there is a teeny tiny chance that this advice will be wrong for you, but in 37 years of practice it hasn't been. I have seen bond called in a case exactly once in those 37 years. Other than that weird time, it is a protection... View More

It depends on the Survivorship Clause of the Will. The murderer is, of course, excluded, but his heirs are not. If the Will contains a fairly common clause that defines a person as predeceased if they die within 60 days of the testator, then the murderer is considered to have pre-deceased. If the... View More

A simple will is the cheapest most reasonable flat fee most lawyers charge, so please go to a lawyer for this basic necessity and insure that not only the will itself meets the necessary requirements to be legally valid, but also that the will actually distributes your assets how you would want.... View More

I give to my daughters, DAUGHTER 1 and DAUGHTER 2, in as equal shares as possible, my principal place of residence and any real property that I may...

I give the balance of my personal and household effects, automobiles and other tangible personal property to my daughters, DAUGHTER 1 and... View More

The “proof of execution of will” form is signed by any person who was present and witnessed the decedent sign the will, including one of the person’s who signed as a witness. The space for the lawyer signature is only there if the Personal Representative of the estate retained a lawyer to... View More

Mom solely owns the house in this scenario. Without a will, all her children inherit equally. Somebody must petition to become Personal Representative of the estate. If more than one petitions, or there is an objection to anyone petitioning, then the court will decide who gets named. The PR must... View More

Not sure what you mean by "paid to do so now." If you want to sue a sitting judge, you cannot sue for judicial acts in most cases as judges enjoy immunity. If you are asking whether you can sue a judge in the capacity as an attorney, the answer may be yes. But you may also be well outside... View More

Your stepmother is entitled to the first $40,000 and then 50% of the remaining balance of your father’s estate if she and your father were still married when he died. The other 50% would go to you alone if you are the only living child of your father AND your deceased brother has no living... View More

Your posting does not provide sufficient information for a reliable response, and I suggest that you review all of the facts with counsel during a consult. If the house is titled to the decedent, and there is an open estate with a qualified PR, there is no need for a complaint for sale in lieu of... View More

It's going to take a bit of time, particularly if the property is in PG County. The quarantine has hit the Recorder of Deeds fairly hard, and the backlog seems to be a couple months on recording. The Register of Wills Offices across the state are closed and documents are being filed by remote.... View More