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Maryland Probate Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Maryland on
Q: To avoid taxing on a coin collection worth thousands, it's prob best to avoid the appraisal process and divide

the collection among beneficiaries in the meantime UNLESS an heir believes the collection wouldn't be appraised appropriately all together at a later date after regular Estate is closed

Cedulie Renee Laumann
Cedulie Renee Laumann
answered on Mar 15, 2021

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

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Maryland on
Q: Would my father's coin collection need to be appraised before closing the estate classified as 'regular estate'
Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on Mar 14, 2021

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

2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning, Elder Law and Probate for Maryland on
Q: Can I submit a claim for hospice caregiving services rendered by me against my mother's estate in probate

if my siblings authorize and agree to it?

Richard Sternberg
Richard Sternberg
answered on Mar 11, 2021

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.

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3 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning, Real Estate Law, Tax Law and Probate for Maryland on
Q: Questions about selling an inherited house

I inherited a house in Maryland. The estate is in probate and I'm the executor and sole heir (I will be filling for modified administration). As I understand it, the house can be sold either by the estate or deeded to me first before the sale. For both options, when exactly in the probate... View More

Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on Feb 6, 2021

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

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3 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Maryland on
Q: I am in the probate process currently for my father's estate in Baltimore county. The house my parents resided in

Only had his name on it. His name solely on the mortgage, but home owners insurance both names. He had credit card debt for less than 5 grand. My mom still lives in the home and we are trying to secure it for her. If we pay the credit card debt will this help or hinder the process. We just want the... View More

Richard Sternberg
Richard Sternberg
answered on Jan 27, 2021

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

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3 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Maryland on
Q: I received a letter stating that I am an adult heir to my deceased aunt's estate. Her brother my uncle is her representa

I was asked to sign a waiver of personal representative Bond.. how will me signing it affect me and how does it benefit my uncle

Richard Sternberg
Richard Sternberg
answered on Jan 24, 2021

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

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1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Maryland on
Q: If someone kills their parents & commits suicide & they’re in parents will,does his descendants receive his portion

Would this fall under slayer rule, which would kick him out of the will, therefore his descendants would not inherit his portion?

Richard Sternberg
Richard Sternberg
answered on Jan 19, 2021

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

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Maryland on
Q: What is the necessary legal phrase or sentence to ensure that a handwritten will is acceptable/legal in Maryland?

Not the name, spouse, who gets what, how much but the finishing phrase or wordage that oks the handwritten will so it does not have to go to court to be approved).

Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on Jan 16, 2021

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

2 Answers | Asked in Probate and Estate Planning for Maryland on
Q: On my will, I have my 2 daughters listed as beneficiaries. I want to split everything evenly. On the line for property..

On the line for what property I want to leave them, is there a certain wording for "half of assets" or 50%? Or should I leave that line blank? I don't necessarily need to leave each of them each anything in particular. It would basically be the house and everything in it. They will... View More

Marie-Yves Nadine Jean-Baptiste
Marie-Yves Nadine Jean-Baptiste
answered on Jan 13, 2021

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...
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1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Maryland on
Q: Can any type of lawyer sign a "proof of execution of will" in Maryland?
Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on Jan 12, 2021

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

2 Answers | Asked in Probate for Maryland on
Q: Mom lives in house in MD and does not have a will. House is still titled as joint tenants with Dad deceased 19-years ago

Four siblings are living in house with Mom. When Mom dies will probate sell house or can siblings still living in house prevent sale?

Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on Jan 2, 2021

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

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1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Maryland on
Q: Can I bring a lawsuit against a sitting judge who failed to register a Will when she was a Lawyer and paid to do so now

May 2003 paid Lawyer to do power of Attorney and Will was paid to register with Orphan court and she did not I have the information on paying the bill on my checking account

Bennett James Wills
Bennett James Wills
answered on Dec 1, 2020

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

1 Answer | Asked in Probate for Maryland on
Q: My brother was killed by his wife, last year my father passed without a will. My stepmother is the executor, what happen

To the share owed to my brother. It was a 50/50 split between us and my stepmother

Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on Nov 28, 2020

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

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law and Probate for Maryland on
Q: How long would the process take of making a complaint for the sale in Lieu of Partition in Prince George's county, MD?

An elderly disabled person is being forced out of his home that he lived in all of his life by the personal representative. The home had been closed with probate many years ago, and it's still closed, but the personal representative has now decided to sell the home after all this time. The... View More

Richard Sternberg
Richard Sternberg
answered on Nov 16, 2020

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

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Maryland on
Q: In Maryland, if the PR closed an estate 17 years ago without selling it can she reopen it easily at this time to do so?

I would like to please know how unique this situation is where the personal representative went through probate 17 years ago, closed it and now wants to sell the house in 2020 and it is still in closed status. She has filed an updated letter of Administration. She has not taken the deceased... View More

Richard Sternberg
Richard Sternberg
answered on Nov 15, 2020

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

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Maryland on
Q: My father died no will my grandparents both died and had a will it goes a third my dad and a third uncle my and a third

My other uncle how is my grandparents estate going to be split up now grandparents house was left as a third my dad and 2 uncle's got a third how is it distribution now since my dad's died no will and my grandparents have both passed away

Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on Nov 3, 2020

Sorry, your question is far too confusing as to specific facts (and punctuation, which is creating a lot of ambiguity). A lawyer will need to know the order of death for each person who has died, as well as a better description of the terms of your grandparents' wills (specifically, whether... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Real Estate Law and Probate for Maryland on
Q: My father died in the state of Maryland without a will. What steps do I take to sell his house?

His fiancé still lives in the house, but I am his next of kin

Richard Sternberg
Richard Sternberg
answered on Oct 19, 2020

I think I answered another question from you a minute ago. If your father died leaving a house and a motorcycle, and you are his only heir at law in an intestate estate, you need to open an estate, get Letters, list the house, and sell it. It is likely that there are enough assets in the estate to... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Probate for Maryland on
Q: Can my deceased dads girlfriend take his motorcycle to the dealership with only a death certificate?

She’s not his next of kin, his daughter is his next of kin. He still owes 5,000 on the motorcycle, we were going to pay it off but she went behind our back to take it to the dealership.

Richard Sternberg
Richard Sternberg
answered on Oct 19, 2020

Unless the girlfriend is in your father's will or is actually a spouse, or, unless she held title to the motorcycle in joint tenancy with right of survivorship with your father, it isn't her motorcycle. Tell the dealership to give it back. If the note was from the dealership and the... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Probate for Maryland on
Q: I had POA prior to my mom's death on 9/24/20. I signed a contract for the sale of her home on 9/10 prior to her death.

I have been named as the Personal Rep effective October 7, 2020. Can I sign the closing documents and sell the property?

Richard Sternberg
Richard Sternberg
answered on Oct 13, 2020

The PoA expired upon your mother's passing, but the contact was still valid. As appointed personal representative, you can close the sale on behalf of the estate. It will be a slightly unusual case, so you should check with the title agent picked by the buyer if they need anything else to close.

3 Answers | Asked in Probate for Maryland on
Q: I retained an attorney to handle my Mother's estate but months later decided to release him.

My Mothers has minimal assets. Can I represent my Mothers estate and if so, what are the next steps?

Marie-Yves Nadine Jean-Baptiste
Marie-Yves Nadine Jean-Baptiste
answered on Oct 8, 2020

I am sorry for your loss. Based on the little detail provided, I do not suggest you administer the estate yourself without consulting with an attorney. There may be steps you overlook by doing so. Contact a local attorney for a consult to discuss whether you can do this on your own.

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