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Simplified Probate for Small Estates in Maryland

Written by Dianne Rosell, LawServer Attorney-Editor

Last Updated December 15, 2008

In general, when someone dies, the estate must go through probate which can be a complicated and lengthy process. But many states provide less complicated options for smaller estates.

Maryland law provides for simplified probate when the value of the property of the decedent subject to administration less does not exceed $30,000 ($50,000 if surviving spouse is sole heir). The decedent's personal representative may file a petition for the administration of small estate.

Questions & Answers: Simplified Probate for Small Estates in Maryland

Our daughter was killed 7-15-11 near Gettysburg, PA. She lived in Whitehall, MD in a one-bedroom rental house. She was mired in debt, recently had divorced and assumed her maiden n...

I am very sorry to hear of your loss. At least let me but your mind at rest on one score. You are in no way liable for your daughter's debts. If you receive any bills for some re...

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Comments (2) add comment

David R. Bryan: ...

Our daughter was killed 7-15-11 near Gettysburg, PA. She lived in Whitehall, MD in a one-bedroom rental house. She was mired in debt, recently had divorced and assumed her maiden name, had a house with her previous husband which had been forelosed upon and was deeply under water with the first and second mortgage. She died intestate, had very little money and very little in the way of valuable property. Most of what she had my wife and I actually owned, including her bedroom set. We had to clean out her rental place asap _ a difficult job. We rented a drug and hauled a bunch of boxes and virtually worthless stuff down to SC. We had to go through boxes and boxes of documents, paper work, memorabilia that she had saved. We sold nothing to anybody, because nothing was of any great valuable. Her clothing we gave to her friends. We spent thousands of dollars on her funeral, grave site, and headstone. She is buried near Gettysburg. My wife and I live a long way from MD, and my wife has many physical problems, including lupus, fatigue, back and knee problems, an acoustic neurom (tumor behind her ear) for which she received gamma knife radiation. We cannot be traipsing all over the country. We wil confer with our attorney, but we do not feel responsilbe for any of our daughte's debts, and most of what she had we had provided for her. Any personal property she had was not worth much, and it was a huge undertaking just to clean up the house in which she lived.

February 11, 2012

Steven Daily: ...

I am very sorry to hear of your loss. At least let me but your mind at rest on one score. You are in no way liable for your daughter's debts. If you receive any bills for some reason, simply write "DECEASED - NO ESTATE." They should give up at some point. Don't let anyone try to con you into taking responsibility. And there is no reason you should need to travel to Maryland for any reason to do with your daughter's affairs. I hope this is helpful.

February 12, 2012