Back to Maryland
Baltimore City, MD Probate Information
Quick facts
| Topic | Baltimore City information |
|---|---|
| Court | Orphans' Court for Baltimore City, Courthouse East, 111 North Calvert Street, Suite 311, Baltimore, MD 21202. Baltimore City elects three judges, and the Maryland Constitution requires them to be Maryland lawyers in good standing. |
| Where you file | Register of Wills for Baltimore City, Courthouse East, 111 North Calvert Street, 3rd Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202. The Register opens the estate, appoints the personal representative in administrative probate and issues letters of administration (Md. Code, Est. & Trusts §§ 5-301 and 5-302). |
| Mailing address | 111 North Calvert Street, 3rd Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202. Same as the street address. |
| Phone | Register of Wills: (410) 752-5131. Orphans' Court: (410) 396-5034. Toll-free Register line: (888) 876-0035. |
| Fax | Register of Wills: (410) 752-3494. Orphans' Court: (410) 545-3487. |
| [email protected], for questions only. The office states that it cannot accept filings through email. | |
| Hours and visit rule | Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closed weekends and state holidays. Call (410) 752-5131 before visiting. Appointments are taken ahead of walk-ins, and a walk-in arriving after 3:00 p.m. may be served the next business day. Everyone entering Courthouse East is subject to a security search. |
| Probate fee | Statewide schedule by probate estate value under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 2-206(b)(2), for estates opened on or after October 1, 2022: $0 under $50,000, $100 from $50,000 to under $100,000, $200 from $100,000 to under $500,000, and higher tiers up to $10,000 plus 0.02% of the excess above $10,000,000. No fee is due on a small estate as defined in Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 5-601 under ET § 5-606(c). The probate fee is collected when the first administration account is filed under ET § 7-305, not when the estate is opened. |
| Local forms | No Baltimore City probate form or local cover sheet is published. Use the Registers of Wills' statewide numbered forms and New Estate Packets. |
| E-filing | No e-filing for estate opening. Maryland Electronic Courts (MDEC) does not cover Register of Wills estate filings or the Orphans' Court under Maryland Rule 20-101. File on paper in person or by mail. |
| Case search | Use the Registers of Wills statewide Estate Search at registers.maryland.gov. Maryland Judiciary Case Search is not the estate lookup system. |
| Remote appearance | Not published by the court. Maryland Rules Title 21 does not extend to the Orphans' Court under Maryland Rule 1-101. Ask the Register's office before assuming a hearing can be handled by video. |
| Orphans' Court sitting window | Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., as printed in the Maryland Judiciary's Orphans' Court directory revised June 4, 2026. Hearing dates still come from the Register's office. |
| Website | registers.maryland.gov/main/baltimorecity.html |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file, identify what the decedent owned alone, what was co-owned, what had a beneficiary, and what debts are secured by property. In Maryland, the route, the forms and the fee depend on the probate assets and on value rules such as Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 5-601 for a small estate. Baltimore City's Register of Wills asks you to call (410) 752-5131 before visiting so the office can tell you what to bring and whether an appointment makes sense.
If you do not know where the accounts are, start asset discovery before you stand in line downtown. Maryland also has a limited order tool: Form 1147, with Form 1148, can ask for an order allowing a search for assets in the decedent's sole name or for a will in a safe deposit box. Sunset's 2,300-institution asset discovery helps families build the account list for estate settlement before they choose the probate packet.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Baltimore City is its own Maryland probate jurisdiction. It is not part of Baltimore County, and an estate for a person domiciled in Baltimore City is opened with the Register of Wills for Baltimore City at 111 North Calvert Street. An estate for a person domiciled in Baltimore County is opened with the separate Register of Wills in Towson.
Maryland venue is based on domicile: administrative or judicial probate under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 5-402 is filed where the decedent was domiciled at death, and only one jurisdiction may maintain the proceeding (Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 5-103). If the decedent was not domiciled in Maryland but owned Maryland property, venue is the Maryland jurisdiction where the petitioner believes the largest part in value of that property was located.
The Baltimore City office serves addresses inside the city limits. The Maryland Manual describes Baltimore City as separated from Baltimore County as a governmental unit in 1851 and on a par with county jurisdictions since the Maryland Constitution of 1851.
The jurisdiction process
- Deliver the original will and any codicils to the Register of Wills for Baltimore City promptly after death, even if no estate will be opened. The custodian of the will must deliver it to the proper Register under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 4-203(b)(1). This office does not accept filings by email.
- Identify the assets, debts and likely route. If assets or the will cannot be found, consider a limited order using Form 1147 and Form 1148 before opening the estate.
- Call the Register's office at (410) 752-5131 before visiting. The office takes appointments ahead of walk-ins, and a walk-in arriving after 3:00 p.m. may be served the next business day.
- Complete the statewide forms or use an assembled New Estate Packet. There is no Baltimore City cover sheet. A regular estate generally starts with Form 1112, Schedule A, Form 1104, Form 1114 and bond papers. A small estate under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 5-601 generally starts with Form 1103, Schedule B, Form 1104, Form 1118, Form 1109, Form 1124, Form 1117 and Form 1153. If the proposed personal representative lives outside Maryland, include Form 1106 for the Maryland resident agent.
- File the papers on paper with the Register of Wills for Baltimore City, either by mail to 111 North Calvert Street, 3rd Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202, or in person at Courthouse East. Everyone entering Courthouse East is subject to a security search.
- The Register acts on administrative probate. In the ordinary case, the Register admits the will, appoints the personal representative and issues letters of administration under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts §§ 5-301 and 5-302, so no judge is involved at opening.
- Give notice. The notice of appointment is published and mailed, and interested persons listed on Form 1104 receive notice. Creditor claims are barred unless presented within the earlier of six months after death or two months after mailed or delivered notice under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 8-103.
- Use the Orphans' Court when a hearing is needed. The Orphans' Court for Baltimore City sits in Suite 311 of the same building, has its own phone number, (410) 396-5034, and approves accounts, fees and personal representative commissions under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts §§ 2-101 and 7-601. Its published sitting window is Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., as of the June 4, 2026 directory revision.
- Administer, inventory and account. The personal representative files the inventory under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 7-201 and administration accounts under ET § 7-305. The probate fee under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 2-206(b)(2) is collected when the first administration account is filed, not at the counter. Inheritance tax, when it applies, is handled by the Register under Md. Code, Tax-Gen. § 7-204.
- Close the estate. The Orphans' Court reviews the final account and approves any required personal representative commissions or attorney's fees under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts §§ 2-101 and 7-601.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Baltimore City
Baltimore City does not publish its own probate form, local cover sheet or local intake packet. The forms used here are the Maryland Registers of Wills' statewide numbered forms and assembled New Estate Packets.
| Need | Forms |
|---|---|
| Open a regular estate | Form 1112 Petition for Administration of Regular Estate, Form 1136 Schedule A, Form 1104 List of Interested Persons, Form 1114 Notice of Appointment, and bond papers such as Form 1115, Form 1116 or Form 1117. |
| Open a small estate | For a small estate under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 5-601, use Form 1103 Petition for Administration of a Small Estate, Form 1137 Schedule B, Form 1104, Form 1118, Form 1109, Form 1124, Form 1117 and Form 1153. |
| Out-of-state personal representative | Form 1106 Appointment of Resident Agent. |
| Search for assets or a will before opening | Form 1147 Petition for Limited Order and Form 1148 Schedule C. |
| Ask for a fee waiver | Form 1220 Request for Waiver of Fees, tied to Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 2-206(a)(4). |
| Modified administration | Use the statewide modified administration forms if the estate qualifies under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 5-702. |
Download the interactive forms and complete them on your device rather than filling them out in a browser.
Local nuance
Baltimore City-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means |
|---|---|
| Baltimore City is separate from Baltimore County | Baltimore City is an independent city and county-equivalent. Use the Baltimore City Register of Wills for a decedent domiciled in Baltimore City. Use the Towson office only for a decedent domiciled in Baltimore County. |
| Two offices in one building | The Register of Wills is on the 3rd floor of Courthouse East at 111 North Calvert Street. The Orphans' Court for Baltimore City is in Suite 311. The Register's phone is (410) 752-5131, and the court's phone is (410) 396-5034. |
| Lawyer-judge requirement | Baltimore City elects three Orphans' Court judges to four-year terms, and Md. Const. art. IV, § 40(b) requires each judge to be admitted to practice in Maryland and in good standing. The Maryland Judiciary states that in Baltimore City, and in two other Maryland jurisdictions, one judge may preside alone rather than all three sitting as a panel. |
| Weekday sitting window | The Maryland Judiciary's Orphans' Court directory, revised June 4, 2026, lists the Baltimore City court's sitting window as Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Do not treat that as a guaranteed hearing date. The Register's office controls scheduling. |
| Appointment-first counter | The Register asks you to call (410) 752-5131 before visiting. Appointments are taken ahead of walk-ins, and a walk-in arriving after 3:00 p.m. may be served the next business day. |
| No filings by email | The office publishes an email address for questions but states that it cannot accept filings through email. |
| Weather and security | The Register's office closes for inclement weather when the Circuit Court for Baltimore City closes. Everyone entering Courthouse East is subject to a courthouse security search. |
| Safekeeping wills | A will held by this office for safekeeping under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 4-202 is released only to the testator in person, and the office requires a copy of the testator's driver's license. |
Recent updates
| Date | Update |
|---|---|
| June 4, 2026 | The Maryland Judiciary revised its Orphans' Court judges and registers directory. The Baltimore City entry lists the Orphans' Court at 111 North Calvert Street, Suite 311, with its own phone and fax and a published sitting window of Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Baltimore City path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | If the Baltimore City home passed by survivorship, it may not be a probate asset. The spouse may still need to open an estate for assets held in the decedent's name alone. If the estate is a small estate under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 5-601, no fee is due under ET § 5-606(c). If Maryland real property is to pass to an heir who lives there and the estate cannot pay by reason of poverty, the Register must waive fees under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 2-206(a)(4) using Form 1220. | Sunset helps identify accounts, separate probate from non-probate assets and generate a packet for the Baltimore City Register. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | An out-of-state personal representative may serve if a Maryland resident signs Form 1106 as resident agent. The office publishes a main line, a toll-free line and mail service, so much of the estate settlement can begin without a trip to Baltimore. The original will still must be physically delivered because the office does not accept filings by email. | Sunset helps gather documents, prepare the small estate packet under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 5-601, and flag the resident agent requirement. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A Baltimore City house in the child's sole name usually points to a regular estate, starting with Form 1112, Schedule A, Form 1104, notice and bond papers. Real estate sales can extend the timeline, and disputes go to the Orphans' Court for Baltimore City at Suite 311. A single lawyer-judge may hear the matter here. | Sunset helps find accounts, organize the home-sale and creditor information, prepare the filing packet and connect the family with a vetted probate attorney when the sale or dispute needs counsel. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Register of Wills for Baltimore City | The main probate self-help counter for Baltimore City. The Register's office can answer general questions and assist with preparing required forms, but it cannot give legal advice. | Courthouse East, 111 North Calvert Street, 3rd Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202. (410) 752-5131. Toll-free: (888) 876-0035. [email protected] for questions only. |
| Registers of Wills statewide forms, fees and Estate Search | Statewide forms, New Estate Packets, fee schedule, deadlines, Estate Search and related Register tools for Maryland estate settlement. | registers.maryland.gov |
| Maryland Judiciary Wills and Estates and Orphans' Court pages | Plain-language court information explaining that the Register of Wills serves as clerk to the Orphans' Court and that the Orphans' Court is Maryland's probate court under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 2-101. | mdcourts.gov/legalhelp/willsestates and mdcourts.gov/orphanscourt |
| People's Law Library of Maryland | Consumer legal library with Maryland estate administration and probate articles. It is a library, not a legal advice provider. | peoples-law.org |
| Maryland Legal Aid | Free civil legal services for financially eligible households. Its published wills and estates service is brief advice for clients who need help drafting wills or advance directives, not representation of personal representatives in estate administration. | Baltimore City office: 500 E. Lexington Street, Baltimore, MD 21202. Local phone: (410) 951-7777. Statewide intake: 1-888-465-2468, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. |
| Maryland Court Help Centers | The Help Centers provide free civil help, but their own rules exclude personal representatives by name. Do not rely on them for probate help. | Call or chat: 410-260-1392, 8:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. |
| Local lawyer referral numbers | The Baltimore City Register points readers to local and statewide bar referral resources and to volunteer lawyers. MVLS scope and eligibility should be confirmed directly before relying on it. | Baltimore City Bar Association: 410-539-5936. Maryland State Bar Association: 800-492-1964. Volunteer Lawyers Service: 800-510-0050. |
| Property and vital records contacts published by the Register | Useful when the estate includes Baltimore City real property or when death certificates are needed. | Baltimore City Land Records: 410-333-3760. Vital Statistics Administration: 877-463-3464. |
When to hire an attorney
Many Baltimore City estates can begin at the Register's counter because the Register may help with required forms and general questions. A probate attorney makes sense if someone contests the will, objects to the personal representative, disputes ownership of an asset, files a claim that should be disallowed under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 8-103, raises an elective share issue, or if the main asset is a house that must be sold or is tied to tax-sale concerns. Baltimore City also keeps the de novo appeal option to the Circuit Court for Baltimore City under Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 12-502, while a direct appeal from a final Orphans' Court judgment goes to the Appellate Court of Maryland under Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 12-501. Sunset connects families with a vetted probate attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families identify financial accounts, insurance, retirement assets, real property clues and debts before they choose the Baltimore City probate path. Better asset information makes estate settlement cleaner and helps prevent avoidable amended filings.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the asset list, family information and will status into an organized packet for the Register of Wills for Baltimore City, using Maryland's statewide forms and the local filing address.
Find a local probate attorney. When a Baltimore City estate involves a contested appointment, a house sale, inheritance tax questions under Md. Code, Tax-Gen. § 7-204, estate tax questions under Md. Code, Tax-Gen. § 7-309, or a court hearing, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Maryland probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Sunset gives families a guided estate settlement workspace, document organization and attorney connection without charging the family to use the platform.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Baltimore City?
File with the Register of Wills for Baltimore City at Courthouse East, 111 North Calvert Street, 3rd Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202. You file with the Register, not directly with the Orphans' Court. The Register opens the estate, appoints the personal representative in administrative probate and issues letters of administration under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts §§ 5-301 and 5-302.
Is Baltimore City part of Baltimore County for probate?
No. Baltimore City is an independent city and a separate county-equivalent probate jurisdiction. A decedent domiciled in Baltimore City is handled by the Baltimore City Register of Wills. A decedent domiciled in Baltimore County is handled by the separate Towson office.
Can I file a Baltimore City estate online or by email?
No online estate-opening system is published for Baltimore City. Maryland Electronic Courts (MDEC) does not cover Register of Wills estate filings or the Orphans' Court under Maryland Rule 20-101, and the Baltimore City office states that it cannot accept filings through email. File on paper in person or by mail.
Do I need an appointment at the Baltimore City Register of Wills?
The office asks you to call (410) 752-5131 before visiting. Appointments are taken ahead of walk-ins, and a visitor without an appointment who arrives after 3:00 p.m. may be served the next business day.
Does Baltimore City have its own probate forms?
No local Baltimore City probate form or cover sheet is published. Use the statewide Maryland Registers of Wills forms. A small estate under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 5-601 uses Form 1103, and a regular estate uses Form 1112. If you need to search for assets or a will before opening the estate, ask about a limited order using Form 1147.
What does it cost to open an estate in Baltimore City, and when do I pay?
The probate fee is the statewide schedule in Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 2-206(b)(2), for estates opened on or after October 1, 2022. It starts at $0 for a probate estate under $50,000, rises to $100 from $50,000 to under $100,000, and continues in tiers up to $10,000 plus 0.02% of the excess over $10,000,000. No fee is due on a small estate under ET § 5-606(c). The fee is collected when the first administration account is filed under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 7-305, not at the opening counter.
How do I look up a Baltimore City estate?
Use the Registers of Wills statewide Estate Search at registers.maryland.gov. It shows Maryland Register of Wills estate cases across all 24 jurisdictions. The Judiciary's general Case Search covers circuit court and District Court matters, not estates opened with the Register.
Can I appear at an Orphans' Court hearing by video in Baltimore City?
Do not assume that. Maryland Rules Title 21 applies to the Supreme Court of Maryland, the Appellate Court of Maryland, the circuit courts and the District Court of Maryland, but it does not extend to the Orphans' Court under Maryland Rule 1-101. Ask the Register's office before relying on a remote option. Many estates never require a court appearance.
How long does estate settlement take in Baltimore City?
The Maryland Judiciary says most estates are wrapped up within nine to eighteen months of death unless there is litigation or real estate must be sold, and that small estate proceedings are often closed within two months. Those are statewide Judiciary estimates, not a Baltimore City scheduling promise.
Can I register a domestic partnership with the Baltimore City Register of Wills?
Yes. Two people domiciled in Baltimore City may file a Declaration of Domestic Partnership with the Register of Wills under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 2-214. The Registers' published fee schedule lists the declaration fee as $25.00, and additional certificates as $2.00 each. For decedents dying on or after October 1, 2023, a surviving registered domestic partner is exempt from Maryland inheritance tax under Md. Code, Tax-Gen. § 7-203(l)(3).
Shaped by the families we've helped
Thank you to the thousands of families who have trusted Sunset to help settle their loved ones' estates. This page is shaped by the questions they actually asked and the obstacles they actually hit — and that hard-won experience is what keeps it accurate, current, and genuinely useful to the families who come next.