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Garrett County, MD Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Garrett County information |
|---|---|
| Filing office and court | File with the Register of Wills for Garrett County, a constitutional office under Md. Const. art. IV, § 41. The Orphans' Court for Garrett County is Maryland's probate court under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 2-101. |
| Courthouse address | Courthouse, 313 East Alder Street, Room 103, Oakland, MD 21550. |
| Mailing address | 313 East Alder Street, Room 103, Oakland, MD 21550. |
| Phone | 301-334-1999. Toll free: 888-334-2203. |
| Fax | 301-334-1984. |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; closed weekends and state holidays. Visitors must pass through a security checkpoint. |
| Probate fee | Statewide value-based probate fee under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 2-206(b)(2), effective for estates opened on or after October 1, 2022; Garrett County adds no surcharge. The fee is assessed later, not at opening, when the first administration account under ET § 7-305 is filed, as provided by ET § 2-206(b)(5)(i), or with the final report under modified administration under ET §§ 2-206(b)(4), 5-702. |
| Local forms | No Garrett County cover sheet. Use the statewide Register of Wills forms, including Form 1103 for a small estate under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 5-601, Form 1112 for a regular estate, Form 1104, Form 1106, Forms 1147 and 1148 for a limited order, and Form 1220 for a fee waiver under ET § 2-206. |
| E-filing | Paper filing with the Register of Wills. The Garrett office states that it cannot accept filings through email. MDEC e-filing does not cover the Orphans' Court under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 2-101 and Maryland Rule 20-101(w), and the Register of Wills is not a court under Md. Const. art. IV, § 41. |
| Case search | Use the Registers of Wills statewide Estate Search at registers.maryland.gov/RowNetWeb/Estates/frmEstateSearch2.aspx. Do not use the Judiciary case search system for a Register of Wills estate. |
| Orphans' Court sitting schedule | As of the Maryland Judiciary directory revised June 4, 2026, the Orphans' Court for Garrett County under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 2-101 sits every Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. until completed. Confirm before traveling. |
| Remote appearance | Maryland Rules Title 21 does not extend to the Orphans' Court under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 2-101 and Maryland Rule 1-101(u). Ask the Register of Wills for Garrett County under Md. Const. art. IV, § 41 before assuming a court matter can be handled by video. |
| Website | https://registers.maryland.gov/main/garrett.html |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Start by identifying the accounts, real property, debts, beneficiary designations, and titled assets before you choose a filing path. Garrett County estate settlement begins at the Register of Wills for Garrett County under Md. Const. art. IV, § 41, but the filing will be smoother if you know what is in the probate estate and what passes outside probate before you call or visit.
If you are not sure whether there are assets in the decedent's sole name, Maryland provides a limited order process using Form 1147 and Form 1148 to search for assets or a will before opening the estate. Sunset's asset discovery searches more than 2,300 institutions and helps turn the information you find into an estate settlement plan for the Garrett County filing office.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Garrett County estates are filed at the Register of Wills for Garrett County, a constitutional office under Md. Const. art. IV, § 41, in the courthouse at 313 East Alder Street, Room 103, Oakland. The Orphans' Court for Garrett County, Maryland's probate court under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 2-101, uses the same courthouse contact information.
The Garrett County filing office serves Oakland, Accident, Bloomington, Friendsville, Grantsville, Kitzmiller, McHenry, Swanton, and the Deep Creek Lake area. Maryland venue is based on where the decedent was domiciled under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 5-103. If the decedent lived outside Maryland but owned Maryland property, venue is the county holding the largest part in value of the Maryland property. Only one Maryland county may maintain the estate proceeding under ET § 5-103(c)(1).
The jurisdiction process
- Confirm that Garrett County is the right place to file. Maryland venue depends on the decedent's domicile under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 5-103, or, for a nonresident decedent, the Maryland county with the largest part in value of the Maryland property.
- Collect the original will, death certificate, asset information, debt information, and the statewide Register of Wills forms. Use Form 1103 for a small estate under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 5-601, Form 1112 for a regular estate, Form 1104 for interested persons, and Form 1106 if an out-of-state personal representative needs a Maryland resident agent.
- If you need authority to search for assets or a will before opening the estate, ask the Garrett office about Forms 1147 and 1148 for a limited order. This can be useful when the family does not yet know what accounts or safe deposit materials exist.
- File the opening packet with the Register of Wills for Garrett County at 313 East Alder Street, Room 103, Oakland, MD 21550. The Register of Wills is the filing office under Md. Const. art. IV, § 41. Garrett County estate filings are paper filings at the counter or by mail, and the office states that it cannot accept filings through email.
- In an ordinary administrative probate under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 5-301, the Register may admit the will and appoint the personal representative under ET § 5-302. If the matter requires judicial probate under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 5-402, the Orphans' Court for Garrett County is the court under ET § 2-101.
- Plan for the Maryland probate fee under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 2-206(b)(2), effective for estates opened on or after October 1, 2022. Garrett County adds no surcharge. The fee is assessed when the first administration account under ET § 7-305 is filed, as provided by ET § 2-206(b)(5)(i), or when the final report under modified administration under ET §§ 2-206(b)(4), 5-702 is filed.
- Handle required notice. The Garrett office designates The Daily Record as the newspaper for legal notices it is required to publish. Creditor timing is governed by Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 8-103, including the six-month period measured from the date of death.
- If a hearing is needed, confirm the Tuesday sitting schedule before traveling. As of the Maryland Judiciary directory revised June 4, 2026, the Orphans' Court for Garrett County under ET § 2-101 sits every Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. until completed. Maryland Rules Title 21 do not extend to the Orphans' Court under Maryland Rule 1-101(u), so ask before assuming video participation is available.
- After appointment, use the letters of administration issued under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 5-302 to collect probate assets, pay approved expenses and claims, file any required inventory under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 7-201, and file any required administration account under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 7-305.
- Close the estate through the applicable Maryland process. If the estate qualifies for modified administration under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 5-702, the personal representative files the required final report on that track. Otherwise, the estate closes through the required accounts and court approvals.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Garrett County
Garrett County does not publish a separate probate cover sheet or county-specific probate form set. Estate settlement filings use the statewide Register of Wills forms, which are numbered and designed to be downloaded, completed on your device, printed, and filed with the Register of Wills for Garrett County under Md. Const. art. IV, § 41.
| Form or packet | Use in Garrett County |
|---|---|
| Form 1103 | Petition for Administration of a Small Estate under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 5-601. |
| Form 1112 | Petition for Administration of a Regular Estate. |
| Form 1104 | List of Interested Persons. |
| Form 1106 | Appointment of Resident Agent when an out-of-state personal representative needs a Maryland resident agent. |
| Forms 1147 and 1148 | Petition for Limited Order and Schedule C, used to ask for authority to search for assets or a will. |
| Form 1220 | Request for Waiver of Fees under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 2-206. |
| Small Estate and Regular Estate packets | Statewide packets from the Registers of Wills that combine the opening forms used by the Garrett office. The Small Estate packet includes Form 1103 under ET § 5-601. |
The Garrett office designates The Daily Record as the newspaper for legal notices that the office is required to publish.
Local nuance
Garrett County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means |
|---|---|
| Security checkpoint | Visitors to the Garrett County Register of Wills office under Md. Const. art. IV, § 41 must pass through a security checkpoint at the courthouse. |
| Tuesday court sitting | As of the Maryland Judiciary directory revised June 4, 2026, the Orphans' Court for Garrett County under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 2-101 sits every Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. until completed. Confirm with the Register before traveling. |
| Three-judge panel | Garrett County elects three Orphans' Court judges, and Garrett is not one of the counties where circuit court judges sit as an Orphans' Court under Md. Const. art. IV. If a matter is heard, the three elected judges sit together as a panel. |
| Appeal route | In Garrett County, a party may appeal a final judgment of the Orphans' Court under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 2-101 either directly to the Appellate Court of Maryland under Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 12-501 or by de novo appeal to the Circuit Court for Garrett County under CJ § 12-502. The notice is filed with the Register of Wills within 30 days. |
Recent updates
| Local item | Current rule |
|---|---|
| Orphans' Court directory | As of the Maryland Judiciary directory revised June 4, 2026, the Orphans' Court for Garrett County under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 2-101 sits every Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. until completed. |
| Garrett filing practice | The Register of Wills for Garrett County under Md. Const. art. IV, § 41 states that filings are not accepted through email. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Garrett County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Confirm whether the home passes outside probate by title. If a Garrett County estate is still needed, use the Register of Wills for Garrett County under Md. Const. art. IV, § 41. A small estate under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 5-601 measures value using the Maryland probate rules, and a fee waiver may be available under ET § 2-206 when the statutory conditions are met. | Sunset identifies accounts, beneficiary designations, and property information so the spouse can avoid opening more estate settlement work than the assets require. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | File by mail or at the Garrett counter because the office states that it cannot accept filings through email. Use Form 1103 for a small estate under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 5-601, and use Form 1106 if the out-of-state personal representative needs a Maryland resident agent. | Sunset helps organize the asset list, prepare the probate packet, and flag the resident agent step before papers are sent to Oakland. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | Use the Garrett filing office to open the estate and obtain letters of administration under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 5-302. A sale can add time. Claims are governed by Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 8-103, the inventory is governed by Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 7-201, and the first administration account is governed by Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 7-305. | Sunset gathers account and debt information, builds an estate settlement task list, and can connect the family with a local Maryland probate attorney when the sale or title issues need legal help. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps Garrett County families | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Register of Wills for Garrett County | The filing office under Md. Const. art. IV, § 41. The Register may answer general questions and assist with required forms, but cannot give legal advice. | 313 East Alder Street, Room 103, Oakland, MD 21550; 301-334-1999; toll free 888-334-2203; https://registers.maryland.gov/main/garrett.html |
| Registers of Wills statewide pages | Statewide forms, packets, fees under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 2-206, deadlines, and FAQs for Maryland estate filings. | https://registers.maryland.gov/main/forms.html |
| Maryland Estate Search | Statewide Register of Wills estate lookup at registers.maryland.gov. Choose Garrett County to search estate status and docket information. | https://registers.maryland.gov/RowNetWeb/Estates/frmEstateSearch2.aspx |
| People's Law Library of Maryland | Judiciary-linked consumer legal library with estate administration information. It is a library, not a legal aid provider. | https://www.peoples-law.org/cat/wills-estates-probate/estate-administration-probate |
| Maryland Legal Aid, Allegany/Garrett office | Serves Garrett County. Its published wills-and-estates service is brief advice for eligible clients who need help drafting wills or advance directives. | 138 Baltimore Street, Suite 204, Cumberland, MD 21502; 301-777-7474; statewide intake 1-888-465-2468 |
| Maryland Court Help Centers | Free civil help for self-represented individuals, but personal representatives are expressly outside the Help Centers' service scope. | 410-260-1392; https://www.mdcourts.gov/helpcenter |
| Other numbers published by the Garrett office | The Garrett Register's page lists the Comptroller of Maryland Estate Tax Division for estate tax issues under Md. Code, Tax-Gen. § 7-309, the Maryland State Bar Association, and the Volunteer Lawyers Service. | Comptroller Estate Tax Division 410-260-7850; Maryland State Bar Association 800-492-1964; Volunteer Lawyers Service 800-510-0050 |
When to hire an attorney
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches for accounts, insurance, benefits, and other assets that may affect the Garrett County estate settlement plan before you file with the Register of Wills under Md. Const. art. IV, § 41.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the asset information into an organized Maryland probate packet, including the forms commonly used for Garrett County filings and the questions to ask the Register before mailing or visiting.
Find a local probate attorney. If the estate involves a sale, a dispute, a tax question, or a court hearing, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Maryland probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Sunset gives families a practical way to move from asset discovery to estate settlement without guessing which accounts, forms, or next steps are missing.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate papers in Garrett County?
File with the Register of Wills for Garrett County under Md. Const. art. IV, § 41, at 313 East Alder Street, Room 103, Oakland, MD 21550. The Orphans' Court for Garrett County is Maryland's probate court under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 2-101, but the filing counter is the Register of Wills.
Can I file a Garrett County estate by email or through MDEC?
No. The Garrett office states that it cannot accept filings through email. Maryland estate filings are paper filings with the Register of Wills under Md. Const. art. IV, § 41. MDEC e-filing does not cover the Orphans' Court under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 2-101 and Maryland Rule 20-101(w), and the Register of Wills is not a court.
When does the Garrett County Orphans' Court sit?
As of the Maryland Judiciary directory revised June 4, 2026, the Orphans' Court for Garrett County under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 2-101 sits every Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. until completed. No filing-to-hearing window is published for Garrett County, so call the Register before traveling.
Can I appear remotely for a Garrett County probate hearing?
Do not assume that a video appearance is available. Maryland Rules Title 21 apply to the Supreme Court of Maryland, the Appellate Court of Maryland, the circuit courts, and the District Court, not the Orphans' Court, under Maryland Rule 1-101(u). Ask the Register of Wills for Garrett County under Md. Const. art. IV, § 41 before a hearing in the Orphans' Court under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 2-101.
How do I look up a Garrett County estate?
Use the Registers of Wills statewide Estate Search at registers.maryland.gov/RowNetWeb/Estates/frmEstateSearch2.aspx. It is the estate search system for Register of Wills cases. The Judiciary case search system covers other court families and is not the place to search an estate opened with the Garrett Register.
Does Garrett County have its own probate forms?
No separate Garrett County cover sheet or county-specific probate form set is published. Use the statewide Register of Wills forms, including Form 1103 for a small estate under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 5-601, Form 1112 for a regular estate, Form 1104, Form 1106, Forms 1147 and 1148 for a limited order, and Form 1220 for a fee waiver under ET § 2-206.
What probate fee applies in Garrett County?
Garrett County uses Maryland's statewide value-based probate fee under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 2-206(b)(2), effective for estates opened on or after October 1, 2022, and adds no local surcharge. The fee is assessed later, when the first administration account under ET § 7-305 is filed, as provided by ET § 2-206(b)(5)(i), or when the final report under modified administration under ET §§ 2-206(b)(4), 5-702 is filed.
Do I have to travel to Oakland to open a Garrett County estate?
Not always. The Garrett office accepts paper filings at the counter or by mail. Because the office states that it cannot accept filings through email, call the Register of Wills for Garrett County under Md. Const. art. IV, § 41 before mailing if you are unsure what originals, copies, or signatures are needed.
Can the Garrett County Register handle a domestic partnership filing?
Maryland's domestic partnership registry is handled by the Register of Wills under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 2-214. For Garrett County, contact the Register of Wills under Md. Const. art. IV, § 41 about the declaration process and current filing instructions.
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.