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Queen Anne's County, MD Probate Information
Quick facts
| Topic | Queen Anne's County information |
|---|---|
| Filing office | Register of Wills for Queen Anne's County, an elected office under Md. Const. art. IV, § 41. |
| Probate court | Orphans' Court for Queen Anne's County, Maryland's probate court under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 2-101. |
| Street address | Liberty Building, 107 North Liberty Street, Suite 220, Centreville, Maryland 21617. |
| Mailing address | Register of Wills, Queen Anne's County, P.O. Box 59, Centreville, MD 21617. Use this mailing address instead of the street address when mailing papers. |
| Phone | 410-758-0585. Toll free: 888-758-0010. |
| Fax | 410-758-4408. |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; closed weekends and state holidays. |
| Probate fee | Maryland uses one statewide probate fee schedule for estates opened on or after October 1, 2022, under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 2-206. The fee is assessed when the first administration account is filed under ET § 2-206(b)(5)(i), not when the estate is opened. |
| Forms | Statewide Register of Wills forms. Queen Anne's County does not publish a separate local probate form set or local cover sheet. |
| E-filing | Maryland estate filings are paper filings with the Register of Wills. Maryland Electronic Courts (MDEC) does not cover the Orphans' Court under Md. Rule 20-101(w), and the Queen Anne's office states that it does not accept filings through email. |
| Estate lookup | Use the statewide Register of Wills Estate Search at registers.maryland.gov, not Maryland Judiciary Case Search. |
| Hearings | As of the Judiciary's Orphans' Court directory revised June 4, 2026, the Orphans' Court for Queen Anne's County sits every Tuesday from 9:00 a.m. to noon. Confirm with the Register before travelling. |
| Remote appearance | Maryland Rules Title 21 apply to the courts named in Md. Rule 1-101(u), not the Orphans' Court. Ask the Register before assuming a video or phone appearance is available. |
| Website | https://registers.maryland.gov/main/queenannes.html |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before contacting the Centreville office, work out what the estate actually contains. Sunset searches for assets across more than 2,300 financial institutions, so families can see accounts, policies and debts before choosing the right estate settlement path.
Queen Anne's County cannot take estate filings by email, so a corrected packet can mean another trip to the Liberty Building or another mailing to P.O. Box 59. Maryland also offers a way to look before opening the estate: a Petition for Limited Orders, Form 1147 with Schedule C on Form 1148, can authorize a search for assets in the decedent's name alone or for a will in a safe deposit box.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Queen Anne's County estate settlement is handled through two offices in Centreville. You file with the Register of Wills for Queen Anne's County, an elected office under Md. Const. art. IV, § 41 that opens the estate, appoints the personal representative in administrative probate under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 5-301 and § 5-302, and issues letters of administration under ET § 5-302. The Orphans' Court for Queen Anne's County is Maryland's probate court under ET § 2-101; it approves administration accounts, commissions and attorney's fees, and hears contested matters.
Use this office when the decedent was domiciled in Queen Anne's County at death. Maryland venue is the county of domicile, and only one county may maintain the probate proceeding under ET § 5-103. If the decedent lived outside Maryland but owned Maryland property, venue is the Maryland county holding the largest part in value of that Maryland property. The Queen Anne's County office serves Centreville and other Queen Anne's County communities identified in the Maryland Legal Aid Upper Eastern Shore service area, including Barclay, Chester, Church Hill, Crumpton, Grasonville, Ingleside, Price, Queen Anne, Queenstown and Stevensville.
The jurisdiction process
- Confirm that Queen Anne's County is the right venue under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 5-103. The estate is opened where the decedent was domiciled at death, and only one county may maintain the proceeding.
- File the original will with the Register of Wills for Queen Anne's County. The custodian of the will must deliver it promptly after death under ET § 4-203(b)(1), even if no estate is opened, and the office states that filings are not accepted through email.
- If assets or a will may be in a safe deposit box, ask whether a Petition for Limited Orders, Form 1147 with Schedule C on Form 1148, is appropriate before opening the estate.
- Download the statewide Register of Wills packet for the estate path you are using, including the small estate path under ET § 5-601 or the regular estate packet, and complete the forms on your device rather than in a browser.
- Bring the petition to the Liberty Building, 107 North Liberty Street, Suite 220, Centreville, Maryland 21617, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or mail it to Register of Wills, Queen Anne's County, P.O. Box 59, Centreville, MD 21617.
- If the nominated personal representative lives outside Maryland, include Form 1106 so a Maryland resident can serve as resident agent.
- If a firearm may be part of the estate, expect to address Form 1153, the Maryland affidavit about attempts to comply with federal, state and local firearms laws.
- The Register handles administrative probate under ET § 5-301, admits the will when appropriate, appoints the personal representative, and issues letters of administration under ET § 5-302. No judge is involved in the ordinary administrative probate opening.
- Give notice as the statewide packet directs, using Form 1114 for a regular estate or Form 1109 for a small estate under ET § 5-601, and file the List of Interested Persons, Form 1104.
- Track the statewide deadlines. The inventory and Information Report are due within 3 months after appointment under ET § 7-201, the first administration account is due within 9 months after appointment under ET § 7-305, and a claim against the estate is forever barred unless presented within the earlier of 6 months after death or 2 months after mailed notice under ET § 8-103(a).
- Pay the probate fee under ET § 2-206 when it is assessed at the first administration account, not at filing. If the estate includes qualifying heir-occupied real property or property under a lien and subject to tax sale, ask about the fee waiver required by ET § 2-206(a)(4) and Form 1220.
- If a hearing or approval is needed, the Orphans' Court for Queen Anne's County acts under ET § 2-101. As of the Judiciary directory revised June 4, 2026, it sits every Tuesday from 9:00 a.m. to noon, but you should confirm the current schedule with the Register before travelling.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Queen Anne's County
Queen Anne's County uses Maryland's statewide Register of Wills form set. The Queen Anne's County office links to the statewide forms page and does not publish a separate local probate packet or local cover sheet.
| Form or packet | When it matters in Queen Anne's County |
|---|---|
| Form 1103 | Petition for Administration of a Small Estate under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 5-601. |
| Form 1112 | Petition for Administration of Regular Estate. |
| Form 1104 | List of Interested Persons. |
| Form 1106 | Appointment of Resident Agent, required when an out-of-state personal representative names a Maryland resident agent. |
| Forms 1147 and 1148 | Petition for Limited Orders and Schedule C, used to request authority to search for assets or a will before the estate is fully opened. |
| Form 1153 | Affidavit about attempts to comply with firearms laws if firearms may be part of the estate. |
| Form 1220 | Request for Waiver of Fees, tied to the fee waiver rule in ET § 2-206(a)(4). |
Local nuance
Queen Anne's County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for filing |
|---|---|
| No email filing | The Register of Wills for Queen Anne's County states that filings are not accepted through email. Use the counter or the P.O. Box mailing address. |
| Separate mailing address | The street address is the Liberty Building, 107 North Liberty Street, Suite 220. The mailing address is P.O. Box 59, Centreville, MD 21617. |
| Shared contact line | The Register and the Orphans' Court for Queen Anne's County, acting under ET § 2-101, use the same building, phone and fax. |
| Tuesday court schedule | As of the Judiciary directory revised June 4, 2026, the Orphans' Court for Queen Anne's County sits every Tuesday from 9:00 a.m. to noon. Confirm the current schedule before travelling. |
| Three-judge panel | Queen Anne's County elects three Orphans' Court judges under Md. Const. art. IV, § 40. It is not one of the counties where circuit court judges sit as the Orphans' Court under Md. Const. art. IV, § 20(b). |
| Published office procedures | The Queen Anne's office page publishes phone, toll-free, mail and counter information. It does not publish an appointment rule, walk-in cutoff or drop-box procedure. |
Recent updates
| Update | What changed for Queen Anne's County |
|---|---|
| Orphans' Court directory revised June 4, 2026 | The Judiciary directory lists the Queen Anne's County sitting schedule as every Tuesday from 9:00 a.m. to noon. Confirm the current schedule with the Register before travelling. |
| Statewide probate fee schedule for estates opened on or after October 1, 2022 | The ET § 2-206 probate fee schedule applies in Queen Anne's County the same way it applies in every Maryland jurisdiction. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Queen Anne's County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start by confirming title to the Centreville, Stevensville or other Queen Anne's County home. If an estate is opened, the small estate calculation under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 5-601 uses fair market value less debts of record secured by the property. The fee waiver rule in ET § 2-206(a)(4) can matter when a qualifying heir lives on the property and the estate cannot pay. | Sunset assembles the account, property and debt picture so the Queen Anne's packet reflects the actual estate settlement facts before filing. |
| 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. Because Queen Anne's County filings are not accepted through email, plan to mail the packet to P.O. Box 59 or make one trip to the Liberty Building. | Sunset builds the probate packet remotely, flags what needs a Maryland resident agent signature and helps prepare the mailing or counter filing. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home sale can add time. The inventory under ET § 7-201, administration account under ET § 7-305 and claims deadline under ET § 8-103(a) all matter, especially where liens, mortgages or sale proceeds must be shown. | Sunset helps find accounts, liens and balances, then organizes the information needed for the Queen Anne's County estate settlement packet and later account work. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Register of Wills for Queen Anne's County | The filing office under Md. Const. art. IV, § 41. Staff may answer general questions and help with required forms, but cannot give legal advice. | Liberty Building, 107 North Liberty Street, Suite 220, Centreville, Maryland 21617. Phone: 410-758-0585. Toll free: 888-758-0010. Website: https://registers.maryland.gov/main/queenannes.html |
| Maryland Legal Aid, Upper Eastern Shore Office | Serves Caroline, Kent, Queen Anne's and Talbot Counties. Maryland Legal Aid publishes free civil legal services for financially eligible households and lists its wills-and-estates service as brief advice on drafting wills and advance directives. | 106 N. Washington Street, Suite 101, Easton, MD 21601. Local: 410-763-9676. Statewide intake: 1-888-465-2468, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. |
| Maryland Estate Search | Statewide Register of Wills estate lookup at registers.maryland.gov. Choose Queen Anne's from the county selector. | https://registers.maryland.gov/RowNetWeb/Estates/frmEstateSearch2.aspx |
| Maryland Judiciary Orphans' Court and Wills and Estates pages | Statewide explanation of the Orphans' Court under ET § 2-101 and the Register of Wills filing process. | https://www.mdcourts.gov/orphanscourt and https://www.mdcourts.gov/legalhelp/willsestates |
| People's Law Library of Maryland | Consumer legal library with Maryland estate administration and probate materials. | https://www.peoples-law.org/cat/wills-estates-probate/estate-administration-probate |
| Maryland Court Help Centers | Free civil help for self-represented individuals. The Help Centers state that they cannot help personal representatives. | 410-260-1392, 8:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Website: https://www.mdcourts.gov/helpcenter |
| Numbers published by the Queen Anne's office | The Queen Anne's Register page lists additional statewide contacts. | Comptroller of Maryland Estate Tax Division for matters under Md. Code, Tax-Gen. § 7-309: 410-260-7850. Vital Statistics for death certificates: 877-463-3464. Maryland State Bar Association: 800-492-1964. Volunteer Lawyers Service: 800-510-0050. |
When to hire an attorney
Consider a Maryland probate attorney if family members disagree, a will is missing or damaged, real estate must be sold, a taxable non-exempt beneficiary may owe inheritance tax under Md. Code, Tax-Gen. § 7-204, a Maryland estate tax return may be required under TG § 7-309, or the personal representative needs help with an inventory under ET § 7-201, an administration account under ET § 7-305, commissions under ET § 7-601 or a court hearing before the Orphans' Court under ET § 2-101. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families identify bank accounts, investment accounts, insurance policies, real property leads and debts so the personal representative starts with a clearer estate settlement picture.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the family and asset information into an organized Maryland probate packet for the Register of Wills for Queen Anne's County, including the forms and filing checklist needed for the Centreville office.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate involves a dispute, a home sale, tax questions or a court hearing, Sunset helps connect the family with a probate attorney familiar with Maryland estate administration.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the estate settlement process, prepare for the Register of Wills and understand the next step without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Queen Anne's County, Maryland?
File with the Register of Wills for Queen Anne's County, an elected office under Md. Const. art. IV, § 41, at the Liberty Building, 107 North Liberty Street, Suite 220, Centreville, Maryland 21617. Mail can be sent to Register of Wills, Queen Anne's County, P.O. Box 59, Centreville, MD 21617. The Orphans' Court for Queen Anne's County is the probate court under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 2-101, but the Register is the office you walk into to open the estate.
Can I open an estate online or by email in Queen Anne's County?
No online estate-opening route is published for Queen Anne's County. Maryland estate filings are paper filings with the Register of Wills. Maryland Electronic Courts (MDEC) does not cover the Orphans' Court under Md. Rule 20-101(w), and the Register of Wills is not a court. The Queen Anne's office also states that filings are not accepted through email.
What does it cost to open an estate in Queen Anne's County?
Maryland uses one statewide probate fee schedule for estates opened on or after October 1, 2022, under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 2-206. Queen Anne's County does not set a separate local probate fee. The probate fee is assessed when the first administration account is filed under ET § 2-206(b)(5)(i), not when the estate is opened. A fee waiver may be required under ET § 2-206(a)(4) in qualifying heir-occupied or tax-sale property cases.
When does the Orphans' Court for Queen Anne's County sit, and will I have to go?
As of the Judiciary's Orphans' Court directory revised June 4, 2026, the Orphans' Court for Queen Anne's County sits every Tuesday from 9:00 a.m. to noon. Confirm with the Register before travelling. Many Maryland estates are opened through administrative probate under ET § 5-301 and § 5-302, so most families deal mainly with the Register and may not appear before the Orphans' Court under ET § 2-101 unless a contested matter or approval requires it.
Can I appear remotely in the Orphans' Court for Queen Anne's County?
Do not assume it. Maryland Rules Title 21 apply to the courts named in Md. Rule 1-101(u), not the Orphans' Court under ET § 2-101. Whether a Queen Anne's County probate matter can be handled remotely is something to ask the Register before the hearing date.
How do I look up an estate filed in Queen Anne's County?
Use the statewide Register of Wills Estate Search at registers.maryland.gov and choose Queen Anne's from the county selector. Maryland Judiciary Case Search covers circuit court and District Court matters, not estates opened with the Register of Wills.
Does Queen Anne's County have its own probate forms?
No separate Queen Anne's County probate form set or local cover sheet is published. Use the statewide Register of Wills forms, including Form 1103 for a small estate under ET § 5-601, Form 1112 for a regular estate, Form 1104 for interested persons, Form 1106 for a resident agent and Form 1220 for a fee waiver under ET § 2-206.
I live out of state. Can I be the personal representative of a Queen Anne's County estate?
Yes, if you otherwise qualify and a Maryland resident signs Form 1106 as resident agent. Because Queen Anne's County filings are not accepted through email, plan for mailing to P.O. Box 59, Centreville, MD 21617 or filing at the Liberty Building.
Can the Register of Wills for Queen Anne's County help me fill out the forms?
The Register of Wills for Queen Anne's County, an elected office under Md. Const. art. IV, § 41, may answer general questions and assist with required forms. The office cannot give legal advice, decide disputes or tell you how inheritance tax under Md. Code, Tax-Gen. § 7-204 applies to a contested family situation.
Does the Register of Wills handle domestic partnership filings in Queen Anne's County?
Yes. Maryland registers domestic partnerships through the Register of Wills in the county where the domestic partners are domiciled under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 2-214. A surviving registered domestic partner may also have inheritance tax consequences under Md. Code, Tax-Gen. § 7-203.
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.