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Somerset County, MD Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Somerset County information |
|---|---|
| Filing office | Register of Wills for Somerset County, Md. Const. art. IV, § 41 |
| Probate court | Orphans' Court for Somerset County, Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 2-101 |
| Courthouse address | Courthouse, 30512 Prince William Street, Princess Anne, MD 21853 |
| Mailing address | 30512 Prince William Street, Princess Anne, MD 21853 |
| Phone | 410-651-1696 |
| Toll-free phone | 888-758-0039 |
| Fax | 410-651-3873 |
| The office does not publish an email address. The Somerset County page says filings cannot be accepted through email. | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; closed weekends and state holidays. The office asks you to call before visiting so staff can assist you. |
| Orphans' Court schedule | Every Tuesday, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., as listed in the Maryland Judiciary directory revised June 4, 2026. Confirm with the Register of Wills before traveling. Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 2-101. |
| Filing fee | Maryland uses one statewide probate fee schedule under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 2-206(b)(2), effective for estates opened on or after October 1, 2022. Somerset County adds no local surcharge. The fee is assessed when the first administration account is filed under ET § 7-305 and ET § 2-206(b)(5)(i), or with the final report under modified administration under ET §§ 2-206(b)(4) and 5-702. |
| Local forms | No Somerset County probate form set or local cover sheet is published. Use the statewide Register of Wills forms. |
| E-filing | No online estate opening. Maryland Rule 20-101(w) excludes the Orphans' Court from MDEC, and the Register of Wills is not a court. |
| Case search | Use the Registers of Wills statewide Estate Search at registers.maryland.gov for estate records. |
| Remote appearance | Maryland Rules Title 21 do not extend to the Orphans' Court under Maryland Rule 1-101(u). Ask the Register of Wills whether any Somerset County hearing can be handled remotely. Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 2-101. |
| Website | https://registers.maryland.gov/main/somerset.html |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you open an estate settlement in Somerset County, identify the assets, debts, beneficiary designations, jointly titled property and any original will. A Maryland limited order, requested with Form 1147, can let a family search for assets in the decedent's name or for a will in a safe deposit box before the estate is opened.
Sunset searches more than 2,300 institutions for accounts and assets, then helps organize what you have found into the Maryland Register of Wills forms. That preparation matters in Somerset County because the Register of Wills, Md. Const. art. IV, § 41, can assist with required forms but cannot give legal advice.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Somerset County estates are filed with the Register of Wills for Somerset County, Md. Const. art. IV, § 41, at the courthouse in Princess Anne. The Orphans' Court for Somerset County is the probate court under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 2-101. The same courthouse serves Somerset County communities including Princess Anne, Crisfield, Deal Island, Marion Station and Westover.
Venue is based on domicile under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 5-103. Open the estate in Somerset County if the decedent was domiciled in Somerset County at death. If the decedent lived outside Maryland but owned Maryland property, file in the Maryland county where the largest part in value of the Maryland property was located. Only one Maryland county may maintain the estate proceeding under ET § 5-103(c)(1).
The jurisdiction process
- Find the original will, if there is one. The custodian of the will must file it with the Register of Wills after death under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 4-203, even if no estate is opened.
- Choose the Maryland path and forms. For administrative probate under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 5-301, use the statewide Register of Wills packet that fits the estate, such as Form 1112 for a regular estate or Form 1103 for a small estate under ET § 5-601. If the petitioner lives outside Maryland, include Form 1106 for the Maryland resident agent.
- File with the Register of Wills for Somerset County, Md. Const. art. IV, § 41, at 30512 Prince William Street, Princess Anne, MD 21853. Somerset County filings are paper filings, in person or by mail. Maryland Rule 20-101(w) excludes the Orphans' Court from MDEC, and the Somerset office says it cannot accept filings through email.
- The Register reviews the petition. In administrative probate, Md. Code, Est. & Trusts §§ 5-301 and 5-302 allow the Register to admit the will, appoint the personal representative and issue letters of administration under ET § 5-302 in the ordinary case.
- Give required notice. Use the statewide notice form that fits the case, and remember that a claim against the estate is governed by Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 8-103, including the general 6 months from the date of death bar in ET § 8-103(a).
- If a hearing is needed, the Orphans' Court for Somerset County, Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 2-101, is listed as sitting every Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the Maryland Judiciary directory revised June 4, 2026. Confirm the schedule with the Register before traveling, and ask before assuming video participation because Maryland Rule 1-101(u) does not extend Title 21 to the Orphans' Court.
- Administer the estate after letters issue. For a regular estate, prepare the inventory under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 7-201 and administration accounts under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 7-305. Maryland probate fees are assessed under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 2-206, not paid as a Somerset County local charge when you first open the file.
- Close the estate settlement through the required account, final report or other closing document. Modified administration, if available, is governed by Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 5-702. Personal representative commissions require approval and are governed by Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 7-601.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Somerset County
Somerset County does not publish its own probate forms or a local cover sheet. Use the statewide Maryland Register of Wills form set, which includes Form 1103 for a small estate under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 5-601, Form 1112 for a regular estate, Form 1104 for the List of Interested Persons, Form 1106 for Appointment of Resident Agent, Forms 1147 and 1148 for a limited order, and Form 1220 for a fee waiver under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 2-206.
The statewide forms are designed to be downloaded, completed on your device and printed. The Register of Wills for Somerset County, Md. Const. art. IV, § 41, works from that statewide form set and asks visitors to call before coming to the office so staff can assist.
Local nuance
Somerset County-specific considerations
| Consideration | What it means in Somerset County |
|---|---|
| Call before visiting | The Register of Wills for Somerset County, Md. Const. art. IV, § 41, publishes a call-ahead notice asking you to call the office so staff can assist before your visit. It is not an appointments-required rule. |
| No published email address | The Somerset office does not publish an email address and states that filings cannot be accepted through email. Plan on paper filing at the counter or by mail. |
| Tuesday Orphans' Court schedule | The Orphans' Court for Somerset County, Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 2-101, is listed as sitting every Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the Maryland Judiciary directory revised June 4, 2026. Confirm the current schedule before traveling. |
| Three-judge panel | Somerset County is not Harford, Howard or Montgomery County, so it has elected Orphans' Court judges. It is also not Baltimore City or Baltimore County or Prince George's County, so it does not have the single lawyer-judge practice described for those jurisdictions. |
| Appeal route | In Somerset County, a party appealing a final Orphans' Court judgment may use the direct appeal route to the Appellate Court of Maryland under Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 12-501 or the de novo circuit-court appeal route under CJ § 12-502. The notice is filed with the Register of Wills within 30 days. |
Recent updates
Somerset County's Register of Wills page publishes office hours of Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with weekends and state holidays closed. It also publishes a call-ahead notice and states that filings cannot be accepted through email.
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Somerset County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Property that passes by operation of law may not be part of the probate estate. If an estate is opened, the small estate test under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 5-601 uses fair market value less debts of record secured by the property. A fee waiver may be available under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 2-206(a)(4) when Maryland real property passes to a resident heir and the estate cannot pay by reason of poverty. | Sunset helps separate probate and non-probate assets, organize mortgage and title information, and prepare the estate settlement packet for the Register of Wills for Somerset County, Md. Const. art. IV, § 41. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | An out-of-state personal representative may serve if a Maryland resident signs Form 1106 as resident agent. For a small estate under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 5-601, use the statewide small-estate forms, including Form 1103. Somerset County does not accept filings through email, so plan for mail or a courthouse visit. | Sunset helps gather account information, generate the statewide forms and flag the Form 1106 resident agent requirement before you mail papers to Princess Anne. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home sale can make administration take longer. The Maryland Judiciary's statewide guidance says most estates, unless there is litigation or real estate needs to be sold, are able to be wrapped up within nine to eighteen months of death. A claim against the estate is governed by Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 8-103, and the first administration account is due under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 7-305. | Sunset helps identify assets and debts, organize sale-related documents, track deadlines and connect the family with a Maryland probate attorney when a sale or dispute needs counsel. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Register of Wills for Somerset County | The filing office for Somerset County estates. The Register of Wills, Md. Const. art. IV, § 41, may assist with required forms and general estate-administration questions but cannot give legal advice. | Courthouse, 30512 Prince William Street, Princess Anne, MD 21853; 410-651-1696; toll free 888-758-0039; https://registers.maryland.gov/main/somerset.html |
| Registers of Wills statewide pages | Statewide forms, packets, FAQ, deadlines and the Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 2-206 fee page. | https://registers.maryland.gov/main/forms.html |
| Maryland Estate Search | Statewide estate records search through registers.maryland.gov. Choose Somerset from the county selector. | 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, Lower Eastern Shore Office | Serves Somerset County. Its published wills-and-estates service is brief advice for eligible clients who need help drafting wills or advance directives. | 113 Broad Street, Salisbury, MD 21801; 410-546-5511; statewide intake 1-888-465-2468 |
| Maryland Court Help Centers | Free civil help for self-represented individuals, but personal representatives are expressly excluded. | 410-260-1392; https://www.mdcourts.gov/helpcenter |
| Other numbers published by the Somerset office | Estate tax questions under Md. Code, Tax-Gen. § 7-309 go to the Comptroller's Estate Tax Division. The office also lists bar and volunteer lawyer referral numbers. | 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
Consider a Maryland probate attorney if family members disagree, the will may be challenged, real estate must be sold, a taxable recipient may owe inheritance tax under Md. Code, Tax-Gen. § 7-204, an estate tax return may be required under Md. Code, Tax-Gen. § 7-309, or you are unsure whether administrative probate under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 5-301 is enough. Sunset connects families with a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families locate financial accounts, insurance, retirement assets and other property so the Somerset County estate settlement starts with a clearer asset picture.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset organizes the information into the Maryland Register of Wills forms you need, including the papers used by the Register of Wills for Somerset County, Md. Const. art. IV, § 41.
Find a local probate attorney. If the estate needs legal judgment, Sunset can connect you with a Maryland probate attorney who understands the Register of Wills and Orphans' Court process under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 2-101.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to make estate settlement more organized, reduce avoidable back-and-forth and understand the next step before contacting the courthouse.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate papers in Somerset County?
File with the Register of Wills for Somerset County, Md. Const. art. IV, § 41, at 30512 Prince William Street, Princess Anne, MD 21853. The Orphans' Court for Somerset County is the probate court under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 2-101, but the filing counter is the Register of Wills.
Can I open a Somerset County estate online?
No. Maryland Rule 20-101(w) excludes the Orphans' Court from MDEC, and the Register of Wills is not a court. Somerset County also states that filings cannot be accepted through email, so estate filings are paper filings with the Register of Wills, Md. Const. art. IV, § 41.
What are the Somerset County Register of Wills hours?
The Somerset County office publishes hours of Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closed weekends and state holidays. The office asks you to call before visiting so staff can assist you.
When does the Somerset County Orphans' Court sit?
The Maryland Judiciary directory revised June 4, 2026 lists the Orphans' Court for Somerset County, Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 2-101, as sitting every Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Confirm the current schedule with the Register before traveling.
Do I need to travel to Princess Anne for every Somerset County estate?
Not necessarily. Many Maryland estates are handled through administrative probate under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 5-301, where the Register can appoint the personal representative and issue letters of administration under ET § 5-302 without a judge hearing. Somerset accepts paper filings by mail, but not through email.
Where can I search for a Somerset County estate?
Use the Registers of Wills statewide Estate Search at registers.maryland.gov. It covers Register of Wills estate records statewide, including Somerset County. Historical depth may vary by county.
Does Somerset County have local probate forms?
No Somerset 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 Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 5-601, Form 1112 for a regular estate, Form 1104 for interested persons and Form 1106 if a resident agent is required.
What is the filing fee in Somerset County?
Maryland uses a statewide probate fee schedule under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 2-206(b)(2), effective for estates opened on or after October 1, 2022. Somerset County adds no local surcharge. The fee is assessed later in administration under ET § 2-206, not as a county-specific charge at opening.
Can I appear remotely for a Somerset County Orphans' Court hearing?
Do not assume remote participation is available. Maryland Rule 1-101(u) applies Title 21 to other Maryland courts, not to the Orphans' Court. Ask the Register of Wills for Somerset County, Md. Const. art. IV, § 41, before relying on a video appearance for any Orphans' Court matter under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 2-101.
Can the Somerset County Register of Wills help me fill out forms?
The Register of Wills, Md. Const. art. IV, § 41, may answer general questions and assist with preparation of required forms, but the office cannot give legal advice. If you need advice about rights, disputes, taxes or a sale of real estate, talk with a Maryland probate attorney.
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.