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Worcester County, MD Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Worcester County information |
|---|---|
| Filing office | Register of Wills for Worcester County, an elected office under Md. Const. art. IV, § 41. |
| Probate court | Orphans' Court for Worcester County, Maryland's probate court under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 2-101. |
| Courthouse address | Courthouse, 1 West Market Street, Room 102, Snow Hill, Maryland 21863. |
| Mailing address | Same as the street address. |
| Register phone | 410-632-1529; toll free 888-256-0047. |
| Orphans' Court phone | 410-632-1529, the same line used by the Register. |
| Fax | 410-632-5600, the same fax used by the Register and the Orphans' Court. |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; no walk-in customers after 3:30 p.m.; closed weekends and state holidays. Phone staff are available Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
| Probate fee | Statewide schedule under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 2-206(b)(2), for estates opened on or after October 1, 2022: $0 below $50,000; $100 from $50,000 to less than $100,000; $200 from $100,000 to less than $500,000; $1,000 from $500,000 to less than $1,000,000; $2,000 from $1,000,000 to less than $2,500,000; $5,000 from $2,500,000 to less than $5,000,000; $7,500 from $5,000,000 to less than $7,500,000; $10,000 from $7,500,000 to less than $10,000,000; and $10,000 plus 0.02% of the excess over $10,000,000. Small-estate treatment is governed by Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 5-601. The fee is assessed when the first administration account is filed, not when the petition is filed. |
| Forms | Maryland statewide Register of Wills forms apply, and the Worcester office publishes a Worcester required-documents list for new estates at https://registers.maryland.gov/main/region/worcester. |
| E-filing | Maryland estate filings are made on paper with the Register of Wills. MDEC does not cover the Orphans' Court under Md. Rule 20-101(w), and Worcester states that filings cannot be made through email. |
| Case search | Use the statewide Estate Search at registers.maryland.gov, not Maryland Judiciary Case Search. |
| 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 any video or phone appearance. |
| Website | https://registers.maryland.gov/main/worcester.html |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before calling the Snow Hill office, work out what the estate actually contains. Sunset searches for assets across more than 2,300 financial institutions, so families can see the accounts, policies and debts before choosing an estate settlement path.
Worcester's page asks you to call 410-632-1529 before coming in to open a new estate, and it does not take the filing itself through email. Maryland also has a useful first step before a full estate is opened: a $2.00 limited order under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 2-206, requested with Form 1147 and 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
Worcester County estates are filed at the Register of Wills for Worcester County in Snow Hill. The same courthouse room also serves the Orphans' Court for Worcester County, which is the court under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 2-101 that approves accounts, commissions and attorney's fees and hears contested matters.
A Maryland estate is opened in the county where the decedent was domiciled at death, and probate proceedings may not be maintained in more than one county (Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 5-103). If the decedent lived outside Maryland but owned Maryland property, the proper county is the county holding the largest part in value of that Maryland property.
This Worcester County page covers communities including Snow Hill, Berlin, Bishopville, Eden, Girdletree, Newark, Ocean City, Pocomoke City, Showell, Stockton and Whaleyville.
The jurisdiction process
- Confirm Worcester County is the right place to file. Venue is based on the decedent's domicile at death, and only one Maryland county may maintain the proceeding (Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 5-103).
- Call the Register of Wills for Worcester County at 410-632-1529 before visiting, as the office requests for new estates. Have the death certificate, original will if there is one, asset information and creditor information available.
- File the original will with the Register of Wills for Worcester County. The custodian of the will must deliver it promptly after death even if no estate is opened (Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 4-203(b)(1)).
- If you need authority to look for assets or for a will in a safe deposit box before opening the estate, ask about a $2.00 limited order under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 2-206 using Form 1147 and Form 1148.
- Download the correct statewide packet and the Worcester required-documents list. A small estate under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 5-601 uses Form 1103; a regular estate uses Form 1112; both commonly use Form 1104 for interested persons.
- Complete the forms on your device and print them. The Registers of Wills form page instructs users not to complete the interactive forms in a browser.
- Bring or mail the petition to the Register of Wills for Worcester County, Courthouse, 1 West Market Street, Room 102, Snow Hill, Maryland 21863. Walk-in customers are cut off after 3:30 p.m., and an appointment can reduce the wait.
- If the proposed personal representative lives outside Maryland, file Form 1106, Appointment of Resident Agent.
- If firearms may be part of the estate, expect Form 1153, the Maryland affidavit about attempts to comply with federal, state and local firearms law.
- In administrative probate, the Register admits the will if applicable, appoints the personal representative and issues letters of administration (Md. Code, Est. & Trusts §§ 5-301 and 5-302). No judge is involved in the ordinary uncontested opening.
- Give notice using the packet directions, including Form 1114 for a regular estate or Form 1109 for a small estate under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 5-601, and file the List of Interested Persons on Form 1104.
- Track the statewide deadlines. The inventory and Information Report are due within 3 months after appointment (Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 7-201), the first administration account is due within 9 months after appointment (Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 7-305), and claims are barred unless presented within the earlier of six months after death or two months after mailed notice (Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 8-103(a)).
- Separate Maryland's two taxes if they apply. Maryland estate tax is handled through the Comptroller under Md. Code, Tax-Gen. § 7-309, while Maryland inheritance tax is assessed through the Register under Md. Code, Tax-Gen. § 7-204, with exemptions addressed in Md. Code, Tax-Gen. § 7-203.
- Expect the Orphans' Court for Worcester County under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 2-101 to approve accounts, commissions and attorney's fees or hear any contested matter. As of the Judiciary directory revised June 4, 2026, the court sits every Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. until completed; confirm the current schedule with the Register before travelling.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Worcester County
Use Maryland's statewide Register of Wills forms for Worcester County estate settlement, but do not rely on the statewide packet alone. The Worcester office also publishes a Worcester required-documents list for new estates on its own regional page: https://registers.maryland.gov/main/region/worcester.
| Form or local item | How it is used in Worcester County |
|---|---|
| Worcester required-documents list | Worcester's office-published list for opening new estates. Review it before calling or visiting the Snow Hill office. |
| 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, used when the personal representative lives outside Maryland. |
| Form 1147 and Form 1148 | Petition for Limited Order and Schedule C. The limited order costs $2.00 under the statewide fee schedule for estates opened on or after October 1, 2022 (Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 2-206). |
| Form 1153 | Affidavit about attempts to comply with firearms laws when firearms may be involved in the estate. |
| Form 1220 | Request for Waiver of Fees under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 2-206(a)(4). |
Local nuance
Worcester County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for Worcester County families |
|---|---|
| Call before opening a new estate | The Worcester office asks you to call 410-632-1529 before coming in so staff can discuss what documents you need. |
| Walk-in cutoff | The office is generally open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., but walk-in customers are cut off after 3:30 p.m. |
| Questions and filings are different | The office allows questions by phone, email through its own page and online chat, but states that filings cannot be made through email. |
| Same room, phone and fax | The Register of Wills and the Orphans' Court for Worcester County under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 2-101 share Room 102, phone 410-632-1529 and fax 410-632-5600. |
| Tuesday sitting schedule | As of the Judiciary directory revised June 4, 2026, the Orphans' Court for Worcester County sits every Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. until completed. Confirm before travelling. |
| Three-judge panel | Worcester County elects three Orphans' Court judges under Md. Const. art. IV, § 40, and it is not one of the counties where circuit court judges sit in rotation. |
| Estate Search access | The public viewing station is available by appointment, and Worcester points readers to online Estate Search at registers.maryland.gov for case information and copies. |
Recent updates
| Update | What changed or matters now |
|---|---|
| Orphans' Court directory revised June 4, 2026 | The Judiciary directory is the current published basis for Worcester's Tuesday 10:00 a.m. sitting schedule. |
| Statewide probate fee schedule | Maryland's current probate fee schedule applies to estates opened on or after October 1, 2022 under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 2-206, and Worcester does not publish a separate local surcharge. |
| Worcester required-documents list | The Worcester office publishes its own required-documents list for new estates at https://registers.maryland.gov/main/region/worcester, to be used with the statewide Register of Wills forms. |
Scenarios
| Persona | Local path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start by checking how the Snow Hill, Berlin or Ocean City home is titled. If an estate is opened, small-estate treatment under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 5-601 measures value by fair market value less debts of record secured by the property. A fee waiver under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 2-206(a)(4) can apply when Maryland real property is going to an heir who lives on it and the estate cannot pay by reason of poverty. | Sunset assembles the account and property picture, identifies debts tied to the home and helps prepare the Worcester packet. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | A non-Maryland resident can serve as personal representative if a Maryland resident signs Form 1106 as resident agent. Call 410-632-1529 before travelling, because Worcester asks new-estate filers to call ahead and cuts off walk-in customers after 3:30 p.m. The small-estate petition is Form 1103 under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 5-601. | Sunset builds the packet remotely, flags the Maryland resident agent requirement and organizes signatures before a trip to Snow Hill. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home sale can add time and documentation. The inventory is due within 3 months after appointment under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 7-201, the first administration account is due within 9 months under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 7-305, and claims are controlled by Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 8-103(a). | Sunset helps find mortgages, liens, accounts and balances so the inventory, account and sale planning have a complete asset picture. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Register of Wills for Worcester County | The filing office for estate settlement. Staff can answer general questions and assist with required forms, but cannot give legal advice or notary services. | Courthouse, 1 West Market Street, Room 102, Snow Hill, Maryland 21863; 410-632-1529; toll free 888-256-0047; https://registers.maryland.gov/main/worcester.html |
| Maryland Estate Search | Statewide estate case lookup through the Registers of Wills. Choose Worcester from the county selector. | https://registers.maryland.gov/RowNetWeb/Estates/frmEstateSearch2.aspx |
| Maryland Judiciary Orphans' Court and Wills and Estates pages | Explains Maryland's two-office probate system, including the Register of Wills and the Orphans' Court under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 2-101. | https://www.mdcourts.gov/orphanscourt and https://www.mdcourts.gov/legalhelp/willsestates |
| People's Law Library of Maryland | Consumer legal library with estate administration and probate articles. | https://www.peoples-law.org/cat/wills-estates-probate/estate-administration-probate |
| Maryland Legal Aid, Lower Eastern Shore Office | Free civil legal services for financially eligible households. Its published wills-and-estates service is brief advice on drafting wills and advance directives. | 113 Broad Street, Salisbury, MD 21801; 410-546-5511; statewide intake 1-888-465-2468, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; https://www.mdlab.org/contact-us/ |
| Maryland Court Help Centers | Free civil help for self-represented individuals, but the published service excludes personal representatives. | 410-260-1392, 8:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.; https://www.mdcourts.gov/helpcenter |
| Numbers published by the Worcester office | The Worcester page lists additional referral numbers for estate-related issues. | Comptroller of Maryland Estate Tax Division 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 anyone contests the will, heirs disagree about who should serve, the estate includes real property that must be sold, a taxable beneficiary may owe inheritance tax under Md. Code, Tax-Gen. §§ 7-204 and 7-203, a Maryland estate tax filing under Md. Code, Tax-Gen. § 7-309 may be needed, or the personal representative needs help with the inventory, administration account or commissions under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts §§ 7-201, 7-305 and 7-601. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families identify bank accounts, investment accounts, insurance policies, debts and other assets so the Worcester estate settlement starts with a clear picture.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset organizes the information needed for the Maryland Register of Wills forms, the Worcester required-documents list and supporting schedules, then helps you prepare the packet for the Snow Hill office.
Find a local probate attorney. If the estate involves a contested issue, a home sale, tax questions or a difficult accounting, Sunset can connect the family with Maryland probate counsel.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to move from asset discovery to filing preparation without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Worcester County, Maryland?
File with the Register of Wills for Worcester County at the courthouse in Snow Hill, 1 West Market Street, Room 102. The Register of Wills is the office created 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 issues letters of administration under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 5-302. The Orphans' Court for Worcester County is the court under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 2-101.
Can I open an estate electronically or by email in Worcester County?
No online estate-opening system is available. Maryland estate filings are made on paper with the Register of Wills, and MDEC does not cover the Orphans' Court under Md. Rule 20-101(w). Worcester states that filings cannot be made through email, although the office can take questions through the contact options on its own page.
What does it cost to open an estate in Worcester County?
The Maryland probate fee is a statewide schedule under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 2-206(b)(2), for estates opened on or after October 1, 2022. It is assessed when the first administration account is filed under ET § 2-206(b)(5)(i), not when the opening petition is filed. A small estate under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 5-601 has separate treatment, and fee waiver requests use Form 1220 under ET § 2-206(a)(4).
When does the Orphans' Court for Worcester County sit, and will I have to go?
As of the Judiciary directory revised June 4, 2026, the Orphans' Court for Worcester County under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 2-101 sits every Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. until completed. Confirm with the Register before travelling. Many uncontested estates are opened administratively by the Register under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts §§ 5-301 and 5-302, so a judge may not be involved at the opening stage.
Can I appear remotely in the Orphans' Court for Worcester County?
Do not assume it. Maryland Rules Title 21 apply to the courts named in Md. Rule 1-101(u), and that list does not include the Orphans' Court under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 2-101. Ask the Register of Wills for Worcester County before planning around a phone or video appearance.
How do I look up an estate filed in Worcester County?
Use the Registers of Wills statewide Estate Search at registers.maryland.gov and choose Worcester from the county selector. Maryland Judiciary Case Search covers circuit court and District Court matters, not estate files opened with the Register of Wills.
Does Worcester County have its own probate forms?
The statewide Maryland Register of Wills form set applies in Worcester County, and the Worcester office also publishes a required-documents list for new estates at https://registers.maryland.gov/main/region/worcester. Use both before filing. Common statewide forms include 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 for a resident agent.
I live out of state. Can I be the personal representative of a Worcester County estate?
Yes, if a Maryland resident signs Form 1106, Appointment of Resident Agent. Call the Worcester office before travelling, because the office asks new-estate filers to call ahead and walk-in customers are cut off after 3:30 p.m.
Can the Register of Wills for Worcester County help me fill out the forms?
The Register of Wills may answer general questions and assist with preparation of required forms, but cannot give legal advice. Worcester's page says staff provide assistance only and cannot provide legal advice or notary services.
Does the Worcester Register handle domestic partnership declarations?
Maryland domestic partnership registration is a Register of Wills function under Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 2-214. The estate consequence can matter because registered domestic partner inheritance tax treatment is addressed in Md. Code, Tax-Gen. § 7-203, while the inheritance tax rate is in Md. Code, Tax-Gen. § 7-204.
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.