# Estates and Trusts (GET)

## Title 5. Opening the Estate

### Subtitle 2. Commencement of Proceeding

#### Section 5-206

In a proceeding for administrative or judicial probate the petition for probate shall be in substantially the following form:

In the Orphans' Court for

(or) ___________________________, Maryland

Before the Register of Wills for

in the Estate of:

______________________________________     Estate No. ___________________________

For:

Regular Estate -        Small Estate -            Will of No Estate -

Petition      for      probate    Petition              for        Complete Items 2 and 5

estate value in excess of    Administration,      estate

$20,000. Complete   and    value of $20,000 or    less.

attach Schedule - A.        Complete     and     attach

Schedule - B.

The Petition of:

_____________________________________      ______________________________________

Name                                                                     Address

______________________________________

_____________________________________      ______________________________________

Name                                                                     Address

______________________________________

_____________________________________      ______________________________________

Name                                                                     Address

______________________________________

Each of us states:

(1) I am  (a)  at  least  18  years  of  age and either a citizen of the United States or a

permanent resident alien spouse of the decedent or (b) a trust company or any

other corporation authorized by law to act as a personal representative.

(2) The decedent, ____________________________________________________________ ,

was domiciled in __________________________________________  County, State of 

______________________________________ and  died  on  the  ___________  day  of 

20______, at ___________________.

(3) If the decedent was not domiciled in this county at the time of death, this is the

proper office in which to file this petition because:_____________________________

__________________________________________________________________________ 

(4) I am entitled to priority of appointment as personal representative of the

decedent's estate pursuant to Sec. 5-104 of the Estates and Trusts Article,

Annotated Code of Maryland because:

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

and I am not excluded by Sec. 5-105(c) of the Estates and Trist Article, Annotated

Code of Maryland from serving as personal representative

(5) I have made a diligent search for the decedent's will and to the best of my

knowledge:

none exists; or

the will dated __________________________ (including codicils, if any,           dated

_______________________ ) accompanying this petition is the last will and it came

into my hands in the following manner:

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

and the names and last known addresses of the witnesses are:

_____________________________________________________   ____________________

_____________________________________________________   ____________________

_____________________________________________________   ____________________

(6) Other proceedings, if any, regarding the decedent or the estate are as follows:

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

(7) If any information required by paragraphs 2 through 6 has not been furnished,

the reason is:

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

(8) If appointed, I accept the duties of the office of personal representative and

consent to personal jurisdiction in any action brought in this State against me as

personal representative or arising out of the duties of the office of personal

representative.

WHEREFORE, I request appointment as personal representative of the

decedent's estate and the following relief as indicated:

?    that the will and codicils, if any, be admitted to administrative probate;

?    that the will and codicils, if any, be admitted to judicial probate;

?    that the will and codicils, if any, be filed only;

?    that the following additional relief be granted: ________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

I solemnly affirm under the penalties of perjury that the contents of the

foregoing petition are true to the best of my knowledge, information, and belief.

______________________________________     _____________________________________

Attorney's Signature                         Petitioner      Date

______________________________________     _____________________________________

Address                                      Petitioner      Date

______________________________________     _____________________________________

Petitioner      Date

______________________________________     _____________________________________

Telephone Number                          Telephone Number

In the Orphans' Court for

  (or) __________________________ , Maryland

  Before the Register of Wills for

  in the Estate of:

  _______________________________________    Estate No. __________________________

  Schedule - A

  REGULAR ESTATE

  Estimated Value of Estate and Unsecured Debts:

  Personal property (approximate value) ....................................     $ _____________

  Real property (approximate value) ..........................................     $ _____________

  Value of Property subject to:

  (a) Direct Inheritance Tax of __________% .....................     $ _____________

  (b) Collateral Inheritance Tax of __________% ...............      $ _____________

  (c) Collateral Inheritance Tax of __________% ...............       $ _____________

  Unsecured Debts (approximate amount) .................................       $ _____________

  .....................................................................................................................

  (FOR REGISTER'S USE)

  Safekeeping Wills _____________________      Custody of Wills ____________________

  Bond Set $  ___________________________      Deputy _____________________________

  In the Orphans' Court for

    (or) __________________________ , Maryland

    Before the Register of Wills for

    in the Estate of:

    _______________________________________    Estate No. __________________________

    Schedule - B

    SMALL ESTATE

    Assets and Debts of the Decedent:

(1) I have made a diligent search to discover all property and debts of the decedent

and set forth below are:

(a) A listing of all real and personal property owned by the decedent, individually

or as a tenant in common, and of any other property to which the decedent

or estate would be entitled, including descriptions, values, and how the

values were determined:

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

(b) A listing of all creditors and claimants and the amounts claimed, including

secured*, contingent and disputed claims:

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

(2) Allowable funeral expenses are $ ____________; statutory family allowances are

$ ____________; and expenses of administration are $ _____________.

(3) Attached is a List of Interested Persons

*Note: Sec. 5-601(d) of the Estates and Trusts Article. Annotated Code of Maryland "For

the purpose of thus subtitle - Value is determined by fair market value of property

less debts of record secured by the property as of the date of death, to the extent that

insurance benefits are not payable to the lien holder or secured party for the secured

debt."

I solemnly affirm under the penalties of perjury that the contents of the

foregoing schedule are true to the best of my knowledge, information, and belief.

______________________________________     _____________________________________

Attorney's Signature                         Petitioner      Date

______________________________________     _____________________________________

Address                                      Petitioner      Date

______________________________________     _____________________________________

Telephone Number                          Telephone Number

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Md. Code Ann., Est. & Trusts (as displayed at mgaleg.maryland.gov, October 16, 2026)
