Resource Guide
Maryland Probate Courts
by County & Jurisdiction
Every Maryland estate is opened in the Register of Wills office for the county where the deceased person lived, regardless of where the property or the personal representative is located. Below is the full list of Maryland's 24 jurisdictions, which court handles probate matters in each, and a direct link to the local Register of Wills office.
Note on court structure
Most counties have a standalone Orphans' Court. Harford, Howard, and Montgomery counties do not. In those three, a Circuit Court judge handles the Orphans' Court function instead. The Register of Wills still processes filings in all 24 jurisdictions either way.
For the statewide Orphans' Court overview, visit the Maryland Courts Orphans' Court page .
Jurisdiction Directory
All 24 Maryland Jurisdictions | 23 Counties + Baltimore City
| # | County / Jurisdiction | Court Handling Probate | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Allegany | Orphans' Court | James S. Getty Annex, 1st Floor, 59 Prospect Square, Cumberland, MD 21502 | (301) 724-3760 |
| 02 | Anne Arundel | Orphans' Court | 2011 E Commerce Park Drive, Annapolis, MD 21401 | (410) 222-1430 |
| 03 | Baltimore City | Orphans' Court | Courthouse East, 111 North Calvert Street, Baltimore, MD 21202 | (410) 752-5131 |
| 04 | Baltimore County | Orphans' Court | County Courts Building, Room 500, 401 Bosley Avenue, Towson, MD 21204 | (410) 887-6680 |
| 05 | Calvert | Orphans' Court | Courthouse, 175 Main Street, Prince Frederick, MD 20678 | (410) 535-1600 x2256 |
| 06 | Caroline | Orphans' Court | Courthouse, Room 119, 109 Market Street, Denton, MD 21629 | (410) 479-0717 |
| 07 | Carroll | Orphans' Court | Courthouse Annex, Room 124, 55 North Court Street, Westminster, MD 21157 | (410) 848-2586 |
| 08 | Cecil | Orphans' Court | 129 East Main Street, Suite 102, Elkton, MD 21921 | (410) 996-5330 |
| 09 | Charles | Orphans' Court | 11 Washington Avenue, LaPlata, MD 20646 | (301) 932-3345 |
| 10 | Dorchester | Orphans' Court | PO Box 263, Cambridge, MD 21613 | (410) 228-4181 |
| 11 | Frederick | Orphans' Court | Courthouse, 100 W. Patrick Street, Frederick, MD 21701 | (301) 600-6565 |
| 12 | Garrett | Orphans' Court | Courthouse, Room 103, 313 East Alder Street, Oakland, MD 21550 | (301) 334-1999 |
| 13 | Harford | Circuit Court | Mutual Fire Insurance Building, 18 Office Street, 1st Floor, Bel Air, MD 21014 | (410) 638-3275 |
| 14 | Howard | Circuit Court | Courthouse, 9250 Judicial Way, Suite 1100, Ellicott City, MD 21043 | (410) 313-2133 |
| 15 | Kent | Orphans' Court | Courthouse, 103 North Cross Street, Chestertown, MD 21620 | (410) 778-7466 |
| 16 | Montgomery | Circuit Court | 50 Maryland Avenue, North Tower 3220, Rockville, MD 20850 | (240) 777-9600 |
| 17 | Prince George's | Orphans' Court | Courthouse, Room D4001, 14735 Main Street, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772 | (301) 952-3250 |
| 18 | Queen Anne's | Orphans' Court | PO Box 59, Centreville, MD 21617 | (410) 758-0585 |
| 19 | St. Mary's | Orphans' Court | PO Box 602, Leonardtown, MD 20650 | (301) 475-5566 |
| 20 | Somerset | Orphans' Court | Courthouse, 30512 Prince William Street, Princess Anne, MD 21853 | (410) 651-1696 |
| 21 | Talbot | Orphans' Court | North Wing, Suite 14, 11 N. Washington Street, Easton, MD 21601 | (410) 770-6700 |
| 22 | Washington | Orphans' Court | 100 W. Washington Street, Suite 3400, Hagerstown, MD 21740 | (301) 739-3612 |
| 23 | Wicomico | Orphans' Court | PO Box 787, Salisbury, MD 21803-0787 | (410) 543-6635 |
| 24 | Worcester | Orphans' Court | Courthouse, Room 102, 1 West Market Street, Snow Hill, MD 21863 | (410) 632-1529 |
Allegany
01Court: Orphans' Court
James S. Getty Annex, 1st Floor, 59 Prospect Square, Cumberland, MD 21502
(301) 724-3760Anne Arundel
02Court: Orphans' Court
2011 E Commerce Park Drive, Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 222-1430Court: Orphans' Court
County Courts Building, Room 500, 401 Bosley Avenue, Towson, MD 21204
(410) 887-6680Calvert
05Court: Orphans' Court
Courthouse, 175 Main Street, Prince Frederick, MD 20678
(410) 535-1600 x2256Caroline
06Court: Orphans' Court
Courthouse, Room 119, 109 Market Street, Denton, MD 21629
(410) 479-0717Carroll
07Court: Orphans' Court
Courthouse Annex, Room 124, 55 North Court Street, Westminster, MD 21157
(410) 848-2586Frederick
11Court: Orphans' Court
Courthouse, 100 W. Patrick Street, Frederick, MD 21701
(301) 600-6565Garrett
12Court: Orphans' Court
Courthouse, Room 103, 313 East Alder Street, Oakland, MD 21550
(301) 334-1999Harford
13Court: Circuit Court
Mutual Fire Insurance Building, 18 Office Street, 1st Floor, Bel Air, MD 21014
(410) 638-3275Howard
14Court: Circuit Court
Courthouse, 9250 Judicial Way, Suite 1100, Ellicott City, MD 21043
(410) 313-2133Kent
15Court: Orphans' Court
Courthouse, 103 North Cross Street, Chestertown, MD 21620
(410) 778-7466Montgomery
16Court: Circuit Court
50 Maryland Avenue, North Tower 3220, Rockville, MD 20850
(240) 777-9600Court: Orphans' Court
Courthouse, Room D4001, 14735 Main Street, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772
(301) 952-3250Somerset
20Court: Orphans' Court
Courthouse, 30512 Prince William Street, Princess Anne, MD 21853
(410) 651-1696Talbot
21Court: Orphans' Court
North Wing, Suite 14, 11 N. Washington Street, Easton, MD 21601
(410) 770-6700Washington
22Court: Orphans' Court
100 W. Washington Street, Suite 3400, Hagerstown, MD 21740
(301) 739-3612Worcester
24Court: Orphans' Court
Courthouse, Room 102, 1 West Market Street, Snow Hill, MD 21863
(410) 632-1529Guides by Location
County-Specific Probate Guides
Each county has its own Register of Wills office and local procedures. These guides walk through exactly what to expect in the counties where we handle the most probate sales.
Montgomery County Probate Guide
Register of Wills process, costs, timelines, and neighborhood-specific guidance for Bethesda, Rockville, Silver Spring, and more.
Prince George's County Probate Guide
Register of Wills process, costs, timelines, and neighborhood-specific guidance for College Park, Hyattsville, Bowie, and more.
Virginia Probate Guide
How probate works in Virginia, including the differences from Maryland procedures.
Practical Guidance
A Few Notes on Using This Directory
Domicile determines venue
Estates are opened based on where the deceased person was domiciled at time of death, not where their property is located. If the deceased lived in Montgomery County but owned a rental property in Wicomico County, the estate is opened with Montgomery County's Register of Wills, and the Circuit Court there handles it rather than an Orphans' Court.
Call ahead before visiting
Filing requirements, appointment scheduling, and office hours vary significantly by county. Several offices, particularly the smaller ones, strongly recommend calling ahead before showing up to open an estate in person. The phone numbers listed above are for the Register of Wills offices.
What this list covers
This list covers where to file and which court has jurisdiction, including direct office addresses and phone numbers. It does not cover attorney requirements, filing fees, or forms, which vary by estate type and are best confirmed directly with the relevant Register of Wills office or an estate attorney.
Get Help
Questions About a Specific County?
MDProbate.com covers the general Maryland probate process, timelines, and frequently asked questions about estate administration across all 24 jurisdictions.
EstateInProbate.com lets you review cash offer options for an estate property, no obligation, and connects you with a probate-specialized agent familiar with the local court procedures.
Or reach out directly: Marc Cormier, (301) 660-6272, cormier64@gmail.com.
Understanding the Process
What the Orphans' Court Does
The Orphans' Court is a specialized court in Maryland that handles all matters related to the administration of a decedent's estate. Each jurisdiction's Orphans' Court has jurisdiction over probate, estate administration, and related disputes within that county.
The Register of Wills, an elected position in each jurisdiction, serves as the clerk of the Orphans' Court. The Register accepts filings, issues letters of administration, maintains estate records, and provides guidance to the public on probate procedures.
Working with a Probate Specialist
Navigating the Orphans' Court process requires familiarity with each jurisdiction's procedures, filing requirements, and timelines. An experienced probate real estate agent who understands the court system can make the difference between a smooth estate sale and one that gets tangled in procedural delays.
With over 800 transactions and 27 years of experience handling probate, distressed, and trustee sales across Maryland, DC, and Virginia, Marc Cormier knows how to move a case through the Orphans' Court efficiently.
Need Probate Guidance?
Marc helps families and attorneys navigate
the probate real estate process in all 24 Maryland jurisdictions.
Free Resource
Navigating a Maryland Probate Case?
Download Marc's Free Guide
Marc Cormier's Amazon best-selling book "Inherited" walks you through the probate process step by step. Download your free copy and get the clarity you need to move forward with confidence.
Get the Free Probate Guide
For Personal Representatives
How the Probate Value Analysis™ Helps You Make Informed Decisions
As Personal Representative, you carry a fiduciary duty to protect the value of the estate. Every decision you make about the property, whether to sell as-is, make repairs, or list on the open market, has financial consequences for the heirs and beneficiaries.
The Probate Value Analysis™ is designed to give you the complete picture before you commit to any path. Instead of guessing at the numbers or relying on a single data point, you get eight specific, actionable data points that cover every angle of the property's value and market position.
The analysis gives you a valuation you can present to the Orphans' Court and the Register of Wills with confidence, backed by a real in-person inspection and market data.
By comparing as-is value against after-improvement value, you can make an informed choice about whether repairs or staging will generate a strong return for the estate.
The analysis helps you explain the recommended strategy to all beneficiaries clearly, with documented reasoning they can understand and trust.
Making the right decision the first time saves months of court delays and prevents the property from sitting vacant, losing value while the estate carries holding costs.
Get Your Free Probate Value Analysis™
Marc Cormier provides this analysis as part of a free, no-obligation consultation. You get the full picture before you decide anything.