Baltimore County, Maryland Probate Court Records

In Baltimore County, the Orphans' Court and the Register of Wills preside over probate cases. These agencies oversee the legal processes of administering the estates of deceased persons within the county. Specifically, the Baltimore County Orphans' Court and the Baltimore County Register of Wills ensure they:

• Recognize and admit valid wills to probate
• Administer the estates of deceased persons properly, either according to the owners' wishes or, in the absence of a will, according to Maryland law.
• Inventory, protect, and distribute assets
• Identify and pay creditors.
• Appoint guardians when minors or incapacitated adults require someone to manage their property.
• Lawfully handle estate matters.

During legal proceedings, the Baltimore County Orphans' Court and the Register of Wills create records as evidential documents of probate adjudications. Baltimore County probate records detail the legal process of administering a deceased person's estate within the county, specifically describing:

• How the estate opened
• The assets and debts that existed
• The identity of the heirs or beneficiaries
• How the court supervised the resolution of the estate
• The final distribution of property.

A typical Baltimore County probate court record may encompass documents such as:

• Last will
• Petition to open estate
• Letters of administration/letters testamentary
• Estate inventory
• Appraisals
• Creditors claims
• Petitions and motions
• Court orders
• Guardianship orders (if applicable)
• Notices and citations
• Accountings (interim and final)
• Final Distribution order/closing documents.

Public Access to Probate Court Records in Baltimore County

The Maryland Public Information Act (PIA) permits interested individuals access to documentary material that a public agency created or received in connection with public business. Therefore, Baltimore County probate court records constitute public records. Nonetheless, statutory and procedural limitations restrict what records individuals can access.

In Maryland, Title 16, Chapter 900 of the Maryland Rules on Access to Court Records governs public access to probate court records. This legislation provides the legal framework for accessing court documents (including probate records) and recognizes individuals' fundamental rights to privacy. According to Maryland's Rule Chapter 16, Title 914, custodian agencies must allow public access to only basic details of guardianship filings. Furthermore, personal identifiers, such as Social Security numbers and financial account details, remain confidential. Sensitive case types, including adoptions, juvenile delinquency, child-in-need-of-assistance (CINA), and mental health evaluation records, are not publicly disclosable.

Methods for Searching Baltimore County Probate Court Records

Maryland provides several search options for individuals seeking probate court records. These include online access through the Maryland Register of Wills Estate Search Portal. Information seekers can search for Baltimore County probate court records using party name, case number, filing date, and other applicable criteria. Baltimore County's older probate court records may be accessible online through the Maryland State Archives.

For Baltimore County probate court records that are not online, interested individuals may access them in person or submit mail-in requests to the Baltimore County Register of Wills office. The Baltimore County Register of Wills staff can conduct a manual search using internal indexes or archived records. This option is useful for accessing archived records stored off-site, particularly if the requester seeks information, such as:

• Name of deceased person
• Approximate decade or date of probate
• Any known heirs or representatives.

How to Find Baltimore County Probate Cases Online for Free

The Maryland Register of Wills Estate Search Portal provides online access to Baltimore County's probate court records. This search portal offers free access to summary and index information about Maryland's probate cases, which includes:

• The decedent’s names
• Estate (case) numbers and status (open/closed)
• Dates of deaths and dates of filings
• Names of personal representatives or attorneys
• Estate types (for instance, regular estate, small estate, or unprobated Will)
• Docket histories.

Users can access Baltimore County's probate case records from 1998 to the present. However, full case files on Baltimore County's probate proceedings are not accessible online. To access the long-forms of these documents, record seekers must contact the Register of Wills Office in Baltimore County. The Maryland State Archives website may also provide free online access to indexes and scanned images of documents relating to Baltimore County's older probate court records.

Accessing Baltimore County Probate Court Records in Person

In Baltimore County, the Register of Wills office is the custodian of probate court records. Individuals seeking certified copies of these documents can visit the office and make in-person requests.

To access Baltimore County's probate court records in person, visit the Register of Wills office in Baltimore County at:

Access to probate court records across Maryland typically follows similar procedures. Individuals seeking in-person access to probate court records in Baltimore County should follow the following steps:

• Visit the Baltimore County Courthouse Complex
• Search the Baltimore County probate court public index terminals or books for:
• The decedent’s name
• The estate number
• The year of death or filing
• The type of filing (for example, Will, small estate, or regular estate)
• After identifying the estate number and file location, provide the file details to the clerk to retrieve the physical or scanned file from storage.

Although viewing Maryland's public probate court records does not require an ID, identification may become necessary for certified copies of Baltimore County's probate case files, when accessing restricted documents, or when paying fees by check or certain payment methods. Record seekers should also note that while inspection of Baltimore County probate court records is free, getting copies of these documents may involve search and copy fees.

Requesting Baltimore County Probate Court Records by Mail

In addition to online and in-person access, Baltimore County probate court records are also accessible through mail-in requests. Individuals who seek copies of these documents can mail their requests to the Register of Wills for Baltimore County. To request copies of Baltimore County probate court records by mail:

• Prepare a written request for copies of the specific probate record and include the following details:
• Full name of the decedent
• Date of death (if known)
• Case number (if available)
• Type of documents requested. For instance, Will, inventory, or final account
• Specify whether the copies should be certified or plain
• Include a check or money order to cover the copy fees (this should be payable to the Register of Wills) and a self-addressed stamped envelope with sufficient postage
• Mail the request to:

Mail requests for Baltimore County probate court records may take anywhere from a few days to several weeks to process.

Baltimore County Probate Court Record Access Methods

Applicable Fees for Baltimore County Probate Court Record Requests

Access to copies of Baltimore County probate court records may involve several types of fees, including search, copy, and certification charges. While the exact few for accessing Baltimore County probate court records may vary, the costs for copies of these documents may include:

• $0.50 per page for plain copies
• $0.50 per page plus a $2.00 certification fee for certified copies
• $0.50 per page plus $6.00 for exemplified copies.

There is also a $20.00 charge per name search, which applies if the requester does not provide the case number or sufficient information to identify the specific record.