MD Executor Guide
Maryland Probate Fees: What the Register of Wills Charges
Maryland’s probate fee is a flat amount by estate size, set by the Registers of Wills. It is smaller than most people expect — and small estates pay nothing.
Maryland probate fee calculator
Applies the Registers of Wills schedule for estates opened on or after October 1, 2022 to the value you supply. The Register of Wills in the decedent’s county can confirm the fee for a particular estate.
What are the Maryland probate fees?
The Registers of Wills publish the schedule for estates opened on or after October 1, 2022. Each band runs from at least the lower figure to less than the next:
| Value of the probate estate | Probate fee |
|---|---|
| Less than $50,000 | $0 |
| $50,000 to less than $100,000 | $100 |
| $100,000 to less than $500,000 | $200 |
| $500,000 to less than $1,000,000 | $1,000 |
| $1,000,000 to less than $2,500,000 | $2,000 |
| $2,500,000 to less than $5,000,000 | $5,000 |
| $5,000,000 to less than $7,500,000 | $7,500 |
| $7,500,000 to less than $10,000,000 | $10,000 |
| $10,000,000 and over | $10,000 plus 0.02% of the excess over $10,000,000 |
Small estates pay no probate fee — the Registers state this holds “even if valued between $50,000 and $100,000 with a spouse as a sole heir or legatee.” See the Maryland small estate guide for the thresholds.
What other fees does the Register of Wills charge?
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Letters of Administration | $1.00 |
| Certified copies | $0.50 per page plus $2.00 |
| Plain copies | $0.50 per page |
| Claims fee | $3.00 |
| Caveat, controversial fees, exceptions | $20.00 |
| Filing a will for safekeeping | $5.00 |
| Ancillary (foreign) proceedings | 1% of the value of the gross estate |
What the probate fee does not include
The probate fee is the Register’s filing fee only. Personal representative commissions (a statutory cap of 9% of the first $20,000 plus 3.6% above — see the Maryland executor fee calculator), bond, publication and professional fees are separate. Taxes are separate too — see Maryland inheritance tax.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does probate cost in Maryland?
The Register of Wills probate fee depends on the value of the probate estate: $0 under $50,000, $100 from $50,000, $200 from $100,000, $1,000 from $500,000, $2,000 from $1,000,000, $5,000 from $2,500,000, $7,500 from $5,000,000, $10,000 from $7,500,000, and above $10,000,000, $10,000 plus 0.02% of the excess. Each band runs from “at least” its lower figure to “less than” the next.
Do small estates pay a probate fee in Maryland?
No. The Registers of Wills state that no fees are due on small estates, even those valued between $50,000 and $100,000 where a spouse is the sole heir or legatee.
How much are Letters of Administration in Maryland?
$1.00. Certified copies are $0.50 per page plus $2.00, and plain copies $0.50 per page.
Which fee schedule applies to my estate?
The schedule above is for estates opened on or after October 1, 2022. Estates opened earlier use an older schedule, which the Registers of Wills publish separately.
Are there other Register of Wills fees?
Yes, smaller ones: a $3.00 claims fee, $20.00 for a caveat or other controversial matter, $5.00 to file a will for safekeeping, and 1% of the gross estate for ancillary proceedings where the decedent lived out of state.
Is the probate fee the only cost of a Maryland estate?
No — it is the Register’s filing fee. Personal representative commissions, bond premiums, publication and any professional fees are separate; see the Maryland executor fee calculator for the statutory commission cap.