Find Baltimore County Probate Court Records

Baltimore County probate court records are held at the Register of Wills office in the County Courts Building in Towson. This is one of Maryland's largest counties and its probate records stretch back to 1666. If you need to look up a will, check on an estate case, or get copies of administration documents, the Baltimore County Register of Wills handles it all. You can search online through the state Estate Search portal or visit the Towson office in person to review records and request certified copies of probate court documents.

Baltimore County Register of Wills

The Register of Wills for Baltimore County is in Room 500 of the County Courts Building at 401 Bosley Avenue in Towson. The office handles all estate openings, will filings, inventory reviews, and account processing for Baltimore County. Staff strongly recommend that you call ahead and make an appointment before visiting. Appointments are taken ahead of walk-ins, and visitors without an appointment who arrive after 3:00 PM may have to come back the next business day.

Securing an appointment is the best way to get same-day service in Baltimore County. When you call, staff can tell you what documents to bring. All persons who enter the courthouse must go through a security search. The office also publishes helpful guides on topics like opening an estate, small estates, regular estates, modified administration, and facts about wills in Baltimore County.

The Orphans' Court for Baltimore County also meets at the County Courts Building. Baltimore County is one of only two counties in Maryland (along with Prince George's County) where each Orphans' Court judge can preside over a case individually. This can speed things up for contested matters and other judicial probate cases in Baltimore County.

How to Search Baltimore County Probate Court Records

Start your search at the Maryland Register of Wills Estate Search portal. This tool has estate data for Baltimore County from 1998 to the present. It updates daily. You can search by the name of the person who died, the estate number, or a date range. Results show the estate number, case status, date of death, filing date, personal representative, and attorney on record. The full docket history is also available for each case in Baltimore County.

The Maryland Judiciary Case Search is a free public tool that covers civil court cases, including probate matters heard by the Orphans' Court. Cases going back to 1965 are in this system. Use the % wildcard for partial name matches. Baltimore County also participates in MDEC, so electronic filing and case tracking are available through that portal.

For in-person searches, go to Room 500 at the courthouse in Towson. Staff can look up records by name or case number. Bring an ID with you. Older records, especially those from the 1600s and 1700s, may need to be pulled from storage or accessed through the Maryland State Archives. The Archives holds microfilm copies of many Baltimore County probate documents.

What Baltimore County Estate Records Include

Baltimore County was created in 1659 as one of Maryland's original counties. Probate records here go back to 1666, making them some of the oldest in the state. Wills on file date from 1666 to 1851 and are indexed from 1659 to 1850. Administrator bonds span 1721 to 1852. Inventories cover 1666 to 1850. Orphans' Court proceedings run from 1777 to 1850. The county seat moved from Baltimore City to Towson in 1854, and records from before that move are split between the two locations.

Current probate court records in Baltimore County include wills, petitions for administration, inventories, information reports, accounts of estate administration, bonds posted by personal representatives, and letters of administration. Under Md. Code, Estates and Trusts § 7-101, the personal representative must file an inventory within three months. The list of interested persons is due within 20 days of appointment per § 7-104. An information report is also due within three months, per § 7-201.

For historical and genealogical research, the Maryland State Archives Guide lists all available Baltimore County probate collections. FamilySearch has digitized records as well. The Archives holds the earliest Baltimore County wills and estate papers on microfilm, along with bound volumes of court proceedings.

Note: Baltimore County is separate from Baltimore City, which has its own Register of Wills and Orphans' Court.

Opening a Probate Case in Baltimore County

To open an estate in Baltimore County, you need the original death certificate, the original will (if one was made), a funeral bill, and statements for all bank accounts held by the person who died. Stock certificates, vehicle titles, and real property deeds should also be gathered. You must provide a list of all interested persons, meaning heirs and beneficiaries, with their full names and addresses. The Register of Wills staff in Towson will guide you through the paperwork.

Maryland probate fees depend on the total value of the estate. Estates at $50,000 or under pay nothing. Estates between $50,000 and $100,000 cost $100. The fee rises through several tiers, reaching $10,000 for estates valued at $7,500,000 to $10,000,000. Small estates qualify for a streamlined process under Md. Code, Estates and Trusts § 5-601 if the value is $50,000 or less, or $100,000 when the sole heir is the surviving spouse.

After the estate is opened in Baltimore County, the personal representative must publish a notice to creditors. Creditors have six months from the date of death to file claims per § 8-103. The first account is due within nine months. Modified administration is an option for estates that qualify, which can shorten the timeline. The Orphans' Court reviews all final accounts before distribution of assets.

The Maryland Register of Wills website serves as the central hub for all county probate offices, including Baltimore County.

Use this site to access Estate Search, download forms, and find direct links to the Baltimore County Register of Wills office in Towson.

Legal Help for Baltimore County Probate Cases

Several resources exist for people who need help with estate matters in Baltimore County. The People's Law Library walks you through every step of probate in plain terms. It covers opening an estate, filing the right forms, and closing the case. The Legal Aid Bureau at (800) 999-8904 helps low-income Baltimore County residents with estate disputes and guardianship issues.

The Maryland State Bar Association runs a lawyer referral line at (800) 492-1964. For a modest fee, you can get a 30-minute consultation with an attorney who handles estate cases. The Volunteer Lawyers Service at (800) 510-0050 provides free legal help to those who qualify. For estate tax matters, reach the Comptroller of Maryland at (410) 260-7850. The Maryland Judiciary website also has forms and instructions for self-represented personal representatives working through probate in Baltimore County.

Cities in Baltimore County

Baltimore County has dozens of communities. All probate cases for residents of Baltimore County go through the Register of Wills in Towson, regardless of which community the person lived in.

Other communities in Baltimore County include Catonsville, Pikesville, Perry Hall, Essex, Owings Mills, Cockeysville, and Randallstown. All estate filings are handled by the Baltimore County Register of Wills.

Nearby Counties

Baltimore County borders several other jurisdictions. You must file an estate in the county where the person who died lived. Check carefully, because Baltimore County is different from Baltimore City.