Harford County Probate Court Records Search

Harford County probate court records are managed by the Register of Wills in Bel Air. The office recently moved to a new location at 18 Office Street, on the first floor of the Mutual Fire Insurance Building. Harford County has one key difference from most Maryland counties: Circuit Court judges sit as Orphans' Court judges here instead of separately elected Orphans' Court judges. Estate records in Harford County go back to 1774, one year after the county was created from Baltimore County. You can search probate court records online, by phone, or by visiting the Bel Air office.

Harford County Register of Wills

Hon. Derek K. Hopkins serves as the Register of Wills for Harford County. The office is at the Mutual Fire Insurance Building, 18 Office Street, 1st Floor, Bel Air. This is a new location. The office operates mainly by appointment. The staff strongly encourages you to call instead of visiting. Most needs can be met by phone, email, mail, or online. If you do need to drop off papers, there is a locked drop box in the lobby at 18 Office Street.

The Harford County Register of Wills handles all estate filings for the county. Estate documents can be mailed or placed in the drop box. Maryland law does not set a hard deadline for when you must open an estate after someone dies, but acting sooner is better. The office has checklists for both small estates and regular estates. These checklists spell out what you need to bring or mail, which makes the process go faster in Harford County.

Note: The office is open by appointment only on a limited basis, so call ahead at (410) 638-3275 before visiting.

Search Harford County Probate Court Records

The Maryland Register of Wills Estate Search tool covers Harford County. It is free. Search by name, estate number, or filing date range. Records from 1998 forward are in the system. Type a last name and use the percent sign as a wildcard to get more results. The tool shows estate numbers, case types, dates, and who serves as personal representative. Docket history is also available for each case.

You can also search through the Maryland Judiciary Case Search. This free system covers court cases from 1965 on. Since Circuit Court judges sit as Orphans' Court judges in Harford County, any contested probate matters show up in the Circuit Court records. Search by party name or case number. This tool gives you docket info and hearing dates.

For older Harford County probate court records, the Maryland State Archives is the best source. They hold wills from 1773 to 1985, with an index covering 1774 to 1948. Administrator accounts span 1800 to 1868. Administrator bonds go from 1774 to 1820. Guardian accounts run from 1800 to 1873. Inventories cover 1777 to 1852. Some records were lost in a fire in 1858, but many survived. FamilySearch also has extensive Harford County collections for genealogy work.

Harford County Estate Records

Harford County was created in 1773 from Baltimore County. Probate court records begin in 1774. The county seat is Bel Air. Over the years, fires and time have taken a toll on some early records. A fire in 1858 destroyed some documents. But the Maryland State Archives saved what it could, and many early records survive on microfilm.

Today, the Harford County Register of Wills keeps all estate documents filed in the county. These include wills, petitions for probate, letters of administration, bonds, inventories, information reports, and accounts. Under § 4-202, anyone holding a will must file it with the Register of Wills after the person dies. Once filed, these records are open to the public. You do not need to be a party to the case to ask for copies.

One thing that sets Harford County apart from most other Maryland counties is how its Orphans' Court works. In most counties, three elected judges sit on the Orphans' Court. In Harford County, the Circuit Court judges handle these duties instead. This means probate disputes, will contests, and removal of personal representatives go before the same judges who handle other civil and criminal cases. The result is the same, but the process is a bit different for lawyers and parties involved in Harford County probate court records.

• Wills and codicils
• Letters testamentary and letters of administration
• Inventories of estate assets
• First, subsequent, and final accounts
• Orphans' Court orders (issued by Circuit Court judges)
• Guardian and conservator records

Harford County Probate Filing Fees

Filing fees for probate court records in Harford County follow the statewide schedule. Estates worth $50,000 or less have no fee. For estates valued from $50,000 to $100,000, the fee is $100. Estates between $100,000 and $500,000 pay $200. Larger estates pay fees that scale up to $10,000 for estates over $7.5 million. These rates apply to all estates opened after October 1, 2022.

The small estate process is available in Harford County under § 5-601. Estates valued at $50,000 or less qualify. If the sole heir is a surviving spouse, the limit is $100,000. The small estate path means less paperwork. You file a petition and a list of assets and debts. There is no need for a bond on estates under $10,000. This process saves time for families in Harford County who are dealing with modest estates.

Regular estate administration in Harford County has firm deadlines. Under § 7-104, the list of interested persons is due within 20 days. The inventory must be filed within three months per § 7-101. The first account is due within nine months. Creditors have six months from the date of death to submit claims under § 8-103. If you miss these deadlines, the Orphans' Court (handled by Circuit Court judges in Harford County) may take action.

Maryland law does not require that you open an estate within a set number of days after death. But the sooner you start, the sooner creditors' claims and distribution can be handled. The Harford County Register of Wills office has checklists that lay out every step for both small and regular estates.

Harford County Register of Wills Page

The Harford County Register of Wills page shows the office location, hours, and contact details.

From this page you can get the phone number, address of the new Bel Air location, and links to the Estate Search tool for Harford County probate court records.

Harford County Probate Legal Resources

The People's Law Library has free guides on estate administration. These cover every step of the process, from filing the first petition to closing the estate. The guides apply to Harford County and all other Maryland jurisdictions. They explain small estates, regular estates, and what happens when there is no will.

The Maryland Judiciary website has downloadable court forms. These include estate petitions, bond forms, inventories, and account templates. The MDEC system lets attorneys file electronically in Harford County. If you are representing yourself, you can still file by mail or drop off papers at 18 Office Street.

Harford County is along the I-95 corridor between Baltimore and the Delaware state line. It borders Baltimore County to the south and Cecil County to the northeast. If you are unsure which county handles the estate, check the person's home address at the time of death. Real property in Harford County goes through the Harford County probate process no matter where the owner lived. For help with forms or questions about how the Circuit Court judges handle Orphans' Court matters in Harford County, call the Register of Wills at (410) 638-3275.

Cities in Harford County

Harford County includes Bel Air, Aberdeen, Havre de Grace, Edgewood, Fallston, Jarrettsville, and several other communities. All probate court records for these areas are filed at the Register of Wills in Bel Air.

Other communities in Harford County include Forest Hill, Joppa, and Churchville. Residents of all these areas use the same Register of Wills office for probate court records.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Harford County. Check the person's home address to make sure you file the estate in the right county.