Find Montgomery County Probate Court Records

Montgomery County probate court records are managed by the Register of Wills at the Judicial Center in Rockville. This is one of the busiest probate offices in the state, serving over one million residents. The office handles estate filings, wills, guardianship cases, and all other probate matters for Montgomery County. You can reach staff by phone, email, live online chat, or in person by appointment. The Records Department is currently closed to walk-in public access, so plan ahead if you need copies of probate court records.

Montgomery County Register of Wills

Hon. Joseph M. Griffin serves as the Montgomery County Register of Wills. The office is in Room 3220 of the Judicial Center in Rockville, on the North Tower side of 50 Maryland Avenue. This is where all Montgomery County probate court records are filed, stored, and made available to the public. Staff handle everything from opening new estates to providing copies of old wills.

Montgomery County has special rules for visiting the office. All visits are by appointment only, and just two persons may come in at a time. The Records Department is closed to the public. If you need copies of probate court records, request them by phone, email, or online. You can submit documents up to 25 pages by email as a PDF to MontgomeryCountyRow@registers.maryland.gov. Larger filings should be mailed or dropped off in the Courthouse Dropbox on Maryland Avenue. The office encourages use of the dropbox and mail to keep things moving without needing an in-person visit.

Live online chat is available Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Phone lines are staffed during the same hours. These are good ways to get answers about Montgomery County probate court records without coming to Rockville.

Montgomery County Orphans' Court

Montgomery County is one of just two counties in Maryland where Circuit Court judges sit as Orphans' Court judges. Most other counties have separate elected Orphans' Court judges. In Montgomery County, the Circuit Court judges handle all contested probate matters, including will disputes, personal representative removals, and guardianship hearings. The court meets at 50 Maryland Avenue in Rockville.

This setup means that the judges who hear Montgomery County probate disputes are the same judges who handle other civil and criminal cases. Under Md. Code, Estates and Trusts § 2-101, the Orphans' Court has jurisdiction over the administration of estates and the conduct of personal representatives. If you have a contested probate matter in Montgomery County, your case will be set on the Circuit Court calendar rather than a separate Orphans' Court docket.

Searching Montgomery County Probate Records

The free EstateSearch tool is the best way to look up Montgomery County probate court records online. It covers cases from 1998 to the present. Type a last name and use the percent sign as a wildcard to broaden your search. Results update at the close of each business day. You can sort results by clicking on column headers, and each record shows the estate number, status, date of death, filing date, personal representative, and attorney.

The Maryland Judiciary Case Search also covers Montgomery County. It has docket info from 1965 onward. This is a free tool and it works for civil, criminal, traffic, and probate cases. You can search by name or case number. For partial name lookups, enter the first letter of the last name and then a percent sign.

Montgomery County probate records start in 1777. Wills are on file from that year forward. Probate records cover 1777 to 1916 and 1777 to 1955. Minutes and proceedings run from 1779 to 1855. Probate case files span 1777 to 1906. The Maryland State Archives holds microfilm of these older records. Their online guide can help you find what is available before you visit in person.

Note: The Records Department is closed to walk-in access, so request copies of Montgomery County probate court records by phone or through their email.

Montgomery County Estate Record Types

Montgomery County was created in 1776 from Frederick County. The earliest probate records on file date to 1777. A full range of estate documents are available, including wills, administration accounts, bonds, inventories, and court proceedings. Modern records also include guardianship cases, conservatorships, trust filings, and automobile transfer records.

When an estate is opened in Montgomery County, the personal representative files the will (if there is one) with the Register of Wills. They receive letters of administration or letters testamentary, which give them the legal power to act. An inventory is due within three months per Estates and Trusts § 7-101. A list of interested persons is due in 20 days under § 7-104. Creditors have six months to file claims per § 8-103. All of these filings become part of the Montgomery County probate court record for that estate.

Maryland estate tax returns are no longer filed with the Register of Wills. Since July 1, 2015, the MET 1 Form goes directly to the Comptroller of Maryland. Call 800-638-2937 for estate tax questions.

Probate Court Fees in Montgomery County

Probate fees in Montgomery County follow the statewide schedule. Estates under $50,000 pay no fee. The cost is $100 for estates from $50,000 to $100,000, and $200 for estates from $100,000 to $500,000. Larger estates pay $1,000 to $10,000 depending on value. Estates over $10 million pay $10,000 plus 0.02% of the amount above $10 million.

Small estates qualify for a simplified process under Estates and Trusts § 5-601. This applies to estates worth $50,000 or less, or $100,000 if the spouse is the only heir. Modified administration is another option that reduces paperwork for eligible estates. The choice between administrative and judicial probate depends on whether there are any disputes. Administrative probate stays with the Register of Wills. Judicial probate goes to the Orphans' Court (Circuit Court judges in Montgomery County).

Montgomery County Register of Wills Portal

The Montgomery County Register of Wills page has office hours, contact details, and links to online resources for searching Montgomery County probate court records.

From this page you can access the live chat feature, find the courthouse dropbox location, and link to the EstateSearch tool for Montgomery County records.

Legal Help for Montgomery County Probate

The Legal Aid Bureau has a Montgomery County office at (240) 314-0373 that may help with probate matters for those with low income. The Montgomery County Bar Association at (301) 424-3454 can refer you to a private attorney who handles estate cases. The People's Law Library has free guides on wills, estates, and the probate process in Maryland.

Other useful contacts for Montgomery County probate court records include the Land Records office at (240) 777-9477, the Trust Clerk at (240) 777-9175, and the Comptroller's unclaimed property line at 800-782-7383. The MDEC portal lets attorneys file probate documents in Montgomery County online. The Maryland Judiciary help page at mdcourts.gov/legalhelp/willsestates covers the basics of estate law and forms.

Cities in Montgomery County

Montgomery County has many large communities. All of them file probate cases through the Register of Wills in Rockville. No matter which part of the county you live in, Montgomery County probate court records go to the same office at the Judicial Center on Maryland Avenue.

Other areas in Montgomery County include Olney, Potomac, Takoma Park, Kensington, and Poolesville. All of these use the same Montgomery County Register of Wills office for probate court records.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Montgomery County. Probate cases must be filed in the county where the person lived at the time of death. If you are searching for records and aren't sure which county applies, check the last known address first.