St. Mary's County Probate Court Records Search
St. Mary's County probate court records are managed by the Register of Wills in Leonardtown. This was the first county created in Maryland, formed in 1637, and its probate records reach back to the colonial era of 1634. The Register of Wills handles all estate filings, wills, guardianship matters, and related probate cases for St. Mary's County. You can contact the office by phone or visit the courthouse on Courthouse Drive in Leonardtown. Staff suggest you call during normal hours before coming in, since many needs can be handled by phone, mail, or online.
St. Mary's County Overview
St. Mary's County Register of Wills
Hon. Phyllis A. Superior serves as the St. Mary's County Register of Wills. The office is in Room G008 of the courthouse at 41605 Courthouse Drive in Leonardtown. Staff here handle all probate court records for the county, from opening new estates to providing copies of wills and account filings. The Register also serves as Clerk to the Orphans' Court.
There is an important mailing rule for St. Mary's County. Mail sent through USPS to the street address at 41605 Courthouse Drive will be returned. You must use the PO Box instead. All mail should go to Register of Wills, St. Mary's County, PO Box 602, Leonardtown, MD 20650. This applies to filings, requests for copies, and any other correspondence. If you show up in person, all visitors must pass through security at the courthouse entrance.
Most needs can be met by phone, mail, or online services. Staff recommend calling first during business hours to see if a trip to the office is even needed.
| Register | Hon. Phyllis A. Superior |
|---|---|
| Address |
Courthouse 41605 Courthouse Drive, Room G008 Leonardtown, MD 20650 |
| Mailing Address |
Register of Wills, St. Mary's County PO Box 602 Leonardtown, MD 20650 |
| Phone | (301) 475-5566 |
| Toll-Free | (888) 475-4821 |
| Fax | (301) 475-4968 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | registers.maryland.gov/main/stmarys.html |
Mailing Notice: Do not send mail to the street address. USPS will return it. Use PO Box 602, Leonardtown, MD 20650 for all mail to the St. Mary's County Register of Wills.
St. Mary's County Orphans' Court
The Orphans' Court for St. Mary's County meets at the courthouse in Leonardtown. This court hears contested probate matters, including will disputes, challenges to personal representatives, and guardianship cases. Under Md. Code, Estates and Trusts § 2-101, the Orphans' Court has broad jurisdiction over estate administration and the conduct of personal representatives.
Most probate cases in St. Mary's County do not need the Orphans' Court. Administrative probate, where everyone agrees, stays with the Register of Wills. Judicial probate for disputed matters goes before the court. Hearings are public and usually set in advance.
How to Find St. Mary's County Probate Records
The EstateSearch tool on the Maryland Register of Wills website is the quickest way to search St. Mary's County probate court records. It is free and covers cases from 1998 to the present. Type a last name and use a percent sign for a wildcard search. Data updates at the end of each business day. You can also search by estate number, but the full 12-character number is needed with leading zeros.
The Maryland Judiciary Case Search is a second free tool. It covers docket information from trial courts since 1965. This includes probate cases filed in St. Mary's County. Search by name or case number. For partial name lookups, enter at least the first letter of the last name and add a percent sign.
St. Mary's County has some of the oldest records in all of Maryland. Probate records go back to 1634, the colonial era. Wills on file span from 1658 to 1997 and are indexed from 1658 to 1946. Administration bonds run from 1799 to 1912. Guardian bonds cover the same period. Administrator's accounts go from 1798 to 1901. Inventories cover 1795 to 1850 and 1845 to 1973. Estate records span 1945 to 1996. For the oldest records, the Maryland State Archives in Annapolis is the best source. They hold colonial probate records from 1634 to 1777 and have digitized some through the Archives Guide.
St. Mary's County Estate Records
St. Mary's County was the first county formed in Maryland, created in 1637. The original county seat was St. Mary's City, which also served as Maryland's colonial capital. Leonardtown took over as county seat later. The deep history of this county means its probate court records cover nearly 400 years of estate filings, wills, and administration documents.
Modern probate court records in St. Mary's County include the same types of documents found across the state. When someone dies, the will (if there is one) gets filed with the Register of Wills. The personal representative receives letters of administration or letters testamentary. They must file an inventory within three months per Estates and Trusts § 7-101. The list of interested persons is due in 20 days under § 7-104. Creditors get six months to file claims per § 8-103. Final accounts must be filed before the estate closes under § 10-101.
FamilySearch has extensive digitized collections from St. Mary's County. The Maryland State Archives also holds colonial records that predate the modern probate system. These are valuable for genealogy and historical research tied to southern Maryland families.
Probate Fees for St. Mary's County
Probate fees in St. Mary's County match the statewide schedule. There is no fee for estates worth $50,000 or less. Estates from $50,000 to $100,000 cost $100. The fee is $200 for estates up to $500,000, and $1,000 for estates up to $1 million. The highest bracket charges $10,000 for estates between $7.5 million and $10 million.
Small estates under $50,000 qualify for a simplified filing under Estates and Trusts § 5-601. If the surviving spouse is the only heir, the limit is $100,000. Modified administration offers another shortcut for eligible estates. Administrative probate, which covers most cases in St. Mary's County, stays with the Register of Wills. Judicial probate for contested matters goes to the Orphans' Court.
Note: Copy fees and certification charges apply when you request documents from the St. Mary's County Register of Wills office.
St. Mary's County Register of Wills Page
The St. Mary's County Register of Wills page on the Maryland Registers website has office contact details, the correct mailing address, and links to the online estate search tool for St. Mary's County probate court records.
Be sure to note the PO Box address on this page if you plan to send anything by mail. The street address does not accept USPS deliveries for the St. Mary's County Register of Wills.
Legal Resources for St. Mary's County Probate
The People's Law Library of Maryland offers free guides on probate, small estates, and wills. The Maryland Judiciary help page at mdcourts.gov/legalhelp/willsestates covers the estate process from start to finish. These are good starting points if you are handling probate court records in St. Mary's County for the first time.
The St. Mary's County Library in Leonardtown may have self-help legal materials on probate and estates. The MDEC portal lets attorneys file documents electronically in St. Mary's County. For historical research, Historic St. Mary's City is nearby and the Maryland State Archives Guide covers colonial-era probate records. The Comptroller of Maryland handles estate tax questions at 800-638-2937. For Maryland code and court rules related to probate, the Circuit Court or the Register of Wills can point you to the right resources.
Nearby Counties
St. Mary's County is in southern Maryland. If you need probate court records from a neighboring county, check where the person lived at the time of death. Probate must be filed in the correct county.