Search Wicomico County Probate Court Records
Wicomico County probate court records are managed by the Register of Wills office in Salisbury. This county was carved out of Somerset and Worcester Counties in 1867, and its probate records start from that year. Salisbury is the commercial hub of the Lower Eastern Shore, and the courthouse handles estate filings for the whole county. You can search for wills, administration records, and other probate court records online or by visiting the Wicomico County courthouse in person. Staff are available by phone to help you figure out what you need before you make the trip.
Wicomico County Overview
Wicomico County Register of Wills
The Wicomico County Register of Wills is the central office for probate court records in this county. Hon. Karen A. Lemon serves as the Register. The office is at Room 102 of the courthouse at 101 North Division Street in Salisbury. For mail, send items to PO Box 787, Salisbury, MD 21803-0787. Staff are available by phone Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
The Register of Wills office in Wicomico County encourages you to call before visiting. A phone call lets the staff learn about your situation and tell you what documents you need to bring. This saves time at the courthouse and helps the process go smoother. The phone number is (410) 543-6635 and the toll-free line is (888) 786-0018. The fax number is (410) 334-3440.
The Orphans' Court also sits in Salisbury and handles contested probate matters for Wicomico County. If a will is disputed or there is a problem with a personal representative, the case goes to the Orphans' Court for a hearing.
| Register | Hon. Karen A. Lemon |
|---|---|
| Address |
Courthouse, 101 North Division Street, Room 102 Salisbury, MD 21801 |
| Mailing Address |
Register of Wills, Wicomico County PO Box 787 Salisbury, MD 21803-0787 |
| Phone | (410) 543-6635 |
| Toll-Free | (888) 786-0018 |
| Fax | (410) 334-3440 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
Searching Wicomico County Probate Records
The Maryland Register of Wills Estate Search portal is the best online tool for finding probate court records in Wicomico County. It is free to use. Enter a last name and hit search. You can add a first name, filing date range, or estate number to narrow results. The system pulls up the estate number, status, date of death, personal representative, and attorney. Data updates daily and covers cases from 1998 forward. Use the % sign as a wildcard for partial name matches.
The Maryland Judiciary Case Search offers another way to find probate cases in Wicomico County. This free tool covers court cases from 1965 on. It does not need a login. Search by last name, and add other fields to cut down a long list. If you get more than 500 results, the system only shows the first 500, so you should narrow your search with more details.
In-person searches at the Wicomico County courthouse let you see the full case file. Bring the name of the person whose estate you are looking for. A date of death or case number helps speed things up. Staff can pull records and make copies for you while you wait.
Note: Call (410) 543-6635 before you visit the Wicomico County office so staff can discuss your needs and prepare the right files.
Wicomico County Estate Records
Wicomico County probate court records go back to 1867 when the county was created. The wills collection includes records from 1867 to 1879 and a second set from 1868 to 1940. Because the county is newer than most in Maryland, its historical record collection is smaller. But modern records follow the same rules as every other county in the state.
Each estate opened in Wicomico County creates a file that grows over time. The personal representative must file an inventory within three months of their appointment under § 7-101. A list of interested persons is due within 20 days per § 7-104. The first account comes due within nine months. After that, follow-up accounts are filed every six months until the estate closes. The final account wraps things up under § 10-101. All of these filings are public records that you can view or copy at the Wicomico County Register of Wills office.
Salisbury is the largest city on the Eastern Shore. Estate cases here can involve commercial property, business assets, and other holdings tied to the local economy. Probate court records in Wicomico County reflect this mix of urban and rural estates.
Wicomico County Probate Fees
Probate fees in Wicomico County follow the same state schedule that every Maryland county uses. There is no fee for estates worth $50,000 or less. From there, the cost rises with the value of the estate:
- $50,001 to $100,000: $100 filing fee
- $100,001 to $500,000: $200
- $500,001 to $1,000,000: $1,000
- $1,000,001 to $2,500,000: $2,000
- Over $2,500,000: $5,000 and up
Small estates can use a faster process under § 5-601 of the Maryland Estates and Trusts Code. If the estate is $50,000 or less, you file the small estate petition. That cap goes up to $100,000 when the surviving spouse is the only heir. Modified administration is another option for estates that meet the rules. The Wicomico County Register of Wills staff can walk you through which path works for your case and how much it will cost. There may also be charges for copies of probate court records.
Wicomico County Probate Records Online
The Wicomico County Register of Wills page gives you the office address, phone numbers, hours, and links to the state's estate search tools. Check this page before you call or visit the Salisbury courthouse.
From this page you can get to the Estate Search portal, find forms for probate filings, and look up the Orphans' Court schedule for Wicomico County. The MDEC system also handles electronic filings for probate cases in this county.
Legal Resources for Wicomico County Estates
The Maryland People's Law Library is a free guide to estate administration. It covers every step of the probate process from start to finish. The site explains what forms to file, what deadlines to meet, and what the personal representative must do under Maryland law. This guide works for anyone handling an estate in Wicomico County.
The Maryland Judiciary website has downloadable forms for petitions, inventories, accounts, and other probate filings. If you need to file documents electronically, the MDEC portal handles that for Wicomico County. The Register of Wills staff can answer questions about the forms and filing steps. They cannot give legal advice, but they can help you find the right papers and make sure you fill them out the right way. For legal help beyond what the office offers, look for area attorneys who handle estate and probate matters on the Eastern Shore.
For older records and genealogy, the Maryland State Archives Guide has indexes and finding aids for Wicomico County probate records. FamilySearch also hosts collections that cover Maryland wills and estate files, which can help with family history work tied to this area.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Wicomico County on the Lower Eastern Shore. If the estate you need records for was filed in a neighboring county, you can search those offices as well.