How Much Does Probate Cost in Maryland? A Plain-Language FAQ

If you're settling a loved one's estate in Maryland — or planning your own — one of the first questions people ask is: how much is this going to cost? The good news is that Maryland's court fees are public and predictable. Here's what to expect.

What fees does the Maryland Register of Wills charge?

Maryland charges a probate fee based on the size of the estate, plus small charges for specific services. For estates opened on or after October 1, 2022, the probate fee scales like this:

Value of the probate estate	Fee
Under $50,000	$0
$50,000 – $100,000	$100
$100,000 – $500,000	$200
$500,000 – $1,000,000	$1,000
$1,000,000 – $2,500,000	$2,000
$2,500,000 – $5,000,000	$5,000
$5,000,000 – $7,500,000	$7,500
$7,500,000 – $10,000,000	$10,000
Over $10,000,000	$10,000 plus 0.02% of the excess

Small estates (generally under $50,000, or under $100,000 if a spouse is the sole heir) pay no probate fee at all.

On top of the base fee, the Register of Wills charges modest amounts for things like plain copies ($0.50/page), certified copies ($0.50/page plus $2), Letters of Administration ($1), and filing a claim against the estate ($3). None of these move the needle much on their own, but they can add up in a complex estate with many creditors or beneficiaries.

What about the personal representative's commission?

Separately from court fees, the person administering the estate (the personal representative, or "PR") is entitled to a commission for their work — paid out of the estate, subject to court approval. Maryland caps this at 9% of the first $20,000 of the estate, plus 3.6% of everything above that. So a $100,000 estate would allow a maximum commission of $4,680 ($1,800 for the first $20,000, plus $2,880 for the remaining $80,000).

If an attorney is also handling the estate administration, their fees are typically billed separately and are subject to the same court-approval standard of reasonableness.

Are there costs beyond the court's filing fee?

Yes. Common additional costs in a Maryland estate include:

• Publication of notice to creditors, required in most administrations; cost varies by publication.

• Bond premiums, if the court requires the personal representative to post a bond (often waived if the will excuses it or all heirs consent).

• Appraisal fees for real estate, business interests, or other assets that need formal valuation.

• Attorney's fees, if you hire one to guide the administration.

• Certified mail and recording fees for notices and any real estate transfers.

Roughly how much does probate cost, all-in?

As a rule of thumb, total probate costs in Maryland (court fees, PR commission, attorney fees, and incidentals combined) tend to run in the range of 3–7% of the estate's value, with smaller and simpler estates landing at the low end and larger, contested, or multi-asset estates landing higher. Every estate is different, so this is a starting point for planning purposes, not a quote.

Can these costs be avoided?

Often, yes — at least in part. Assets held in a properly funded revocable trust, jointly titled property, and accounts with beneficiary designations (retirement accounts, life insurance, payable-on-death accounts) generally bypass probate entirely, avoiding both the court fees and the time delay. For federal employees in particular, coordinating TSP beneficiary designations, FEGLI, and survivor benefits with your broader estate plan can meaningfully reduce what ends up subject to probate in the first place.

The bottom line

Maryland's probate fees are publicly set and relatively modest by themselves, but the real cost of probate usually comes from everything around the filing fee — commissions, attorney's time, publication, and delay. The best way to control that cost is proactive planning: a well-drafted will or trust, correctly titled assets, and up-to-date beneficiary designations.

If you'd like help thinking through what your estate — or your family member's estate — would actually face in Maryland probate, schedule a call and we'll walk through it together.

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This article is for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Probate fees and rules change periodically; contact the Maryland Register of Wills, or consult an attorney, for current figures specific to your estate.