State guide
Maryland
Maryland centralizes probate notice practice through the Register of Wills. After appointment, the Register publishes the notice in a county newspaper, but Maryland also separately requires the personal representative to make a reasonably diligent effort to identify creditors and mail or deliver notice to those found.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
- Publishing the notice
- Maryland requires the Register of Wills to publish the notice once a week for 3 successive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the county of appointment, and the personal representative designates the paper.
- Creditor claim deadline
- Earlier of 6 months after death or 2 months after mailed/delivered notice to the creditor
- Outside deadline
- 6 months after death
- Law
- Md. Code, Estates & Trusts §§ 7-103, 7-103.1, 8-103
- Small-estate limit
- $50,000 or less, or $100,000 or less if the surviving spouse is the sole heir or legatee
Official resources in Maryland
Official statute governing publication of notice after appointment of a personal representative.
Official statute requiring reasonable diligence to identify creditors and mailed or delivered notice to those ascertained.
Official statute setting the creditor claim bar and outside deadline after death.
Official statewide probate administration page explaining publication and claim timing in plain language.
Official Maryland court self-help page for wills, estates, and probate.
Key facts for Maryland
- Maryland requires the Register of Wills to publish notice of appointment once a week for 3 successive weeks in a county newspaper.
- The personal representative designates the newspaper, and the statute requires a newspaper of general circulation in the county of appointment.
- Maryland creditors must file claims by the earlier of 6 months after death or 2 months after mailed or delivered notice.
- Maryland law requires the personal representative to make a reasonably diligent effort to identify creditors and mail or deliver notice to those found.
- Failure of a creditor to receive Maryland direct notice does not extend the claim period beyond 6 months after death.
- Maryland small estates are $50,000 or less, or $100,000 or less if the surviving spouse is the sole heir or legatee.
What to do next
- When opening the estate, choose the newspaper the Register of Wills will use and confirm whether your county has office-specific publication practices.
- Mail or otherwise deliver creditor notice promptly to any creditor you can identify, because Maryland’s 2-month direct-notice bar runs from that delivery.
- Check whether the estate qualifies as a Maryland small estate before using regular-estate forms and procedures.
Helpful guides
- What is a notice to creditors in probate?
- How to publish a probate notice in a newspaper
- How much does it cost to publish a probate notice?
- What counts as a legal newspaper for probate notices
Creditor deadline calculator →