2023 Maryland Statutes › Estates and Trusts › Title 5 - Opening the Estate › Subtitle 2 - Commencement of Proceeding › Section 5-206 - Form of Petition

In a proceeding for administrative or judicial probate the petition for probate shall be in substantially the following form:
In the Orphans’ Court for
(or)  ___________________________, Maryland
Before the Register of Wills for
in the Estate of:
______________________________________     Estate No. ___________________________
For:
Regular Estate –        Small Estate –            Will of No Estate –
Petition      for      probate    Petition              for        Complete Items 2 and 5
estate value in excess of    Administration,      estate
$20,000. Complete   and    value of $20,000 or    less.
attach Schedule – A.        Complete     and     attach
Schedule – B.
The Petition of:
_____________________________________      ______________________________________
Name                                                                     Address
______________________________________
_____________________________________      ______________________________________
Name                                                                     Address
______________________________________
_____________________________________      ______________________________________
Name                                                                     Address
______________________________________
Each of us states:
(1)  I am  (a)  at  least  18  years  of  age and either a citizen of the United States or a
permanent resident alien spouse of the decedent or (b) a trust company or any
other corporation authorized by law to act as a personal representative.
(2)  The decedent, ____________________________________________________________ ,
was domiciled in __________________________________________  County, State of
______________________________________ and  died  on  the  ___________  day  of
20______, at ___________________.
(3)  If the decedent was not domiciled in this county at the time of death, this is the
proper office in which to file this petition because:_____________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
(4)  I am entitled to priority of appointment as personal representative of the
decedent’s estate pursuant to § 5–104 of the Estates and Trusts Article,
Annotated Code of Maryland because:
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
and I am not excluded by § 5–105(c) of the Estates and Trist Article, Annotated
Code of Maryland from serving as personal representative
(5)  I have made a diligent search for the decedent’s will and to the best of my
knowledge:
none exists; or
the will dated __________________________ (including codicils, if any,           dated
_______________________ ) accompanying this petition is the last will and it came
into my hands in the following manner:
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
and the names and last known addresses of the witnesses are:
_____________________________________________________   ____________________
_____________________________________________________   ____________________
_____________________________________________________   ____________________
(6)  Other proceedings, if any, regarding the decedent or the estate are as follows:
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
(7)  If any information required by paragraphs 2 through 6 has not been furnished,
the reason is:
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
(8)  If appointed, I accept the duties of the office of personal representative and
consent to personal jurisdiction in any action brought in this State against me as
personal representative or arising out of the duties of the office of personal
representative.
WHEREFORE, I request appointment as personal representative of the
decedent’s estate and the following relief as indicated:
?    that the will and codicils, if any, be admitted to administrative probate;
?    that the will and codicils, if any, be admitted to judicial probate;
?    that the will and codicils, if any, be filed only;
?    that the following additional relief be granted: ________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
I solemnly affirm under the penalties of perjury that the contents of the
foregoing petition are true to the best of my knowledge, information, and belief.
______________________________________     _____________________________________
Attorney’s Signature                         Petitioner      Date
______________________________________     _____________________________________
Address                                      Petitioner      Date
______________________________________     _____________________________________
Petitioner      Date
______________________________________     _____________________________________
Telephone Number                          Telephone Number
In the Orphans’ Court for
(or)    __________________________ , Maryland
Before the Register of Wills for
in the Estate of:
_______________________________________    Estate No. __________________________
Schedule – A
REGULAR ESTATE
Estimated Value of Estate and Unsecured Debts:
Personal property (approximate value) ………………………………     $ _____________
Real property (approximate value) ……………………………………     $ _____________
Value of Property subject to:
(a)   Direct Inheritance Tax of __________% …………………     $ _____________
(b)   Collateral Inheritance Tax of __________% ……………      $ _____________
(c)   Collateral Inheritance Tax of __________% ……………       $ _____________
Unsecured Debts (approximate amount) ……………………………       $ _____________
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
(FOR REGISTER’S USE)
Safekeeping Wills _____________________      Custody of Wills ____________________
Bond Set $  ___________________________      Deputy _____________________________
In the Orphans’ Court for
(or)    __________________________ , Maryland
Before the Register of Wills for
in the Estate of:
_______________________________________    Estate No. __________________________
Schedule – B
SMALL ESTATE
Assets and Debts of the Decedent:
(1)   I have made a diligent search to discover all property and debts of the decedent
and set forth below are:
(a)   A listing of all real and personal property owned by the decedent, individually
or as a tenant in common, and of any other property to which the decedent
or estate would be entitled, including descriptions, values, and how the
values were determined:
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
(b)   A listing of all creditors and claimants and the amounts claimed, including
secured*, contingent and disputed claims:
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
(2)   Allowable funeral expenses are $ ____________; statutory family allowances are
$ ____________; and expenses of administration are $ _____________.
(3)   Attached is a List of Interested Persons
*Note: § 5–601(d) of the Estates and Trusts Article. Annotated Code of Maryland “For
the purpose of thus subtitle – Value is determined by fair market value of property
less debts of record secured by the property as of the date of death, to the extent that
insurance benefits are not payable to the lien holder or secured party for the secured
debt.”
I solemnly affirm under the penalties of perjury that the contents of the
foregoing schedule are true to the best of my knowledge, information, and belief.
______________________________________     _____________________________________
Attorney’s Signature                         Petitioner      Date
______________________________________     _____________________________________
Address                                      Petitioner      Date
______________________________________     _____________________________________
Telephone Number                          Telephone Number