How Do You Register a Will in Maryland?

Your last will and testament holds instructions for the distribution of your assets after your death. Because this document is of incredible importance, you should register it in Maryland.

You can and should register your will in Maryland. You can do this by filing it with the Register of Wills Office in your jurisdiction. Before you register your will, ensure it is executed properly. Then, seal your will in an envelope and include the necessary identifying information on the outside of the envelope. Registering your will ensures that it is kept in a safe and secure location. You can retrieve your will from the Register of Wills Office at any time. If you do not register your will, your loved ones will have to do so after your death in Maryland.

For help with your case from our Maryland wills and estate planning lawyers, call Rice, Murtha & Psoras today at (410) 694-7291.

How to Register Your Will in Maryland

Registering your will is a good way to keep it safe and secure within the Register of Wills Office in your jurisdiction. While registering a will is a relatively simple process, a few steps are required to do so in Maryland.

Prepare Your Will

In order to register a will, you need to have a last will and testament. Allow our Annapolis wills and estate planning lawyers to help you plan and execute your will. Consider how you want your assets distributed among beneficiaries when preparing a will. Choose your personal representative at this time as well. This will be the person designated to manage your estate after your death. In order for a will to be honored, it must be properly signed by two witlessness and the testator. If your will does not adhere to Maryland’s requirements for a will, it will not be seen as valid, even if it has been filed with the Register of Wills Office.

Locate Your Register of Wills Office

There are Register of Wills Offices in each jurisdiction in Maryland. You can find your local office online or ask our attorneys for help. Wills must be filed in the jurisdiction that a testator lives in. If a testator did not register their will and their loved ones have to do so after their death, it must be filed with the Register of Wills Office in the jurisdiction that the testator died in.

Seal Your Will

To file a will with the Register of Wills Office, you must seal it in an envelope. On the outside of the envelope, you must include your name, address, Social Security number, and the date of the will. There is a $5-dollar fee associated with registering a will in Maryland. If you change your will by executing a codicil, you must follow these same steps to file it with the Register of Wills Office. Register your will as soon as it is complete. Even after your will is registered, you can make changes as necessary. After your will has been filed with the Register of Wills Office, you can contact the agency at any time to retrieve it. No one else, unless given approval through your written instruction, will be able to access your will from the Register of Wills Office in Maryland.

Reasons to Register Your Will in Maryland

There are many reasons why a testator should register their will prior to their death. In doing so, you can ensure this document is kept safe, will be found after your death, and is valid. If you do not register your will, your beneficiaries might face difficulties during the probate process in Maryland.

To Keep it Safe

The first reason why you should consider registering your will is that it will be safe when filed with the Register of Wills Office. You will not have to be concerned that your will might be lost or destroyed while in your home. You can also easily refer to your will periodically and retrieve it from the Register of Wills Office at your discretion. In addition to registering your will, you can keep a copy with you or with our attorneys for easy access.

To Ensure it is Found After Your Death

Many people think that the best way to store a will is in a safe or lockbox in their home. If you do this, and that is the only copy of your will, it might not be found after your death. This complicates the probate process substantially. If your will is not found, the court will have to name a personal representative and distribute your assets according to intestacy laws, which might not align with your wishes.

To Ensure it is Valid

Because Maryland provides clear guidelines for registering a will, testators should only register wills that are valid. This means that a will is signed by the testator and two witnesses. Wills do not have to be notarized to be honored in Maryland. If you change your will through a codicil, make sure you register that document as well. If you do not, the changes to your will may not be honored. Our attorneys will not advise you to register you will unless it is executed properly.

To Reduce Responsibilities for Your Loved Ones

If you do not register your will and instead keep it at your home or with a loved one, your survivors will have to file it with the Register of Wills Office following your death. This is required by law in Maryland to start the probate process. Registering your will while you are alive can alleviate certain responsibilities for your loved ones following your death, meaning they will not have to think about having to register your will while they are grieving.

Call Our Maryland Lawyers to Discuss Your Will Today

You can call (410) 694-7291 to set up a free case review with the Baltimore wills and estate planning lawyers at Rice, Murtha & Psoras.