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Maryland Probate Deadlines: What to File and When

Every hard, statutory date in a Maryland probate — including the creditor deadline that, unusually, runs from the date of death rather than from published notice.

Est. & Trusts Titles 7–9

By the FigureMyTax Editorial Team · How we calculate

Quick answer: the deadline that matters most is the six-month creditor window, which in Maryland runs from the date of death — not from published notice as in most states — and can be shortened to two months if the personal representative mails direct notice. See the full Maryland probate timeline calculator for your specific estimate.

The core deadlines, in order

DeadlineMaryland ruleStatute
File the willPromptly after death, even if not opening the estateEst. & Trusts § 4-202
List of Interested PersonsWith petition, or within 20 days of appointmentEst. & Trusts § 7-104
Inventory & Information ReportWithin 3 months of appointmentEst. & Trusts § 7-104
Modified Administration electionWithin 3 months of appointmentMd. Register of Wills Form 1141
Creditor claim deadlineEarlier of 6 months from death, or 2 months from mailed noticeEst. & Trusts § 8-103(a)
Claim based on PR's own conduct6 months from when the claim aroseEst. & Trusts § 8-103(c)
Regular estate: first accountWithin 9 months of appointment (as early as 6)Est. & Trusts Title 7, Subtitle 3
Modified Administration: Final Report10 months after appointmentMd. Register of Wills

Why the death-keyed creditor deadline is genuinely distinctive

Est. & Trusts § 8-103(a): Maryland bars creditor claims within the earlier of six months from the decedent's date of death, or two months after the personal representative mails direct notice. Legal commentary notes this deadline is deliberately keyed from death rather than from published notice of the personal representative's appointment, which avoids certain constitutional "state action" due process questions that arise when a deadline runs from a newspaper notice instead.

A deadline the personal representative can shorten

Because the two-month mailed-notice period can end before six months from death, a personal representative who sends direct written notice early can effectively shorten the creditor window — the opposite dynamic from a state where mailed notice only ever extends the deadline.

Facing probate in Maryland?

A local probate attorney can review your estate — many offer a free consultation.

Talk to a Maryland attorney

Maryland probate deadlines — frequently asked questions

When must the List of Interested Persons be filed in Maryland?

With the Petition for Probate, or within 20 days after appointment of the personal representative, under Est. & Trusts § 7-104. It lists everyone entitled to notice of the estate proceeding.

When is the Maryland Inventory due?

Within three months of the personal representative's appointment, along with an Information Report covering assets not solely in the decedent's name or that had a designated beneficiary. This deadline applies to regular estates; Modified Administration eliminates it.

How firm is Maryland's six-month creditor deadline?

It runs from the date of death itself under Est. & Trusts § 8-103(a) — a genuinely distinctive structure compared to states that key the deadline from published notice. It can also be shortened to two months if the personal representative mails direct written notice to a known creditor.

What is the deadline for a claim based on the personal representative's own conduct?

Six months from the date the claim arose, under Est. & Trusts § 8-103(c) — a separate, narrower deadline that applies specifically to claims arising from the personal representative's own actions or a contract they entered into, rather than the decedent's pre-death debts.

Keep going

Maryland Probate Timeline CalculatorYour estimate, based on your answers What Delays Probate in MarylandBeyond the statutory floor Regular vs Modified AdministrationWhich one applies to your estate Maryland Probate vs Living TrustWould a trust have avoided this?

Estimate for general guidance only, not legal advice. Based on Est. & Trusts § 4-202, 7-104, 8-103, and Title 7, Subtitle 3. Confirm current deadlines with the Register of Wills or a licensed Maryland attorney.