How to Complete the Maryland Probate Inventory Form

Being named as a personal representative for someone's estate in Maryland comes with serious responsibilities, and one of the first tasks on your plate is filing a probate inventory with the Register of Wills. This document lists everything the deceased person owned at the time of their death property, bank accounts, vehicles, investments, personal belongings and assigns each item a value. Get it wrong, and you could face delays, disputes with heirs, or even personal liability. Get it right, and you set the estate up for a smoother process from start to finish.

If you've recently been appointed as personal representative and aren't sure where to start with the inventory form, this guide walks you through each section step by step.

What Is the Maryland Probate Inventory Form?

The probate inventory is a formal accounting of all assets owned by the decedent at the time of death. In Maryland, the Register of Wills provides this form, and every personal representative is required to file it. It's not optional it's a legal obligation under the Maryland Estates and Trusts Article.

The form is sometimes called the Inventory and Report of Estate or simply the Inventory of Estate. You can obtain it from your local Register of Wills office or, in many jurisdictions, download it from their website. If the estate qualifies as a small estate, the process may differ, so it's worth checking whether a small estate affidavit applies to your situation instead.

When Do You Have to File the Inventory?

Maryland law requires you to file the inventory within three months of the date you were appointed as personal representative. If you need more time, you can file a written request with the Register of Wills for an extension, but don't wait until the deadline has passed. Courts take these timelines seriously.

If you've just petitioned to open the estate, the clock starts ticking once the court issues your appointment not when the person passed away.

What Assets Need to Be Listed on the Inventory?

Every asset the decedent owned or had an interest in at the time of death goes on the inventory. This includes:

Real property houses, land, rental properties, timeshares, and any other real estate located in Maryland or elsewhere
Bank accounts checking, savings, CDs, and money market accounts in the decedent's sole name
Investment accounts brokerage accounts, stocks, bonds, mutual funds
Retirement accounts IRAs, 401(k)s, pensions (only if payable to the estate, not to a named beneficiary)
Life insurance proceeds payable to the estate rather than a specific beneficiary
Vehicles cars, motorcycles, boats, RVs
Personal property furniture, jewelry, art, collectibles, electronics, household items
Business interests ownership in LLCs, partnerships, sole proprietorships, or closely held corporations
Money owed to the decedent promissory notes, tax refunds, pending lawsuits, or unpaid wages
Digital assets cryptocurrency, PayPal balances, accounts with monetary value

One common point of confusion: jointly held property and assets with named beneficiaries (like a life insurance policy paid to a specific person) generally do not go on the inventory. Those pass outside the estate by operation of law. But if you're unsure, list it and let the Register of Wills sort it out. It's better to over-disclose than to leave something off.

How to Fill Out Each Section of the Form

Section 1: Identifying Information

The top of the form asks for basic details: the decedent's full legal name, the case number assigned by the Register of Wills, the date of death, and your name as personal representative. Fill this in carefully a typo in the case number can cause processing delays.

Section 2: Real Property

For each piece of real estate, list the property address, a brief description (e.g., "single-family residence," "vacant lot"), and its fair market value as of the date of death. You don't need a formal appraisal for every property, but you should have a reasonable basis for the value you report. Common sources include:

Recent tax assessments (though these often understate market value)
Comparable sales in the neighborhood
A broker's opinion of value
A formal appraisal, especially for high-value or unusual properties

Don't forget to subtract the decedent's share if they co-owned the property as a tenant in common (not joint tenants with right of survivorship).

Section 3: Cash and Financial Accounts

List each bank account with the institution's name, account type, and the balance as of the date of death. You may need to contact banks directly or review recent statements. Include any cash found in the home or safe deposit box.

Section 4: Stocks, Bonds, and Other Securities

For each holding, include the name of the security, the number of shares or units, and the value as of the date of death. Use the closing price on the date of death (or the next trading day if death occurred after market close). Financial institutions can usually provide these figures.

Section 5: Vehicles and Titled Personal Property

Include the make, model, year, and VIN for vehicles. For value, you can use resources like Kelley Blue Book or NADA guides for a reasonable estimate.

Section 6: Other Personal Property

This is the catch-all for household goods, furniture, jewelry, clothing, tools, and other tangible items. You don't need to list every fork and spoon a reasonable grouping is fine (e.g., "household furniture and furnishings estimated value $2,000"). However, high-value individual items should be listed separately.

Section 7: Debts Owed to the Estate

If anyone owed the decedent money a personal loan to a friend, an outstanding invoice from a business, a pending tax refund list those amounts here.

Section 8: Total Value

Add up all the values and enter the gross estate total at the bottom. This is the number the Register of Wills will use to assess the estate's filing fee, so accuracy matters.

How Do You Determine Fair Market Value?

Fair market value means what a willing buyer would pay a willing seller, both with reasonable knowledge of the facts. It's not the purchase price, replacement cost, or sentimental value. The date that matters is the date of death not the date you file the inventory.

For commonly traded assets like publicly listed stocks, the value is straightforward. For real estate, collectibles, or business interests, you may need professional help. The cost of an appraisal is a legitimate estate expense and is generally paid from estate funds.

Common Mistakes Personal Representatives Make on the Inventory

Omitting assets. Forgetting about old bank accounts, safe deposit boxes, or digital assets is surprisingly common. Do a thorough search of the decedent's mail, email, tax returns, and files.
Using the wrong date. Everything must be valued as of the date of death, not the date of filing or the date you discovered the asset.
Listing exempt assets. Jointly owned property with survivorship rights and assets with named beneficiaries typically don't belong on the inventory. If you're uncertain about the type of probate proceeding and what it requires, ask the Register of Wills.
Guessing at values. A rough guess with no supporting basis can create problems later. Document how you arrived at each value.
Filing late. Missing the three-month deadline without requesting an extension can result in court sanctions or removal as personal representative.
Forgetting to include debts owed to the estate. If someone borrowed money from the decedent, that's an asset of the estate and must be listed.

Do You Need to File an Amended Inventory?

If you discover additional assets after filing the original inventory perhaps a forgotten account turns up, or an appraisal reveals a significantly different value you should file an amended inventory with the Register of Wills. Don't try to correct the record informally. The amended filing becomes part of the official case record.

What Happens After You File the Inventory?

Once filed, the Register of Wills reviews the inventory for completeness and accuracy. If there are issues, they'll contact you. The inventory also becomes available to interested parties (heirs, beneficiaries, and creditors) who have a right to see it.

The inventory value determines several things down the road:

The filing fee paid to the Register of Wills
The basis for calculating any estate or inheritance taxes
A starting point for the final account you'll file later in the probate process

Filing the inventory is just one step in the broader probate process. After it's accepted, you'll move on to managing estate assets, paying debts and taxes, and eventually distributing property to the rightful heirs.

Practical Checklist for Filing the Maryland Probate Inventory

Get the form from the Register of Wills in the county where the estate is being administered.
Search for all assets check mail, email, tax returns (especially Schedule B), bank safe deposit boxes, and financial statements.
Contact financial institutions to get date-of-death balances for all accounts.
Determine fair market values for real property, vehicles, collectibles, and other high-value items using reliable sources or professional appraisals.
Separate estate assets from non-estate assets don't include jointly held property with survivorship rights or assets with named beneficiaries (unless the estate is the beneficiary).
Fill out every section completely institution names, account numbers, property descriptions, and values.
Calculate the total gross value of the estate.
File the inventory within three months of your appointment, or request an extension before the deadline.
Keep copies of everything the filed form, supporting documents, and any correspondence with the Register of Wills.
File an amended inventory if you discover additional assets or if valuations change significantly.

Tip: Start gathering asset information as soon as possible after the death even before your formal appointment. The three-month filing window goes faster than most personal representatives expect, especially if real estate appraisals or business valuations are involved. When in doubt about what to include, list it and note that further verification is needed. It's far easier to remove an item from an amended inventory than to explain why something was missing from the original filing.