Free Tools and Information
for Swanton, MD Consumers

Maryland Inheritance Law & Probate Procedure

• Maryland PROBATE COURT FINDER:
  
  • Probate Court for Garrett County: Key information about your local probate court (Orphans Court & Register of Wills Court in Maryland) for Garrett County.
• How Probate Works in Maryland: How to handle the probate of an inheritance at Garrett County's probate court.
  • Here are links to:
    • Maryland Probate Forms and the
    • Maryland State Probate Court Website.
• Small Estates Procedures in Maryland: Learn how to use Maryland's Small Estate procedures that can save you time and money.

  • In Maryland, there's no Affidavit procedure available for small estates. There is a summary probate procedure available for estates that have a value of assets subject to probate that is less than $50,000. (This excludes the value of all joint tenancy property and other assets that pass by beneficiary designation, such as life insurance and transfer on death accounts.)

    This summary probate procedure is also available if the surviving spouse is the only beneficiary and the estate is worth $100,000 or less.

    Md. Code Ann. Estates and Trusts 5-601.

• Maryland Estate Taxes:

  • The state of Maryland imposes an estate tax on property owned in Maryland. If you are inheriting property from the state of Maryland, it may be subject to estate tax if the overall value of the estate is more than $5,000,000.

    Maryland also poses and inheritance tax. It is the only state to have both.

• Avoiding Probate in Maryland. Find out what property bypasses probate death and goes directly to beneficiaries. such as:
  • Transfer on Death Deeds (TODDs)

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Bankruptcy & Debt

• MEANS TEST CALCULATOR
  • for Garrett County, Maryland (applies the state and county income and expense standards into your means test calculation. Updated with the latest median income and expense standards for May 15, 2024)
• Maryland BANKRUPTCY EXEMPTION FINDER: Search detailed listings of bankruptcy exemptions under Maryland law and Federal law, for use in filing out Schedule C, when you file for bankruptcy. 
  • Federal Exemptions available in Maryland?:  

    • No. Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 11-504

  • Maryland Homestead Exemption

    • Owner occupied residential property or condo or co-op to $25,150 (husband and wife may not double)
      Property held as tenancy by the entirety is exempt against debts owed by only one spouse

  • Maryland Vehicle Exemption

    • none (see Wild Card)

• Maryland BANKRUPTCY COURT ESSENTIAL INFO: Get information about using your local bankruptcy court.
• FREE BANKRUPTCY FORMS:
  We'll tell you which bankruptcy forms you need and where to find them.

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Democracy In Swanton, MD 

• Elected Representatives: Find out the websites and phone numbers of those representing you at the Federal, State, County, and City levels of government.
• How to Vote: Learn how to register and where and when to vote in Swanton, MD.
  • Key Links:
    • Check Your Maryland Voter Registration Status: https://voterservices.elections.maryland.gov/VoterSearch
• Gerrymandering in Maryland: Has your state been gerrymandered? Find out how to end gerrymandering and have voters pick politicians, not vice versa.
• Tracking Issues: Organizations that track legislation you care about 

 

Maryland Unemployment Benefits

• Benefit Amounts in Maryland: Learn how unemployment works, how much you'll get, and for how long.
  • Minimum: 
    • $50 per week
  • Maximum: 
    • $430 per week
  • Duration: 

    • In Maryland, you can receive unemployment benefits for a maximum of 26 weeks under state law. 

• Eligibility: >Whether you qualify for unemployment.
• How to Apply: How to apply for unemployment in Maryland.
  • Maryland Department of Labor, Division of Unemployment Insurance 
    • 667-207-6520
• Unemployment Office Near Me? How to find your local unemployment office.
• COVID-19 Benefits: We tracked the rise and fall of COVID-19 unemployment benefit payments.

• Maryland Wage & Hour Law

  • Maryland Minimum Wage:  

    • The minimum wage in Maryland is $15 an hour. Because this is higher than the federal minimum wage of $7.25, employees in Maryland must be paid at least $15 an hour.

  • Overtime Pay: Every state has rules about weekly maximum hours and overtime. Learn about the overtime laws in Maryland and whether they apply to you.
  • Wage Claims: If you're being unlawfully underpaid, you need to learn how to file a "Wage Claim" in Maryland. 
  • Tips : Every state has special pay rates for tipped workers. Find out the rules for tipped workers in Maryland.

    • In Maryland, your employer may pay you a minimum wage of $3.63 an hour, as long as you earn enough in tips to bring your total hourly pay up to the full minimum wage, $15 an hour. If you don’t earn enough in tips to bring your compensation to the full minimum wage, your employer must make up the difference.

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Find a Lawyer in Swanton, MD

• Our Lawyers by Zipcode section allows users to find a local lawyer using the best online resources, including on topics we don't cover.
• DUI, Criminal Defense
• Auto Accidents & Personal Injury
• Immigration
• Legal Aid
  • The People's Law Library of Maryland 

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Access to Justice for Consumers

LegalConsumer.com has been providing free tools and legal information to consumers since 2006.

Ordinary people should be empowered with information and tools to handle everyday legal affairs, such as inheriting property and handling debt problems. Consumers should have free or inexpensive tools to make these tasks as simple as possible.

 LegalConsumer.com makes everyday law accessible to non-lawyers and points consumers to the best websites and tools to complete everyday legal tasks.

To find out more, check out our "about" page.