Estate planning in Baltimore: Maryland still has an estate tax. Plan for it.
Maryland is one of the few states that still imposes a state estate tax (on estates above $5M in 2026) and is the only state in the country with both an estate tax and a separate inheritance tax (10% on transfers to most non-lineal heirs). Federal estate tax kicks in above $13.99M per person in 2026. Baltimore probate runs through the Orphans' Court for Baltimore City and is the same general process used in the surrounding counties' Orphans' Courts. A will + durable power of attorney + healthcare advance directive cover most Baltimore households. A revocable living trust matters more here than in some other states because of the Maryland estate-tax exposure and the city's real-estate ownership patterns.
These 10 Baltimore firms cover estate planning for everyday clients, professionals, and businesses across the Maryland bench. Every firm on the list was cross-referenced against Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers®, Avvo, Justia, and Maryland or Tennessee bar resources before being included.
How we picked these 10: We reviewed published verdicts and settlements, peer rankings (Best Lawyers®, Super Lawyers, Avvo), client review patterns, and bar-association recognition. Firms that appeared consistently across independent sources made the list. We do not accept payment for placement, and we do not write sponsored reviews. More on our methodology →
Practice focus: Estate planning, elder law, Medicaid, probate, asset protection
Baltimore-area firm focused on estate planning, elder law, Medicaid planning, guardianship, probate, estate-tax planning, business succession, and asset protection.
Practice focus: Estate planning, probate, fiduciary litigation
Baltimore estate-planning and probate firm; has handled multimillion-dollar estates but serves clients at any asset level.
Practice focus: Probate, estate planning, wills, trusts
70+ years serving the Baltimore metro; lawyers carry over 65 years of combined industry experience on estate-planning and probate matters.
Practice focus: Estate planning, probate, retirement and financial planning
100+ years of collective experience across estate planning, probate, wills and trusts, property law, retirement planning, and financial planning.
Practice focus: Estate planning, probate, contested wills
Baltimore estate practice that handles both small and large estates as well as probate disputes and contested wills; active member of the Maryland State Bar Estate & Trust Law Section.
Practice focus: Estate planning, wills, trusts, POAs, business formation
27+ years offering estate planning, wills, trusts, powers of attorney, business formation, and general counsel services in the Baltimore area.
Practice focus: Estate planning, probate, Maryland estate-tax planning
One of the largest estate-and-trust practices in the Baltimore metro; handles Maryland estate-tax planning, complex trusts, and business succession.
Practice focus: Estate planning, trust administration, fiduciary services
One of the oldest law firms in Maryland; estates-and-trusts attorneys regularly listed in Best Lawyers® and handle high-net-worth Baltimore families.
Practice focus: High-net-worth estate planning, business succession, dynasty trusts
Mid-Atlantic regional firm headquartered in Baltimore; deep trusts-and-estates bench for HNW Maryland families and closely-held businesses.
Practice focus: Estate planning, charitable planning, trust administration
Baltimore firm with a strong private-client practice; emphasis on charitable giving, family-foundation work, and Maryland estate-tax planning.
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First call: 45–60 minutes covering family, assets, and Maryland tax exposure (often free). Drafting: 2–4 weeks. Signing meeting with witnesses and notary: 60–90 minutes. Trust funding (re-titling real estate, retitling brokerage accounts, beneficiary updates) is often the longest step and stretches over weeks. Probate (if needed later) typically takes 8–14 months in the Baltimore City Orphans' Court; contested or insolvent estates can run much longer.
Simple will package (will, POA, advance directive): $500–$1,500 flat. Revocable trust package with funding instructions: $2,500–$6,000 flat. Maryland estate-tax planning (credit-shelter, QTIP, ILITs): $5,000–$15,000+ depending on complexity. Probate administration in the Baltimore City Orphans' Court: filing fees scale with estate size (roughly $50–$2,500), with legal fees typically $3,000–$10,000 for an uncomplicated estate.
The legal directories you find on Google list thousands of Baltimore firms. Most are competent. A few are problematic. The patterns to walk away from:
Guaranteed outcomes. No ethical attorney can guarantee a result. If a firm promises a specific recovery, a dismissal, a specific custody schedule, or a specific tax outcome, walk away.
The disappearing partner. You meet a senior partner at intake and then never speak to them again. Your case is handled by an unsupervised junior or a paralegal. Ask in writing who will be your day-to-day attorney.
Pressure to sign immediately. Reputable Baltimore firms give you the retainer in writing, time to read it, and the option to take it home. High-pressure intake is almost always a sign of a volume mill, not a craftsperson's practice.
No verifiable track record. The firm should be able to point to verdicts, settlements, peer rankings, or bar-association recognition. "We've helped thousands of clients" is marketing copy. Specific numbers, named cases, and third-party rankings are evidence.
Vague fee terms. "Don't worry about cost" is a red flag. Every legitimate Baltimore lawyer will give you a written engagement letter with the fee structure, what's covered, what triggers extra charges, and what happens if you fire them.
Most Baltimore estate planning firms on this list offer a free initial consultation. Use it. Bring a list of questions and write down the answers. Compare across at least two firms before you sign.
Baltimore is its own market. The procedure, the courts, and the strategy are city- and state-specific in ways that matter to your outcome.
Local courthouses matter. The Baltimore City Circuit Court and Orphans' Court are the day-to-day venues for most estate planning work; the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland handles federal-question cases. Each has its own judges, calendars, and procedures that shape how matters move.
Filing deadlines are strict. Notice windows, statutes of limitations, and pre-suit certifications vary by case type and are unforgiving. A missed deadline often means a lost case — full stop.
Local procedure rules matter. Each court has its own forms, motion practice, and judge preferences. The right Baltimore firm will know not just the law but the unwritten rules of the courthouse you'll be in.
Local juries vary. Verdict patterns vary by venue, and a trial-capable firm uses venue strategically when it can.
Both. The Maryland estate tax applies to estates over $5M (2026) at rates up to 16%. Maryland inheritance tax is 10% on transfers to non-lineal heirs (siblings, nieces, nephews, friends) — close family is exempt. This is why estate planning in Baltimore matters more than in many other states.
Yes if you own a home, have minor children, want specific bequests, or want to avoid Maryland's intestate distribution. Without a will, state law decides who inherits.
A will is enough for many families. A revocable living trust makes sense if you own out-of-state property, want to keep your estate out of the public Orphans' Court file, or have Maryland estate-tax exposure that needs structuring (credit-shelter or QTIP planning).
A typical uncontested estate closes in 8–14 months. Larger estates, estates with contested claims, or estates that require Orphans' Court hearings can run 18 months or more.
Maryland allows a simplified small-estate process for estates worth $50,000 or less ($100,000 if the surviving spouse is the only heir). It cuts cost and time substantially.
Pick someone organized, trustworthy, and willing to do the work. Spouses and adult children are most common; a corporate or attorney back-up is wise.
Yes, but non-residents must post bond and may face additional Orphans' Court hurdles. Most Baltimore attorneys will counsel you on whether to use a resident or non-resident PR.
Maryland wills require two witnesses. A "self-proving" affidavit (notarized) saves your witnesses from having to be tracked down at probate. Every firm below drafts wills as self-proving by default.
Tell us about your situation and we'll match you with vetted estate planning attorneys in Baltimore. Free, confidential, no obligation.
Request Free Consultation →One last thing. Choosing a lawyer is personal. Read the reviews. Call two or three firms before you sign. Ask each one: How many cases like mine have you taken to verdict or final order in the last three years? The answer tells you most of what you need to know. — The LawFirmSquare team