About Order for Small Estate
Establishes that an estate qualifies for small estate administration and appoints a personal representative to manage it without full probate proceedings.
When you'd use it: File this form when a decedent's estate meets Maryland's small estate criteria and the petition for small estate administration has been granted by the Register of Wills or Orphans' Court.
Where to get the official form
The official version of Order for Small Estate is published as a PDF by the Maryland courts. We checked this link and it resolved to a form on an official court or government website — always download the current version directly from the source rather than a third-party copy:
Download Order for Small Estate (PDF) →
Source: registers.maryland.gov
Link last checked: May 30, 2026
How to file Order for Small Estate in Maryland
- Step 1 — Confirm you have the correct formUse Order for Small Estate (RW1108) when file this form when a decedent's estate meets Maryland's small estate criteria and the petition for small estate administration has been granted by the Register of Wills or Orphans' Court. Double-check it's the right form for your situation — Maryland probate forms are revised periodically, so verify the name and number against your court's current form list before you start.
- Step 2 — Complete every required fieldFill out Order for Small Estate carefully and review it for errors before filing. Probate cases can already take months — a small mistake on the form can set your timeline back further.
- Step 3 — Get it notarized or witnessed if requiredSome probate forms must be signed in front of a notary or witnesses. Check the instructions on the form itself, and arrange notarization before you file if it's required.
- Step 4 — File it with the correct courtSubmit Order for Small Estate to the probate court or county clerk handling the estate — usually in the Maryland county where the deceased lived. Ask the clerk how they prefer to receive filings (in person, by mail, or e-filing).