How do I distribute assets through a will?

In Maryland, distributing assets through a will is handled by the probate court. To begin the process, you must file the will, along with death certificates and any other necessary documents, with the court. The court will then assign the responsibility of administering the will, known as the personal representative, to a family member or other designated person. The personal representative is responsible for locating and gathering all of the deceased’s assets, such as cash, investments, and real estate, as well as notifying all potential creditors and beneficiaries. Once the personal representative has gathered all of the assets, they must arrange for them to be appraised if necessary. Following this, they must pay any outstanding taxes and debts that the deceased may have had. This is done by managing all bank and credit accounts and any other financial matters. Finally, the personal representative must distribute the remaining assets to the beneficiaries according to the instructions in the will. This involves distributing cash, investments, and other assets to each designated person. If the decedent did not leave a will, then the assets are distributed according to the intestate succession laws. In every case, the personal representative must keep an accurate accounting of all of the assets and all of the distributions. This accounting must review and approved by the court before it is finalized.

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How do I distribute assets through a will?

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