Real Values, Real Experience, Real Commitment
Maureen Carr-York
Judge of the Orphans' Court
Anne Arundel County
What is the responsibility of an Orphans' Court Judge?
The main job of the Orphans’ Court is to supervise the management of estates of people who have died – with or without a Will – while owning property in their sole name.
It has authority to direct the conduct of personal representatives. The Court has jurisdiction over the guardianship of the property of minors and in some counties, appoints guardians of minors. A person who dies is known legally as a “decedent.” When a decedent owned property that does not otherwise pass to a beneficiary as a result of operation of law such as jointly owned property or property held in trust (such assets are sometimes referred to as “probate” assets), an estate must be opened. The estate might consist for example of a car, boat, jewelry/heirlooms, cash, bank accounts, stocks, bonds, real estate or various types of business interests. The value of the estate may be just a few hundred dollars or it may be several million. The point is that when a decedent dies owning assets that do not otherwise automatically pass to the decedent’s beneficiaries or heirs, Maryland laws provide for an orderly process to transfer those assets. This process is sometimes referred to as “the probate proceedings”. Like many Maryland judicial institutions, Orphans’ Courts originated in the English Legal tradition, where they were called widows and orphans’ courts. In traditional English law, when the male head of the household died, his children were considered orphans even if their mother was living. The Orphans’ Court protected property rights of the survivors. |
BE SURE TO VOTE
Mail-In Ballots: Sept 24 Early Voting: Oct 28 - Nov 3 Election Day: November 8 More Info:Click below for a link to the Maryland Court's Website page on Orphans' Court.
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