Maryland legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Maryland HB963: Registers of Wills - Appointment of Personal Representatives
Status: Signed into law, May 12, 2026
Altering the prohibition on a register of wills or court granting letters in administrative or judicial probate to certain individuals who are not citizens or permanent residents of the United States.
What the bill says
An act concerning Registers of Wills - Appointment of Personal Representatives FOR the purpose of repealing altering the prohibition on a register of wills or court granting letters in administrative or judicial probate to certain individuals who are not citizens of the United States; and generally relating to noncitizens and the appointment of personal representatives. BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, Article - Estates and Trusts Section 5-105 Annotated Code of Maryland (2022 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement).
From the enrolled text, May 19, 2026:
AN ACT concerning Registers of Wills - Appointment of Personal Representatives FOR the purpose of repealing altering the prohibition on a register of wills or court granting letters in administrative or judicial probate to certain individuals who are not citizens of the United States; and generally relating to noncitizens and the appointment of personal representatives. BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, Article - Estates and Trusts Section 5-105 Annotated Code of Maryland (2022 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: Article - Estates and Trusts 5-105. (a) (1) In this section, "serious crime" means a crime that reflects adversely on an individual's honesty, trustworthiness, or fitness to perform the duties of a personal representative. (2) "Serious crime" includes fraud, extortion, embezzlement, forgery, perjury, and theft. (b) Subject to § 5-104 of this subtitle, the register or court may grant letters (2) Any other corporation authorized by law to be a personal representative; or (3) Subject to subsection (c) of this section, any individual. (c) Letters may not be granted to a person who, at the time a determination of priority is made, has filed with the register a declaration in writing that the person renounces the right to administer or Ch. 537 2026 …