How Much Does a Living Trust Cost in Maryland? (2026)

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A living trust in Maryland costs $1,500 – $3,000 attorney-drafted, $2,500 – $5,000 for a couple’s full plan, or $100–$600 online. Maryland is also one of 13 jurisdictions with its own estate tax, and its exemption is $5 million — against a federal exemption of $15 million. Estates that owe the IRS nothing can still owe Maryland.

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Maryland Living Trust Cost (2026)

Typical flat fees reported by Maryland attorneys and legal directories, reviewed quarterly. A guide, not a quote.

What Probate Actually Costs in Maryland

• Avoids probate: and bypasses the Orphans’ Court for assets titled in the trust
• Asset protection: from creditors, lawsuits, and divorce proceedings
• Small estate: Estates with assets $50,000 or less ($100,000 if surviving spouse is sole heir) qualify for simplified administration
• Orphans’ Court: Maryland’s dedicated probate court — three elected judges in most counties
• Timeline: 9-12 months typical; 18+ months for complex estates
• Register of Wills: Elected official in each county who handles probate paperwork
• Modified administration: If all interested persons consent, the estate may qualify for a streamlined process that can be closed within 10 months of the personal representative’s appointment.

Full Maryland probate rules and thresholds: our Maryland estate planning guide.

What each price point buys in Maryland

• $100–$600 (online): A valid Maryland trust document, pour-over will, and directives. You do the funding — every Maryland deed transfer, every account retitling.
• $1,500 – $3,000 (attorney, individual): Custom drafting, review of how your assets are titled, and usually one deed included. Confirm that last part before you sign.
• $2,500 – $5,000 (attorney, couple): Adds marital property planning, plus credit shelter planning against the $5 million state exemption.

Does your estate even need probate in Maryland?

Before paying for anything, check whether Maryland would require full probate at all. The state’s simplified route: Estates with assets $50,000 or less ($100,000 if surviving spouse is sole heir) qualify for simplified administration Estates that fit under it can often transfer by affidavit or summary procedure, with no personal representative and no attorney — which makes a trust a convenience decision rather than a cost-avoidance one. Estates above it are where the numbers above start to bite.

Trust vs. probate in Maryland

Online or Maryland Attorney?

The dividing line is funding, not drafting. Online documents are valid in Maryland; what they don’t do is retitle your assets. See funding your trust.

Other Maryland rules that affect the plan

• No trust registration required: in Maryland
• Critical for estate tax planning: — removes assets from your taxable estate to stay below the $5M exemption
• Can reduce inheritance tax exposure: — properly structured trusts may bypass non-lineal beneficiaries who would otherwise face the 10% tax
• Cost range: Statutory cap on attorney + PR fees: 9% on first $20,000, then 3.6% on excess
• State estate tax: YES — $5,000,000 exemption; rates up to 16%
• State inheritance tax: YES — 10% on non-lineal heirs
• Only state with BOTH: estate tax and inheritance tax
• Credit mechanism: Inheritance tax paid offsets estate tax liability
• Portability: YES — Maryland allows portability between spouses
• Inheritance tax on the nephew’s share: $100,000 (10% of $1M)
• Estate tax: Calculated on the $2M above the $5M exemption — approximately $130,000-$180,000 (depending on the rate schedule)
• Credit: The $100,000 in inheritance tax reduces the estate tax dollar-for-dollar

Recent Maryland Changes Worth Knowing

• October 2023 — Registered Domestic Partners: Registered domestic partners are now fully exempt from the Maryland inheritance tax, receiving the same 0% rate as spouses.
• 2026 Legislative Session — SB 211: A bill has been introduced to repeal the Maryland estate tax and conform the exclusion amount to the federal exemption ($15M). Status pending as of this writing.

Living trust costs in nearby states

Attorney pricing and probate rules shift at the state line — compare Maryland with Virginia, Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania, Delaware.

When to Hire A Maryland Attorney

Online stops being the right answer when the estate has moving parts: property in more than one state, a blended family, a business, or anyone you intend to exclude.

1. Get two or three flat-fee quotes. Identical work varies by $1,000+ inside one metro.
2. Ask what’s included. Deed transfers run $150–$400 each and are often quoted separately.
3. Don’t buy complexity you don’t have.

Three ways to pay less in Maryland

1. Price the state tax exposure first. With a $5 million Maryland exemption, an estate anywhere near that line should be quoted for credit shelter planning, not a basic trust — the cheap package solves the wrong problem.
2. Count the deeds before comparing prices. At $150–$400 apiece, with properties in multiple counties each needing their own recorded transfer, a quote including one deed can beat a cheaper quote including none.
3. Check the simplified threshold first. Estates with assets $50,000 or less ($100,000 if surviving spouse is sole heir) qualify for simplified administration If your estate clears that, you may be buying convenience rather than savings.

Official sources: mgaleg.maryland.gov · mdcourts.gov · registers.maryland.gov · marylandtaxes.gov

FAQ

How much does a living trust cost in Maryland?

$1,500 – $3,000 attorney-drafted, $2,500 – $5,000 for a couple’s full estate plan, or $100 to $600 through an online service. Add $150 to $400 per property for the deed transfers that fund it.

Does a living trust avoid Maryland estate tax?

No. A revocable trust is tax-neutral; it avoids probate, not the Maryland estate tax. With a $5 million exemption, reducing that liability takes specific planning such as a credit shelter trust or an ILIT.

Can I make my own living trust in Maryland?

Yes — online services produce valid Maryland documents. The risk is funding: a trust that doesn’t hold title to your home doesn’t avoid probate for it.

Can a small estate skip probate in Maryland?

Often, yes. Maryland’s simplified threshold: Estates with assets $50,000 or less ($100,000 if surviving spouse is sole heir) qualify for simplified administration Estates under it may transfer without full administration, which changes whether a trust is worth paying for.

More: Living trust costs nationwide · Maryland estate planning guide · Funding your trust

Last updated: August 2026. Educational information, not legal advice or a quote.