How property owned individually is distributed in Maryland if a person dies without a will.

Married person with a child, children or other descendants over 18 years old.

• Surviving spouse gets first $15,000 and one-half of the remainder.
• Child gets the other one-half, if there is more than one child, the children all equally share the one-half. (Grandchildren take their deceased parent’s share).

Married person with a child, children or other descendants under 18 years old.

• Surviving spouse gets one-half.
• Child gets the other one-half; if there is more than one child, the children all equally share the one-half. (Grandchildren take their deceased parent’s share).

Unmarried person with a child, children or other descendants.

• All to child; if there is more than one child, the children all equally share the estate. (Grandchildren take their deceased parent’s share).

Married person without child, children or other descendants.

• Surviving spouse gets first $15,000.
• If decedent has surviving parents, one-half of remainder to surviving spouse and one-half to surviving parents.
• If decedent does not have surviving parents, all to the surviving spouse.

Unmarried person without child, children or other descendants.

• If decedent has surviving parents, all to surviving parents.
• If no surviving parents, all to brothers and sisters. (Descendant of a deceased brother or sister take their deceased parents share.)
• If no surviving parents, and no bothers and sisters, then all equally to collateral relatives within an equal degree of relationship (e.g. aunts and uncles).
• If there are no persons entitled to take as mentioned above, the estate passes to the Board of Education in the County where letters of administration were granted.

PLEASE NOTE:  These materials are presented for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal or financial advice as to any specific matter or transaction.  They are not intended for the purposes of advertising or soliciting clients, and should not be misconstrued as establishing an attorney-client relationship.  Readers should consult a knowledgeable attorney for such advice.  May be reproduced with attribution.