Community Breakfast Group Welcomes Betty Carroll Judge of the Orphan’s Court

Betty Carroll will discuss her campaign for Judge of the Orphan’s Court with our Community Breakfast Group (CBG) at their Thursday breakfast meeting on September 11.

The Maryland Orphans’ Court is the state’s probate court. It also has jurisdiction over guardianships of minors. In simpler terms, the main job of the Orphans’ Court is to supervise the handling of estates of people who have died – with or without a Will – while owning property in their sole name.

Some estates proceed smoothly, and, other than seeing the Orphans’ Court judge’s signature on various estate documents, a personal representative and/or beneficiaries or heirs may have no direct contact with the Orphans’ Court judges.

In other estates, however, disputes arise, and then Orphans’ Court judges hold formal hearings. Examples of reasons for formal hearings include when the Orphans’ Court has to determine: the validity of a particular Will or Codicil (which is an amendment to the original Will); proper beneficiaries or heirs and/or amounts to be distributed to them; who should be appointed personal representative; whether to remove a personal representative who has not properly carried out his or her duties; or what claims (and amounts) may be paid from the estate. Sometimes there are disputes concerning payments to be made to the personal representative or estate attorney.

In formal hearings, the Orphans’ Court judges – like any other trial court judges – must consider the evidence submitted (including testimony) and apply the appropriate Maryland laws in order to resolve the dispute. Orphans’ Court judges frequently become skilled in dealing with the emotions of grieving families.

Bill Short is one of our three County Commissioners. He is running for another term as Commissioner in this fall’s election, and will discuss his campaign with CBG at their Thursday breakfast meeting on September 18.