How to Complete and File Maryland Estate Inventory Forms RW1122 and RW1123

To complete Maryland estate inventory forms RW1122 and RW1123, list every probate asset on RW1123 under one of seven schedule categories with its fair market value as of the date of death, transfer each schedule’s total onto the RW1122 summary sheet, and file both with the Register of Wills in the county where the estate was opened within three months of your appointment as personal representative.¹ RW1123 does the itemized work; RW1122 is a one-page cover that adds it all up.

Where to Get the Forms

Both forms come bundled together as a free PDF on the Maryland Register of Wills website at registers.maryland.gov/main/forms.html.²

Before starting, check whether the estate qualifies as a small estate. If probate assets total $50,000 or less, or $100,000 or less when the surviving spouse is the sole heir or legatee, the estate uses a simplified process with fewer filings and no probate fee.³ Confirm the threshold with your local Register of Wills before filling anything in.

What Goes on the Inventory

The inventory covers property the decedent owned individually at death that passes through testate or intestate succession. Maryland law sorts it into seven schedules:¹

Schedule A — Real property held solely in the decedent’s name.
Schedule B — Leasehold interests.
Schedule C — Tangible personal property such as vehicles, furniture, jewelry, and artwork.
Schedule D — Corporate stocks.
Schedule E — Bonds, notes, mortgages, and debts owed to the decedent.
Schedule F — Bank accounts, savings and loan accounts, and cash.
Schedule G — All other interests, including partnership interests and intellectual property.

Everyday clothing (other than furs and jewelry) and family food provisions are explicitly excluded.¹ Property that transfers outside probate also stays off: jointly held accounts with survivorship rights, assets in a living trust, life insurance payable to a named beneficiary, and retirement accounts with designated beneficiaries. The inventory is only about what the probate court controls.

Valuing Each Asset

Every item must reflect fair market value as of the date of death.⁴ Bank balances, publicly traded stock prices, and cash are straightforward: pull the date-of-death statement or closing price and use that number.

When to Hire an Appraiser

For assets whose value is debatable — real estate, closely held businesses, antiques, collectibles — the personal representative may hire a qualified, disinterested appraiser.⁴ The statute doesn’t require an appraiser for every hard-to-value item, but skipping one on real property or a business interest invites challenges from beneficiaries or the Register. Different appraisers can handle different types of property; one person doesn’t need to value both a house and a stamp collection.

The appraiser’s name and address must appear on the inventory next to each item they valued.⁴ The appraisal itself is filed alongside the inventory and must include a brief description of the appraiser’s qualifications, a list of each item appraised with its market value, and a verification signed under penalties of perjury.⁵ Residential real estate appraisals for probate typically run between $350 and $1,000, depending on property complexity and location.

Keeping Your Backup

The Register of Wills can request the basis for any valuation, and the Orphans’ Court can order it produced.⁵ Keep organized records for every line item: date-of-death account statements, brokerage confirmations, vehicle valuation printouts, and any formal appraisal reports. Pulling this together before you touch the forms saves rework and protects you if a number is later questioned.

Filling In RW1123

Start with RW1123 because the RW1122 summary just totals what you enter here. You need a separate RW1123 page for each schedule category (A through G) that contains property. At the top of each page, fill in the estate name, estate number, and the schedule letter.⁶

Each asset gets its own numbered line, described in enough detail that someone unfamiliar with the estate could identify it. For real property, use the street address and county. For a vehicle, list the year, make, model, and VIN. For a bank account, include the financial institution and the last four digits of the account number. Next to each description, enter the fair market value as of the date of death, and add the appraiser’s name and address on the line if one was used.⁶

You also have to note the type and amount of any encumbrance on each item, such as a mortgage on real property or a lien on a vehicle.¹ Report the gross market value, not net equity. The encumbrance notation handles the debt side.

Total each schedule page at the bottom. If a category runs to more than one page, carry the running total forward and show the grand total for that schedule on the final page.

Filling In RW1122

RW1122 is the cover sheet. Enter the decedent’s name, the estate number, the county, and the date of death at the top. The body lists all seven schedule categories with a line for the appraised value of each.⁶ Copy the total from each RW1123 schedule onto the matching line. For a category with no property, enter zero or leave it blank according to your Register of Wills office’s preference. Add the category totals for the estate’s total appraised value at the bottom.

Below the totals, the personal representative signs a verification certifying that the inventory is complete and accurate. That certification carries the weight of a sworn statement; a false entry exposes you to penalties for perjury and possible removal.

Filing With the Register of Wills

The completed RW1122, every supporting RW1123 schedule, and any required appraisals are filed with the Register of Wills in the county where the estate was opened, within three months of the personal representative’s appointment.⁷ You can file in person or send the forms by certified mail so you have a record of the delivery date.

Probate Fees

Maryland assesses a probate fee based on the total value of the probate estate. The schedule for estates opened on or after October 1, 2022, is:⁸

Under $50,000: $0
$50,000 to under $100,000: $100
$100,000 to under $500,000: $200
$500,000 to under $1,000,000: $1,000
$1,000,000 to under $2,500,000: $2,000
$2,500,000 to under $5,000,000: $5,000
$5,000,000 to under $7,500,000: $7,500
$7,500,000 to under $10,000,000: $10,000
$10,000,000 and above: $10,000 plus 0.02% of the amount over $10,000,000

The fee is paid from the estate’s assets, by check or money order made payable to the Register of Wills.

Missing the Three-Month Deadline

The three-month window is enforced. If the inventory isn’t filed on time, the Register of Wills will ask the Orphans’ Court to issue a show cause order requiring the personal representative to appear and explain the delay. Failing to appear can escalate to contempt, and continued non-compliance can lead to removal and appointment of a successor. In extreme cases, the court may issue a writ for arrest.⁹

When New Assets Turn Up Later

A forgotten safe deposit box, an out-of-state bank account, or a debt owed to the decedent can surface after you’ve already filed. Maryland law requires a supplemental inventory whenever previously unknown property appears or when a value in the original inventory turns out to be wrong or misleading.¹⁰ The supplement uses the same RW1123 format and reports fair market value as of the date of death, with supporting data or an appraisal. An updated RW1122 reflecting the new total should go with it.

Filing a supplement carries no penalty; the law expects that assets sometimes take time to surface. The risk runs the other way. Knowingly omitting property is a breach of fiduciary duty that can lead to personal liability, surcharges, and removal.¹¹

Why the Numbers Matter Beyond Probate

The values on the inventory carry over into federal estate tax when the estate is large enough to need a return. For a decedent dying in 2026, Form 706 is required if the gross estate exceeds $15,000,000.¹² Most Maryland estates fall well below that, but when a 706 is filed, the executor must also furnish Form 8971 and Schedule A to each beneficiary reporting the estate tax value of inherited property, no later than 30 days after the 706 is filed or its filing deadline, whichever comes first.¹³

Even for estates below the federal threshold, the date-of-death values on RW1123 set the cost basis beneficiaries inherit for capital gains purposes. Careful valuations pay off long after probate closes.

1
Maryland General Assembly. Maryland Code Estates and Trusts 7-201 – Duty to Prepare and File
2
The Office of the Register of Wills. All Forms
3
The Office of the Register of Wills. Small Estates
4
Maryland General Assembly. Maryland Code Estates and Trusts 7-202 – Appraisals
5
New York Codes, Rules and Regulations. Maryland Rules Rule 6-403 – Appraisal
6
Maryland Register of Wills. Inventory Summary Form RW1122 and RW1123
7
New York Codes, Rules and Regulations. Maryland Rules Rule 6-402 – Form of Inventory
8
Maryland General Assembly. Maryland Code Estates and Trusts 2-206 – Charge and Collection of Fees
9
Maryland Department of Legislative Services. Orphans Court Workload
10
New York Codes, Rules and Regulations. Maryland Code Estates and Trusts 7-203 – Supplementary Inventories and Appraisals
11
Maryland General Assembly. Maryland Code Estates and Trusts 7-403
12
Internal Revenue Service. Estate Tax
13
Internal Revenue Service. Instructions for Form 8971 and Schedule A