Maryland Order For Small Estate is a legal process for settling the estate of a deceased person who had no Will. It is a simplified process for distributing the assets of a small estate valued at $50,000 or less. This simplified process is available when the decedent did not have a Will and does not require the probate of the estate. There are two types of Maryland Order For Small Estate: Small Estate Affidavit and Small Estate Petition. The Small Estate Affidavit is the simpler option and can be filed with the Register of Wills in the county where the decedent resided. This process requires the surviving spouse, children, or other heirs to submit an affidavit documenting their relationship to the deceased and the value of the estate’s assets. The assets must be listed and the affidavit must be signed and notarized. The Small Estate Petition is the more complex option and should be used if the estate consists of real estate, is valued over $25,000, or the decedent had debts that need to be paid. This process requires an attorney to file a petition with the court and includes a hearing to confirm the value of the estate, payment of creditors, and distribution of the assets.