Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer. This is general information, not legal advice. For guidance tailored to your situation, contact a Maryland probate attorney or the Register of Wills in the county where the decedent lived.

When someone dies in Maryland and a likely heir (for example, a parent) cannot be found, the person handling the estate (the personal representative or the person who files for probate) must take steps to locate missing next‑of‑kin and notify interested persons. Maryland probate practice focuses on reasonable due diligence to find heirs; when an heir cannot be located after reasonable efforts, the court allows alternative notice methods (often publication) and other procedures so the estate can still be administered.

Step-by-step approach

1. Confirm probate is needed and who is responsible.

   If the decedent owned assets that require probate, someone (usually a spouse, child, creditor, or other interested person) files a petition with the Register of Wills in the decedent’s county to open an estate and request appointment as personal representative. The Register of Wills and local Orphans’ Court oversee probate procedures; start at the Maryland Courts Register of Wills page for county contacts and basic forms: https://www.mdcourts.gov/register.

2. Identify all possible leads and document your efforts.

   Compile all available information about the missing parent: last known address, phone numbers, employer, Social Security number or partial, names of friends and relatives, military service, veteran status, prior counties of residence, and any passports, driver’s license, or benefits records. Keep a written log of every search step and contact attempt; the court may require an affidavit describing your due diligence before permitting alternative notice.

3. Search public records and government databases.

   Useful resources include:

   • Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation and local land records for property records.
   • Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration (for last known address records where available).
   • Social Security Administration death/benefits records (contact SSA for help locating next of kin related issues).
   • U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (if the person was a veteran).
   • Maryland Unclaimed Property (State Treasurer) — sometimes assets or checks are reported there: https://treasurer.state.md.us/unclaimed-property/.
4. Search court and vital records.

   Check probate dockets, divorce records, marriage records, and death indexes in Maryland and other states where the missing parent may have lived. Many county courthouses and the Maryland State Archives have searchable records.

5. Use commercial and informal search tools.

   Online people‑finder services, credit header services, social media searches, genealogy databases, and telephone directories can produce leads. Keep in mind privacy rules and accuracy limits of commercial databases.

6. Contact likely associates.

   Call or write to last known employers, landlords, neighbors, known relatives, hospitals, nursing homes, and professional contacts. Send certified mail if you want proof of attempted contact.

7. Consider professional help.

   If your searches fail, consider hiring a private investigator, a licensed skip tracer, a genealogist specializing in locating heirs, or an attorney experienced in Maryland probate and heir‑finding. These professionals know additional databases and techniques and can prepare court‑ready affidavits of search efforts.

8. If the parent still cannot be found: ask the court for alternative service.

   Maryland probate courts allow notice by publication or other alternative notice when a person cannot be located after due diligence. To proceed you (or your attorney) will file an affidavit listing your search efforts and ask the Register of Wills or the Orphans’ Court for permission to publish notice in a newspaper or use other directed methods. Keep meticulous records — the court’s permission and precise steps (how many times a notice runs, in what paper, and for what period) are important to make the service effective.

9. Protect the estate while you search.

   The personal representative has duties to preserve estate assets. Take reasonable steps to secure property, notify financial institutions of the death, and avoid distributions until required notices are complete and the court grants authority to distribute.

10. When an heir appears later.

    If the missing parent is located after distributions or after the estate closes, Maryland law and the court can address claims. An heir may have rights to contest distributions if they can show entitlement and timely file a claim; exact remedies depend on timing and circumstances. Keep records of notices and distributions to protect the estate against later claims.

Maryland resources and legal framework

Maryland’s probate system is administered at the county level by the Register of Wills and the Orphans’ Court. For general statutory framework and probate rules, see the Maryland General Assembly’s online statutes for the Estates & Trusts article: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=est. For practical, county‑level probate forms and instructions, consult the Maryland Courts Register of Wills pages: https://www.mdcourts.gov/register.

If after exhaustive searches no heirs exist or cannot be found, the State may eventually have a claim to unclaimed property under Maryland’s unclaimed property statutes and procedures; start at the State Treasurer’s unclaimed property site: https://treasurer.state.md.us/unclaimed-property/.

Helpful Hints

• Start with the Register of Wills in the decedent’s county — staff can explain local notice requirements and provide required forms: https://www.mdcourts.gov/register.
• Document everything. Courts expect a clear affidavit of efforts before allowing alternative notice such as publication.
• Act quickly to secure estate assets but avoid making final distributions until notice requirements are satisfied.
• Consider low‑cost searches first (online public records, social media, family contacts) and escalate to paid professionals if necessary.
• If you are the missing parent and you learn about the probate, contact the court immediately. Your rights as an heir can be protected if you act promptly.
• Use certified mail or courier for critical notices — you may need proof of attempts to contact unavailable heirs.
• When in doubt, consult a Maryland probate attorney. Mistakes in notice or distribution can create personal liability for a personal representative.