Detailed Answer — How to find the heirs and who owns the property (step‑by‑step)

1. Confirm the decedent’s last legal residence (Maryland county)

The county where your grandparent legally lived (domicile) matters because probate and Register of Wills records are kept at the county level in Maryland. Look for the last address on documents such as the death certificate, driver’s license, mail, tax bills, or an obituary.

2. Get a certified death certificate

A certified death certificate is often required to access probate, bank, and title records. The funeral home or the local health department can help you obtain certified copies.

3. Check for a will and contact the Register of Wills

If a will exists, it normally is filed with the Register of Wills in the county where the deceased lived or where the estate is being probated. The Register’s office can tell you whether a will was filed or whether probate was opened. Find county Register of Wills contact info at the Maryland Judiciary Probate pages: https://www.mdcourts.gov/probate/registers.

4. Search probate and estate records

If the estate has been opened for probate, the court file will list the personal representative (executor/administrator), beneficiaries, and a general inventory of assets. Use the county Register of Wills or local circuit court for copies of the probate docket and filings. The Maryland Courts probate landing page is: https://www.mdcourts.gov/probate.

5. Search land and property records to find current recorded ownership

Recorded deeds and conveyance records show who holds title to real estate. Two useful resources in Maryland:

• Maryland Department of Assessments & Taxation (SDAT) Real Property search (assessment and owner name): https://sdat.dat.maryland.gov/RealProperty/Pages/default.aspx.
• Maryland Land Records (recorded deeds, mortgages, liens) searchable by county: https://mdlandrec.net/.

If the deed is still in your grandparent’s name, the property may be part of the probate estate. If the deed shows another owner, the property may have transferred before death.

6. Common title outcomes and what they mean for ownership

• Sole ownership: If the deed lists only your grandparent, the property is part of the probate estate and passes under the will or under Maryland’s intestacy rules if there is no will.
• Joint tenancy with right of survivorship: If title was held jointly with another person as joint tenants, that co‑owner usually becomes sole owner automatically at death (no probate). Verify the deed wording and county records.
• Tenants by the entirety: Married couples sometimes held property this way; ownership typically passes to the surviving spouse automatically.
• Trust ownership: If a trust holds title, the trust document controls distribution and the property commonly avoids probate.
• Other recorded transfers: Deeds recorded before death (sale, gift, or life estate) will show current ownership. Look closely at deed types and dates.

7. If there is no will: Maryland intestate succession rules

When someone dies without a valid will, Maryland’s intestacy law determines who inherits. Those rules prioritize a surviving spouse and descendants (children, grandchildren), then parents and other relatives. For the statutory framework see the Maryland Code, Estates & Trusts (intestacy rules): Maryland Code, Estates & Trusts (General). The county Register of Wills or a probate attorney can apply those rules to your family facts.

8. Locating heirs if family is unknown

To identify heirs: assemble a family tree (names, birth/marriage records), check obituaries, look for funeral notices, search public records (birth, marriage, divorce), and review the decedent’s personal papers for contact lists or attorney names. Genealogical search services or a probate attorney can be helpful for harder cases.

9. If property is unreported, encumbered, or contested

If title is unclear, multiple claimants exist, liens appear, or you suspect fraud, do not attempt unilateral transfers. Contact the Register of Wills and consider hiring a Maryland probate or real estate attorney to review recorded documents, quiet title options, and any required probate steps.

10. When probate might not be necessary

Small personal property claims and certain nonprobate transfers (joint accounts, retirement accounts with beneficiary designations, property held in trust) can avoid formal probate. The Register of Wills can explain local procedures and any simplified affidavit processes for small estates.

Helpful Hints

• Start with the Register of Wills in the county where your grandparent lived: they can confirm whether a will was filed or whether probate was opened. (See: https://www.mdcourts.gov/probate/registers.)
• Use SDAT and county land records to check current owner names and deed history before assuming the property is part of the estate: SDAT Real Property and Maryland Land Records.
• Collect documents early: death certificate, deed copies, recent mortgage statements, property tax bills, the decedent’s will or trust documents, bank statements, and any correspondence with attorneys or title companies.
• Create a simple family tree. Start with immediate family and work outward; obituaries and vital records help locate heirs.
• If you find a will, look for the named personal representative. That person is responsible for opening probate and distributing estate property.
• If title passed automatically (joint tenancy or survivorship), you’ll likely only need certified death certificate and recorded deed to show the change. The county clerk or title company can advise on recording documents.
• When in doubt, consult a Maryland probate or real property lawyer—especially if multiple heirs, unclear title, large debts, or potential disputes exist.
• Keep careful records of communications, searches, and any payments or property inspections.