A Maryland Petition for Administration of a Small Estate is a legal document used to allow an executor or administrator to take control of the deceased’s estate. The petition is filed with the Register of Wills in the county where the deceased resided. It is used to obtain Letters of Administration, or permission from the court to manage the estate. This document is necessary when there is no will or the estate is valued at less than $50,000. There are two types of Maryland Petition for Administration of a Small Estate: a Petition for Summary Administration and a Petition for Formal Administration. Summary Administration is used when there are no debts to be paid and the estate is valued at less than $50,000. Formal Administration is used when debts must be paid and the estate is valued at more than $50,000. Both types of petitions require the petitioner to provide the court with the name and address of the deceased, a list of heirs, and the estimated value of the estate.