An estate is everything a person owns at the time of their passing—real estate, money, personal belongings, investments, and even debts. During probate, these assets are identified, valued, and used to pay any outstanding obligations before the remaining property is distributed to heirs or beneficiaries. The estate is managed by a Personal Representative and requires special legal steps to sell and transfer property. 

In Maryland, a regular estate refers to a probate case where the total value of the deceased person’s assets is more than $50,000 — or more than $100,000 if the surviving spouse is the sole heir.