Our Mission and Values:

As Register of Wills, I see the mission of our office is to live everyday by our three main beliefs: integrity, professionalism and a commitment to getting the job done. We will continue to build on a work atmosphere of superior performance, which is defined by a spirit of teamwork, continual learning and development, personal achievement, interesting and challenging work, self-management, responsibility, and fun. The Harford County Register of Wills is known throughout our county and community as a great place to work, and as an outstanding office for helping citizens and attorneys.  As an agency and individually, each of our employees gives their time and talent to help others and to create a better work place to serve the community, which we all love.

(a)    Additional powers and duties.- In addition to other powers and duties provided for in this title, each register has the additional powers and duties specified in this section. 

(b)    Appointment and compensation of deputies and clerks; authority of deputies.- He shall appoint deputies and clerks required for the efficient operation of his office. Appointments and compensation of deputies and clerks shall be approved by the Comptroller. When qualified, every deputy shall have the power and authority to act in the place of the register and every act performed by a deputy shall have the force and effect as if performed by the register. 

(c)     Repository for original papers and records.- He shall receive, file, and store safely every original paper and record left in his custody, in a repository of the courthouse as the court may direct. The County Commissioners, County Council, or the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore shall provide and keep in repair the repository at its expense. 

(d)    Docket.- He shall keep a proper docket showing the grant of letters and a short entry of every paper filed in the court and every order of the court or the register, setting forth the nature of the order or paper. The docket shall be similar in every respect to the dockets required to be kept in the offices of the equity courts. The dockets shall be subject to supervision, examination, and control as ordered by the Comptroller. 

(e)    Acting as clerk of court.- He shall make out and issue every summons, process, or order of the court and, in every respect, act under the control and direction of the court as the clerk of a court of law acts under the direction of the court of law. 

(f)     Issuing and certifying copies.- He shall issue and certify under the seal of the court a copy of any part of the proceedings in the court or in his office which a person may demand. Unless otherwise provided by law or order of a court of competent jurisdiction, any person may, without charge, inspect, examine, and make memoranda or notes from an index or paper filed with the register. 

(g)    Attendance at meetings of court; records by photographic process.- Each register shall attend each meeting of the court and, under the direction of the court, make full and fair entries of court proceedings. He may also record by photographic process in strong bound books every probated will, and record by photographic process every other paper filed in the court or in his office in a manner, consistent with the provisions of § 2-211, as may be prescribed by the Comptroller and the State Archives to insure uniformity throughout the State. 

(h)    Attendance at office.- Except Saturdays, Sundays, Fridays when a legal holiday falls on a Saturday, and legal holidays, he shall attend his office daily in person or by deputy unless prevented by sickness, accident or necessity. 

(i)      Audit of accounts and examination of vouchers.- He shall audit every account filed with him and examine in detail every voucher which may be submitted to substantiate payments made by a personal representative. 

(j)      Past default of personal representative.- He shall inform the court of a default in the past of a personal representative which may come to his attention.     

(K)    Seal and register.- He shall keep a seal of the court and the register. 

By Authority: Authority: Friends of Derek Hopkins, Franklin J. Hajek, CPA, Treasurer
 Photography by Janet Fulcher