Register of Wills for Howard County
Area: Howard County
Contact the Register of Wills with estate matters and probate questions.
Address: Circuit Courthouse, 9250 Judicial Way, Suite 1100, Ellicott City, MD 21043
Phone: 410-313-2133
Columbia, Maryland · Howard County
Columbia and Howard County Home Seller Resources
If you are sorting out an estate, property-tax bill, deed or rental inspection, start with the Howard County office that handles that question. We can also talk with you about the house and your selling options.
Not sure where to start? Call us — we’ll sort it out with you. We answer 24/7 at 888-274-5006.
Useful offices
Howard County contacts for property questions
Property-tax accounts, recorded deeds, estate matters and recordation taxes go to different offices. Choose the one that handles your question.
Clerk’s Office, Circuit Court for Howard County
Area: Howard County
The Clerk records land deeds, mortgages, plats, conveyances and other documents. Contact this office about recording or finding a deed.
Address: 9250 Judicial Way, Ellicott City, MD 21043
Phone: 410-313-2111
Real Property Tax, Howard County Department of Finance
Area: Howard County
Call about a Howard County real-property tax account or bill.
Address: 3430 Courthouse Drive, Ellicott City, MD
Phone: 410-313-2062
Division of Recordation Tax, Howard County Department of Finance
Area: Howard County
Call about County recordation tax and County transfer-tax questions.
Phone: 410-313-2389
Inspections & Enforcement Division, DILP
Area: Howard County
Contact the Division with rental-housing and inspection questions.
Address: 7125 Riverwood Drive, Suite D2, Columbia, MD 21046
Phone: 410-313-1830
Helpful local rule
Know how Maryland transfer taxes can be split
Maryland transfer and recordation taxes
Maryland’s state transfer tax is 0.5% of the sale price. Howard County sets its recordation-tax rate, and a county transfer tax may also apply.
State law generally presumes the buyer and seller split these taxes unless the contract says otherwise. If the buyer is a first-time Maryland home buyer who will live in the house, the state rate is 0.25%, and the seller pays the state transfer, recordation and county transfer taxes unless the parties expressly agree otherwise. Some transfers are exempt; the settlement company can confirm the current charges for the sale.
When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs, including Maryland's state transfer tax, recordation tax and any applicable county transfer tax.
Selling situations
Find help for the situation you’re facing
Inherited house
See Maryland estate guidance and options for selling an inherited house.
Open the Columbia page →Foreclosure
Find information for a house facing a mortgage foreclosure.
Open the Columbia page →Divorce and a house sale
Review questions about selling a house during a divorce.
Open the Columbia page →Tenant-occupied house
Explore options for selling a house with tenants in place.
Open the Columbia page →Code notices and repairs
Read about selling a house with code notices or repair needs.
Open the Columbia page →Fire-damaged house
Compare options for a house with fire damage.
Open the Columbia page →Property liens and back taxes
Review property-lien, unpaid-tax and sale questions.
Open the Columbia page →Read or compare
Explore your selling options
Columbia, MD Home Sale Net Proceeds Calculator
CalculatorCompare what you would keep from listing your house or selling as-is for cash. Change the repair costs, cleanout, monthly bills and closing costs to fit your house.
Read local selling-cost guidance and compare options for a Columbia house.
Compare ways to sell and questions that come with each option.
Browse local articles about seller questions and next steps.
Compare the available ways to sell an as-is house in Columbia, MD.
See how a direct sale moves from property details to written terms and title-company closing.
What our sellers say
“LISTEN, PROPERTY TAXES GOT TOO HIGH FOR MY FIXED INCOME. SOLD IT TO THEM. WALKED AWAY WITH CASH. GLAD IT'S OVER.”
“Facing foreclosure ... Very stressful time... They handled it professionally and got me out of the debt...”
“no open houses. no realtors tracking dirt in. just a straight cash sale for our house so we could move. Glad it's over.”
Talk with us
Tell us about the Columbia house
Tell us what is happening with the property and what you are weighing. We’ll talk through the house and your options with you.
We give written cash offers in 24 hours.
Share the property address and a few details about the house.
Columbia and Howard County resource questions
Which Howard County office handles estate questions?
The Register of Wills for Howard County handles estate matters. Call 410-313-2133 or use the official office link above.
Where can I ask about a recorded deed or mortgage?
The Clerk’s Office, Circuit Court for Howard County records land deeds, mortgages, plats, conveyances and other documents. Call 410-313-2111.
Who handles Howard County property-tax accounts and recordation taxes?
Call Howard County Real Property Tax at 410-313-2062 about a real-property tax account or bill. The Division of Recordation Tax at 410-313-2389 answers County recordation-tax and County transfer-tax questions.
Who usually pays Maryland transfer and recordation taxes?
State law generally presumes the buyer and seller split these taxes unless the contract says otherwise. If the buyer is a first-time Maryland home buyer who will live in the house, the state transfer-tax rate is 0.25%, and the seller pays the state transfer, recordation and county transfer taxes unless the parties expressly agree otherwise. The settlement company can confirm current charges and exemptions.
Who handles rental-housing and inspection questions?
Howard County’s Inspections & Enforcement Division handles rental-housing and inspection questions. Call 410-313-1830.