A letter of administration is a legal document issued by a court that gives a person or persons the authority to manage the estate of a deceased person who did not leave a valid will or did not appoint an executor. The person who is appointed by the court to manage the estate is known as the administrator.

The letter of administration gives the administrator the power to act on behalf of the deceased person’s estate, including:
Collecting and managing the deceased person’s assets.
Paying debts and taxes owed by the deceased person and the estate.
Distributing the remaining assets to the rightful beneficiaries according to the laws of the state.

In Maryland, if a person dies without a valid will or an appointed executor, the court will appoint an administrator to manage the estate. The administrator will need to obtain a letter of administration from the court before they can begin managing the estate.

To obtain a letter of administration, the administrator will need to file a petition with the probate court, provide proof of the deceased person’s death, and provide information about the deceased person’s heirs and assets. The court will then review the petition and issue the letter of administration if it is satisfied that the administrator is qualified to manage the estate.