Byron Macfarlane was sworn in as the 18th Register of Wills for Howard County on December 1, 2010. Clerk of Court Margy Rappaport administered the oath of office in the Orphans’ Court with an audience of family, friends, elected officials, and staff.

Byron is working diligently to fulfill the most important duty of his office – to provide compassionate and professional service to the residents of Howard County. Maneuvering the complexities of probate law while enduring the emotional turmoil following the death of a loved one can be a difficult task – the office of the Register is there to help.

Byron has been working with his staff to identify and implement more efficient operating procedures and reduce expenses – all while maintaining and improving the high level of service the Register of Wills provides to the residents of Howard County. His office is one of a handful of Registers’ offices used by the Comptroller’s office to test new technology and will soon implement a state-of-the-art digital recording system for all Orphans’ Court hearings. Byron is also working with courthouse and county officials to make preparations for the planned renovation of the Circuit Court. Later this year, the Register of Wills, and the other offices of the Circuit Court, will relocate to the Ascend One Building, located at 8930 Stanford Boulevard, Columbia, Maryland 21045. Please check this website and the Register’s website below for future notices.

The Register of Wills is happy to speak to community groups and other members of the public about the importance of having a valid will and filing it with the Register’s office. He frequently sees families endure complications and costs that could be avoided with proper planning. Byron has also been working with state legislators to fix shortcomings in the law, both big and small. On the less weighty end of the spectrum, Byron is working to alter an outdated statute regarding the administration of the Orphans’ Court’s. More substantially, he has testified in Annapolis and continues to work toward full marriage equality for his many gay and lesbian constituents. Gay and lesbian families are denied one hundred protections in the Estates and Trusts Article of the Maryland Code because they are only available to opposite sex married couples - an injustice that must be remedied.

Finally, Byron is always interested to hear from constituents and members of the legal community to remedy procedural problems and shortfalls and inequities in the law.

Byron is honored to serve the residents of Howard County as their Register of Wills. Please check back here for future updates.

For questions or concerns regarding the office of the Register:

Hon. Byron E. Macfarlane
Register of Wills for Howard County
8360 Court Avenue
Ellicott City, Maryland 21043
(410) 313-2133 (Phone)
(410) 313-3409 (Fax)
http://registers.maryland.gov/main/howard.html

For questions or concerns that are campaign-related:

Friends of Byron Macfarlane
P.O. Box 1365
Columbia, Maryland 21044
(443) 832-3320
friendsofbyronmacfarlane@gmail.com