78                                          LAWS OF MARYLAND                             [Ch. 11

(A) PROBATE OF WILL.

UNLESS IT IS ADMITTED TO ADMINISTRATIVE OR JUDICIAL
PROBATE, OR RECORDED AS PROVIDED IN §5-504, A WILL IS
INEFFECTIVE TO TRANSFER PROPERTY OR TO NOMINATE A
PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE.

(E) LETTERS.

EXCEPT FOR A FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE, A
PERSON MAY NOT QUALIFY AS OR EXERCISE THE POWERS AND
DUTIES OF A PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE UNLESS HE HAS BEEN
APPOINTED ADMINISTRATIVELY OR JUDICIALLY.

REVISOR'S NOTE: This section presently appears as
Art. 93, §5—102. Only a slight change is made
in style and language.

5-103. VENUE.

(A) PROPER COUNTY.

THE VENUE FOR ADMINISTRATIVE OR JUDICIAL PROBATE IS
IN THE COUNTY IN WHICH THE DECEDENT HAD HIS DOMICILE AT

THE TIME OF HIS DEATH, OR, IF THE DECEDENT WAS NOT

DOMICILED IN MARYLAND, THE COUNTY IN WHICH     THE

PETITIONER BELIEVES THE LARGEST PART IN VALUE OF     THE

PROPERTY OF THE DECEDENT IN MARYLAND WAS LOCATED AT   THE
TIME OF HIS DEATH.

(B) SITUS.

FOR THE PURPOSE OF DETERMINING VENUE FOR THE
ADMINISTRATION OF THE ESTATE OF A DECEDENT WHO WAS NOT
DOMICILED IN MARYLAND AT THE TIME OF HIS DEATH, THE SITUS
OF TANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY IS ITS LOCATION. THE SITUS
OF INTANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY IS THE LOCATION OF THE
INSTRUMENT EVIDENCING A DEBT, OBLIGATION, STOCK, OR CHOSE
IN ACTION. IF THERE IS NO INSTRUMENT, THE RESIDENCE OF
THE DEBTOR GOVERNS. THE SITUS OF AN INTEREST IN PROPERTY
HELD IN TRUST IS ANY COUNTY WHERE THE TRUSTEE MAY BE
SUED.

(C) PROCEEDINGS IN MORE THAN ONE COUNTY.

PROBATE PROCEEDINGS CONCERNING A DECEDENT MAY NOT BE
MAINTAINED IN MORE THAN ONE COUNTY. IF A PROCEEDING IS
COMMENCED IN MORE THAN ONE COUNTY, THE COURT OF THE
COUNTY WHERE PROCEEDINGS ARE FILED FIRST HAS EXCLUSIVE
JURISDICTION TO DETERMINE VENUE. IF PROPER VENUE IS
FINALLY DETERMINED TO BE IN ANOTHER COUNTY, THE
PROCEEDING, INCLUDING A WILL, PETITION, OR ANY OTHER
PAPER FILED, SHALL BE TRANSFERRED TO THE PROPER COURT.