Maryland Statutes
Subtitle 1 - General Provisions
Section 5-104 - Order of Right to Letters

In granting letters in administrative or judicial probate, or in appointing a successor personal representative, or a special administrator as provided in Title 6, Subtitle 4 of this article, the court and register shall observe the following order of priority, with any person in any one of the following paragraphs considered as a class:
        (1)    The personal representatives named in a will admitted to probate;
        (2)    The personal representatives nominated in accordance with a power conferred in a will admitted to probate;
        (3)    The surviving spouse and children of an intestate decedent, or the surviving spouse of a testate decedent;
        (4)    The residuary legatees;
        (5)    The children of a testate decedent who are entitled to share in the estate;
        (6)    The grandchildren of the decedent who are entitled to share in the estate;
        (7)    Subject to §§ 3–111 and 3–112 of this article, the parents of the decedent who are entitled to share in the estate;
        (8)    The brothers and sisters of the decedent who are entitled to share in the estate;
        (9)    Other relations of the decedent who apply for administration;
        (10)    The largest creditor of the decedent who applies for administration;
        (11)    Any other person having a pecuniary interest in the proper administration of the estate of the decedent who applies for administration; or
        (12)    Any other person.