Estates and Trusts - Priority of Claims on an Estate - Unpaid Child Support

HB 261 changes Maryland's estate payment rules to prioritize unpaid child support owed by a deceased person. It moves "unpaid child support due by the decedent" to position (6) in the order of payment, placing it ahead of taxes, medical expenses, and other claims when an estate lacks enough assets to pay all debts. This directly affects estates with insufficient funds where the decedent owed child support, ensuring those payments are made before claims like unpaid taxes or medical bills from the decedent's final illness. The bill amends Maryland's Estates and Trusts law (Section 8-105) to implement this change, effective October 1, 2025.