Every Probate proceeding in Maryland starts with a Petition to the Court.  Depending on the type of estate proceeding (Small or Regular) there will be different Schedules.   
Some type of “BOND” is required under Maryland law for most esates.  This is basically a bonding company’s assurance that the Personal Representative will faithfully carry out their duties (and not run away with the estate assets).   If the Will properly waived bond, or if proper consents are obtained from all heirs, the Court will accept a smaller amount, called a “nominal bond”.   Otherwise, the bond Will cover the entire probate estate.
(When an attorney is assisting with an estate they should both draft the neessary papers and contact the bonding company to obtain bond on the Personal Representative’s behalf)

The estate is “opened” by fiing all requisite paperwork with the Court where the Deceased person is located (in Maryland, the Register of Wills / Orphan’s Court).   Once this is done, the Court will issue “Letters of Administration"
Notice in a specified format must be published in a newspaper for 3 successive weeks. 
In most estates, a separate taxpyer identification number (EIN) will be needed for the Estate.   

Once the estate has been opened, all interested persons will receive notice.   Additionally, known creditors will receive notice.  The Personal Representative has an obligation to Inventory all assets. 

The Personal Representative can usually begin liquiating assets immediately after appointment by the Court (for example, marketing real estate or selling cars that were in the deceased person’s name).  However, in most cases the Personal Representative cannot DISBURSE these assets to heirs until the requisite time frame for claims has passed (6 months).
Caution should be taken in paying bills — the law has a specific order of priority for paying the debts of a deceased person. 
Before the estate is distributed to heirs, a formal “ACCOUNTING” is filed with the Court.   In some cases, it is necessary to document and file Agreements of Heirs if the distribution is not exactly according to the Will or laws of intestate succession.