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Cecil County Judge of the Orphans' Court {_getChooseLabel(this.selections.length)}

DUTIES: Judges of the Orphans’ Court supervise the administration of estates. The Orphan’s Court shares jurisdiction with the Circuit Court over guardianships of minors. Orphan’s Court Judges conduct hearings that involve probate and guardianship disputes, review and act upon administration accounts, and request payments from estates or guardianships.SALARY: $8,750.TERM: Four years with no term limits.HOW ELECTED: Elected countywide.

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    Donna Caudell
    (Rep)

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    Carolyn L. Crouch
    (Rep)

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    Teresa M. DiFabbio-Crawley
    (Dem)

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    Jackie Gregory
    (Rep)

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    Robin Peck
    (Rep)

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    David M. Schaeffer, Sr.
    (Dem)

Biographical Information

EXPERIENCE: How does your experience prepare you for the duties of this judgeship?

PRIORITIES: What are. your priorities for this judgeship?

CHALLENGES: What is the greatest challenge facing the Orphans' Court system and how will you address it?

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Campaign Phone 4435534114
Campaign Email judge.ccrouch@gmail.com
Campaign Mailing Address 20 Merganser Ct
North East, MD 21901
During my five terms as a judge of the Orphans' Court of Cecil County, four of which I have served as Chief Judge, I have gained invaluable knowledge and insight into the administration of estates. The Orphans' Court in Cecil County is comprised of laypersons and as such, there is no prior education that prepares one to serve. This is one position where experience is paramount and I am grateful that the citizens of Cecil County have entrusted me with that responsibility for nearly two decades.
Applying the Annotated Code of Maryland for Estates and Trusts exactly as it is written has always been my top priority. Probate hearings are not a forum where the opinion or emotion of the presiding judges should be applied. Our task is to fairly and justly make decisions based on the law. It is always my goal to educate and inform the public on best practice when preparing a will and to direct them to publicly available resources to guide them in their planning process.
One of the greatest challenges the Orphans' Court faces is the general understanding of the legal validity of a will. A will is a legal document which cannot be altered once attested to and witnessed. To make changes to a will, one should not write on the will, but instead prepare a new will or add a codicil. A will that has been altered or only has one witness is invalid and cannot be admitted for probate. When preparing a will, it is of the utmost importance to follow the probate laws.
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Campaign Phone 4434661263
Campaign Email davidschaeffersr@gmail.com
Campaign Mailing Address 117 Castlestone Dr
Elkton, MD 21921
I have lived and worked in many parts of the world as a soldier in the US Army. I earned a BA Degree in Business Administration while serving on active duty. I am retired from a career in healthcare and I am used to serving the general public. My life experiences have to taught me that fairness in everyday life is essential, and, if elected I will treat every case with no bias.
My priorities are to serve the people of Cecil County and to maintain a just and respected office during my tenure
I see no challenges currently, but should they arise I will work with my fellow judges to overcome any challenges presented to us
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