Candidate for Register of Wills: Paul Zimmermann
Paul Gerard Zimmermann
Residence: Westminster
Age: 64
Political Affiliation: Republican
Profession: Attorney (36 years)
Current place(s) of employment: Carroll County Register of Wills (16 years)
Education: Lehigh University B.A. 1975; University of Baltimore School of Law J.D. 1982
Community groups involved in: FoolProof Improvisational Theatre Troupe (31 years), Carroll County Arts Center, Camp TR, Carroll Co Chapter American Cancer Society, Carroll County Chapter American Heart Association
Why are you interested in running for this office?
I have had the honor and privilege of serving the people of Carroll County as the Register of Wills for the past 16 years and I would like to continue serving the people of Carroll County in this capacity. My staff and I seek to provide the best and most compassionate service for those using my office.
Explain why you are qualified for the office you seek.
I have been serving as the Register of Wills for the past 16 years therefore I have the most experience of any candidate. I am an attorney so I am able to assist the Orphans’ Court and the public with their understanding of the law. I am also uniquely positioned to help the local attorneys with difficult probate issues.
What are the three main issues you wish to address during your campaign and how do you plan to address them?
Compassionate Professionalism — Most people who use my Office are doing so under some of the most stressful and trying times a person can experience. This is not the time to face a bureaucracy. Opening an estate can be an overwhelming experience, one that most people go through only once or twice in their lifetime. I have assembled a staff which is knowledgeable, caring and professional. They all have experience in Probate law from a practical standpoint, both in the private sector and the public. They understand that my goal and practice has always been to provide the people of Carroll County with fair, professional and compassionate service. We try to help people understand what the process is so they can have more of a comfort level with the process. That was a promise that I made when I first ran, and I have carried through on it.
Educating the Public — One of my duties as Register of Wills is to provide education to the public. I frequently speak to groups about the probate process and what they can expect when they come in to open an estate for a loved one who has passed away. I believe that providing people with knowledge of the process of opening an estate takes some of the mystery out of the process and enables them to feel more comfortable. As a member of the Register of Wills Association’s Legislative Committee, I can provide information to local attorneys when the law changes so they can better serve their clients. As an attorney, I frequently speak with attorneys about complex areas in the law so that the issues they face won’t get tied up in endless red tape. The fact that I am an attorney also enables me to bring new Orphans’ Court Judges, many of whom come into office with little previous knowledge or experience with probate law, up to speed quicker and reduce their learning curve.
Commitment and Dedication — I am committed to making the process of opening an estate as understandable and painless as I can. The law requires that certain procedures are followed, but I try to make sure the process involves as little bureaucratic red tape as possible. I encourage people to call in to find out what they will need to bring with them, to cut down on the number of trips they will have to make. Many people drop off a draft of their accounts so they can be reviewed by the auditor prior to their submitting the accounts for review by the Orphans’ Court. This speeds up the process and helps the Orphans’ Court in its review. I am and have always been intent upon making the office as user-friendly as it can be. My staff and I are dedicated to this principle.
