Register of Wills

WELCOMING THE HONORABLE ALEXIS BURRELL-ROHDE By Britt L. Stouffer

The Honorable Alexis Burrell-Rohde, newly appointed Register of Wills, is an easy choice for this role. She has been in and around Baltimore her entire life, from the summers of her early years spent at Pine Ridge Swim Club, to practicing estates and trusts law in both private practice and public service. She spent her educational career in the area: Pine Grove Elementary and Middle Schools and Loch Raven High School, before attending University of Maryland, College Park. Like many Terps, she felt drawn to live and work in the nation’s capital after she finished her undergraduate studies. However, the experience of being away soon brought her back home. She returned to Baltimore for law school at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law, from which she graduated in 2004.

Burrell-Rohde became a summer associate at Ober, Kaler, Grimes & Shriver (now Baker Donelson) her second summer of law school. She was drawn to their sophisticated estates and trusts practice. Burrell-Rohde both enjoyed and had a natural affinity for the interpersonal connection and collaboration that comes with this type of work. Part of what Burrell-Rohde enjoys about being an attorney is taking on the role of counselor for others. She enjoyed working with families and closely-held family businesses during her time as an associate at Ober Kaler. She learned the estates & trusts practice from some of the very best practitioners. Burrell-Rohde, true to form, also became an essential part of the Maryland Attorney General’s Office after leaving Ober Kaler. She represented the Orphans’ Courts and the Registers of Wills across the State of Maryland. Burrell-Rohde dealt frequently with members of the Bar on issues of charitable trust reformation and provided legal advice to her state clients on legal and other critical issues. For her new role as Register of Wills for Baltimore County, Burrell-Rohde has found a place to combine her love for her community, her enthusiasm for the law, and her natural inclination to listen to and help others. As such, she is committed to an open-door policy in her office. She wants to continue the counselor role from her previous positions and would like the people of Baltimore County to know that they are welcome to come to her with any questions or concerns.

Based on her experience in both the private and public sectors, Burrell-Rohde has learned the importance of engaging not only the community, but also her own staff. Thus, she is committed to creating an environment of learning within the office of the Register. This means making sure that her staff can pursue any continuing education activities they would like. Her goal is to ensure that her employees enjoy their jobs, and in turn they will be more motivated and better able to help the Baltimore County community. She wants the Baltimore County community to know that she is creating a positive and service-oriented environment in the Office of the Register of Wills from top to bottom. Burrell-Rohde has two children and recently became an aunt. She leads an active lifestyle, dealing with the effects of the COVID shutdown by building a makeshift gym in her basement. She also loves backpacking, gardening, and cooking—ask her about her ricotta gnocchi recipe! If her impressive past is any indication, the Honorable Alexis Burrell-Rohde will have no trouble finding immediate success in the office of the Register of Wills. Her hometown wishes her all the best in her new role.