Business Aspect of Death

End of life decisions are difficult and those for a child even more so. Choosing a funeral home, deciding whether to have a burial or cremation, choosing a casket, working through potential medical bills . . . is all what we refer to as “the business aspect of death”. These decisions need to be made at a very difficult time especially after the loss of a child. Our Foundation is here to help talk through the options with you and make referrals if needed.

Please contact us at
443-219-9840
info@brandontolsonfoundation.org

Derek Hopkins, the Register of Wills for Harford County, is a resource to help our families navigate the process of opening their child’s estate.

Register of Wills for Harford Co

Derek Hopkins

The Honorable Derek K. Hopkins was sworn into office as the Register of Wills for Harford County on the evening of November 30, 2010 and started on December 1, 2010. The Hopkins family has lived in Harford County for generations. Derek is married to Katrina Hopkins and they have two children, Tim and Emma.

Prior to Derek becoming Register of Wills he was a full time auctioneer, estate appraiser, and a third generation real estate agent, who has focused on estate services. Derek is a graduate of North Harford High School, where he served in the FFA and as Maryland State FFA Vice President. After high school he attended Virginia Tech with a focus on business management, and worked in the Swine Research Center. Derek is a graduate of the Missouri Auction School, Kansas City, MO. He also is a graduate of the three-year Certified Auctioneer Institute at Indiana University, Bloomington, IN.

Hopkins is a past 4-H member, and has been an active volunteer in 4-H for years. He joined the Darlington Volunteer Fire Company at the age of 16, where he served as a firefighter and EMS member. After buying a home in Pylesville, he joined the Whiteford Volunteer Fire Company, where he is an active firefighter, EMS driver, and past president of the company. Derek has served in many other roles at the company as well. During the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, he was sent by FEMA to be deployed to Mississippi where he served over a month helping the citizens of the gulf coast. Derek has also served on a number of other community groups. He is a member of Harford County’s Agricultural Advisory Board and is passionate about saving the agricultural industry.

Derek grew up on the Hopkins Family farm in Darlington, where he says he learned his hard work ethic from his great-grandmother, Hazel Hopkins, and grandfather, Harry G. Hopkins. The family farm is now in farm preservation. Derek resides in Pylesville with his wife Katrina, who has worked for the State of Maryland’s Court System for over 12 years. The family spends a lot of time now working on their small farm, where they have dairy goats, beef cattle, and chickens. 4-H is a big part of their family life and it allows them to spend a lot of family time together.

410-638-3275
dhopkins@registers.maryland.gov
Mutual Fire Insurance Building
18 Office Street – 1st Floor
Bel Air, Maryland 21014