She informed me that the only thing they could do is take me to small claims court over it.

Depending on how deep OP's pockets are, I just saved him easily $30,000....Folks with zero experience making a quick stop by the mortgage industry on the way to bankruptcy court are a dime a dozen.It's easier to become President of the United States of America than it is to start your own mortgage company that doesn't go BK, with zero industry experience.

Then 10 days after the letter is received and you have proof of that, you can proceed to court filing, etc. 

Specialities, including contracts under seal, have a 12 year period of limitations pursuant to Section 5-102 of the Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland.

That is potentially 5 chiefs and no Indians.

The deceased passed in 2017 and probate has been open ever since with extensions filed and the court has notified them to file and both POA's have missed the deadline but an annual for each year was filed to bring things current.

I asked the court to reopen the case as I was not served notice to appear.

I only by liens on vacant land in my self-directed IRA and I’m looking for partners (contractors and finance) to help me develop Coliving houses, Blocks and Cottage Courts on the lots.

If this qualifies as a habitability issue (it may in the South) you may be able to set up an escrow account with the local rent court and make your payments there instead of to the landlord.

And, if this were going to court, would they consider the overall work done and reasonable compensation for work completed (even though some of the work was lefft not finished) or would they side with the contractor and say the agreed upon rate was $40 and his men were on site?