25+ Years Of Legal Experience
You’ve probably seen those ads by companies that let you create a will and other estate plan documents online. This might sound like a cost-effective idea, especially if you’ve gotten used to doing your income taxes online. People often assume they don’t need...
A relative or friend passed away and left you some money or property. An inheritance can change your life, but it is important to update your estate plan to ensure your new wealth goes where you want it to. When you receive an inheritance, your financial situation...
You may have heard that most people have not written an estate plan. One of the reasons that they often give for this is that they don’t think they have enough assets. They see estate planning as something for the wealthy, perhaps assuming that anyone with a net worth...
Advance directives are legal documents that outline your medical preferences if you become incapacitated and unable to communicate your decisions. They ensure your wishes regarding treatments, life support and other critical healthcare decisions are adhered to, even...
In some cases, it may be necessary to delay when a beneficiary receives their inheritance. If they are under 18, they cannot legally inherit. So if you are including grandchildren in your estate plan, for instance, you may need to make special provisions. But in other...
If you’re in a long-term, committed relationship but have chosen not to marry, you’ve got a lot of company. Couples of all ages see no reason to get paperwork defining their relationship, even if it’s one that lasts a lifetime. If you aren’t married and aren’t...
You may have known that your loved one had a will and even where to find it. But what if, as you’re going through their documents, you find another will? Maybe another family member knows the location of yet another one. What if each of those wills has some...
Talking about your estate plans and inheritance during a family gathering will often not be lighthearted. It means discussing two taboo topics—money and death—so it is understandable if one may hesitate to initiate such dialogue. It might make more sense to have a...
For many Marylanders, among the goals of careful estate planning are minimizing estate taxes (federal and state) and helping pay for the escalating costs of a good college education for their children or grandchildren. A 529 education savings plan can help accomplish...
There are all kinds of reasons that one spouse may want to disinherit another – but Maryland has taken steps to make sure that surviving spouses receive a fair portion of their deceased spouses’ estates – even when steps have been taken to do otherwise. In Maryland, a...