Estate Planning

If you have a revocable living trust, you may assume your estate plan is complete. However, what happens to assets that never made it into the trust? A pour-over will answers that question. It is a document that works alongside your trust to make sure nothing in your...

A will should reflect a person’s final wishes, yet in some cases, it does not align with what you understood your loved one intended. You may notice content seemingly out of character or inconsistent with prior conversations, which can prompt a difficult question: Can...

Your pet is part of your family. They greet you at the door, keep you company and rely on you for everything. So, it is only natural to want to provide for them in your estate plan. Maryland law offers meaningful options to help ensure your pet's future remains...

Planning ahead helps you decide who receives your property and how that transfer happens. In Maryland, a transfer-on-death deed offers a way to pass real estate to someone else without probate. Understanding how this option works can help you decide if it fits your...

Many Maryland residents believe estate planning is only for those with significant wealth. They assume that if they have a "simple" estate, such as a house and some savings, their family can easily divide things. This belief, however, is a common and costly myth....

Financial abuse of older adults is unfortunately common. It often happens quietly, with small red flags that are easy to miss at first. When someone you care about begins to lose control of their money or has unusual changes in their financial habits, it may point to...

An executor oversees estate administration. They initiate probate proceedings, manage estate resources and make appropriate distributions to beneficiaries. Serving as an executor places many demands on an individual. They are subject to certain legal obligations,...

You may want to pass your wealth to your grandchildren instead of your children. A generation-skipping trust gives you that option. This trust lets you transfer assets while reducing estate taxes and protecting your legacy. How it works A generation-skipping trust...

Creating a will is an important step in ensuring the fulfillment of a person’s wishes after death. However, mistakes in a will can cause confusion for family members and may even lead to legal disputes.  Avoiding common errors can make the probate process smoother and...

Have you ever wondered about simplifying the process of passing on your property after you pass? A transfer on death deed (TODD) might be worth considering. This legal tool allows you to transfer real estate to your chosen beneficiaries without going through probate....