Tag Archives: Wills
Blended Families: The Not-So-Simple Estate Plan
Blended families, or families that consist of a couple and their children from this and/or previous relationships, may not realize the estate plan they currently have in place doesn’t fit their needs. It is common that blended families will arrange their finances as if their estate is your average estate plan when, in fact,… Read More »
Are You Ready for ABLE?
As you may have heard, Congress enacted the Candy Machine 100 Dollar Bills Achieving a Better Life Experience Act of 2014 (the “ABLE Act”) on December 19, 2014. Many have deemed this a monumental step toward the betterment of the lives of individuals faced with mental and/or physical disabilities. While many experts would agree… Read More »
Death of a Loved One: Practical and Legal Guidance
Dealing with the death of a loved one both before and after death are the two most difficult situations in our lives. In addition to the emotional toll, there are also innumerable details, practical and legal, surrounding a loved one’s death. Most people are not aware of the steps that need to be taken… Read More »
Transfers to Minors: Where Do I Start? What Should I Consider?
Two of the most commonly used methods of transferring money and assets to minors are a Uniform Transfer to Minors Act (UTMA) Account or a Trust. Baby in Suitcase with Money A UTMA Account is relatively simple to create and fairly inexpensive, but you cannot exercise any control over the assets. While a trust… Read More »
How Does the New Fiscal Cliff Legislation Affect my Estate Tax Planning?
On January 2, 2013 the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 was enacted, avoiding the so-called “fiscal cliff.” In addition to income tax changes, the law contained provisions on estate taxes which certainly did avoid something very cliff-like. Had the law not been enacted, the federal estate tax exemption would have reverted to $1… Read More »
What Happens to My Kids if I Become Incapacitated?
One of the overriding purposes driving people to create and establish an estate plan is to ensure their minor children are cared for and will continue to be provided for in case a tragedy befalls the family and one or both parents pass away. Benefits of a Last Will and Testament One of the… Read More »
Maryland Same Sex Estate Planning in 2013 and Beyond
Estate planning in Maryland for same sex couples is dramatically different as a result of two groundbreaking legal developments in 2013. On January 1 same sex marriage became legal in Maryland and on June 26 the Supreme Court struck down portions of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). As a result, same sex married… Read More »
Preparing For the Death of a Loved One: 7 Practical Recommendations
This is not an easy time and, emotionally, there is not much that your lawyer can do to help. What we can to is to assist you in understanding some of the practical issues involved. Below we describe seven recommendations of things to do before your loved one passes. At a minimum, this list… Read More »
Safekeeping Your Last Will & Testament: 5 Recommendations
The result in most circumstances is that if your loved ones can only find a copy of your Will, you will likely die intestate. The laws of Maryland will decide what happens to your property, not you. (See The 5 Most Important Reasons to Have a Will). The time, effort and money spent with… Read More »
Should I Use an Online Legal Document Service to do my Will?
The question I get about online Wills (or do-it-yourself kits often purchased at office supply stores) is whether they are “valid.” I cannot answer the question in a global fashion. It is certainly possible to have a technically “valid” Will without using an attorney. It is also possible that the document will fail as… Read More »