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Tag Archives: Estate Planning

Blended Families: The Not-So-Simple Estate Plan

By Berman | Sobin | Gross LLP |

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 »

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Are You Ready for ABLE?

By Berman | Sobin | Gross LLP |

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 »

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The Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Order Has Been Replaced With the New and Improved MOLST Form in Maryland

By Berman | Sobin | Gross LLP |

When it comes to protecting your loved ones, we encourage you to have an Advance Directive (See Get an Advance Directive: Don’t Be a Headline; Should I get an Advance Directive, a Living Will or a Health Care Power of Attorney?). Having an Advance Directive is effective in explaining your wishes and giving someone… Read More »

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The End of the 12 Year Maryland Estate Tax Experiment

By Berman | Sobin | Gross LLP |

The Maryland legislative session of 2014 began with a bang. Specifically, the House introduced HB 739 that presumably could cause major changes to the way you and I plan for the inevitable. Yesterday, the Maryland Senate approved Maryland State HouseHB 739 that will recouple the Maryland estate tax exclusion with that of the federal… Read More »

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Maryland Same Sex Estate Planning in 2013 and Beyond

By Berman | Sobin | Gross LLP |

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 »

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Transfers to Minors: Where Do I Start? What Should I Consider?

By Berman | Sobin | Gross LLP |

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 »

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Owning A Joint Checking Account With Your Child: A Road to Responsibility or A Road to Disaster?

By Berman | Sobin | Gross LLP |

It is imperative that you weigh the pros and cons before opening a joint account with your child. Particularly, you must analyze your situation and your reasons for doing so. You will find that for many of these reasons there may be other options that do not change ownership but still carry out your… Read More »

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The 5 Most Important Reasons to Have a Will

By Berman | Sobin | Gross LLP |

1. Avoid Intestacy Laws If you never get around to getting a Will, don’t worry – the legislature will write one for you. If you die without a will you are “intestate” and the intestacy laws of your state govern what happens to your property. In almost all situations the legislature’s idea of what… Read More »

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What is a Durable Power of Attorney Anyway?

By Berman | Sobin | Gross LLP |

So many people come in to see me and are convinced that they need a Durable Power of Attorney (DPOA). When I ask them why, they don’t know. Further probing usually reveals that they aren’t quite sure what a DPOA actually is. Let me see if I can explain the idea. Simply put, a… Read More »

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Problems with Joint Ownership

By Berman | Sobin | Gross LLP |
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