Creating a will by yourself or preparing estate planning documents without the advice of an attorney create a big risk. Online estate planning services are a popular choice for some people who believe they can save time and money by doing it themselves. While there may seem to be benefits by using an online service, … Continued
The majority of Americans are vastly unprepared when it comes to their estate plan and sadly, many more think that an estate plan is only for wealthy people. In fact, over half of Americans do not even have an estate plan in place, whether that is a simple will, a trust, or more, according to … Continued
What is Probate and Why Should I Care? When an individual dies, unless, they have a trust, their assets first have to pass through probate before they can be transferred to beneficiaries. Probate is the legal process of validating a person’s will and making distribution pursuant to the terms of the will. During probate, the … Continued
During a crisis like COVID, many of us are dealing with health or financial issues. However, some families mistakenly believe that only those with older family members need to be concerned with planning and protecting family assets. But, protecting your family is important at any age, especially for those with younger children. Unfortunately, most younger … Continued
Does your estate plan protect assets from long-term care costs? Does it include a strategy for long-term care? Many people think that if they’ve done an estate plan, they have covered long-term care or Medicaid planning issues. Nothing could be further from the truth. Medicaid planning is not estate planning and you’ll need an Elder … Continued
If a family member dies, it is important to have a will in place to determine the disposition of the person’s assets and their final wishes. Most wills must go through the probate process, before any assets are sold and any disbursements are made. Probate is the official proving of a will in court. Most … Continued
After a person dies, there are certain legal matters that must be handled to ensure that inheritances are appropriately handed down, taxes and debts are paid, along with other critical details. If you are the executor to the estate, you will greatly benefit from the guidance of an experienced probate and estate administration attorney to … Continued
Everyone needs an estate plan regardless of age, marital status, economic bracket, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Everyone in Maryland benefits by having a will, various trusts that are relevant to their specific needs, and a professional probate administrator to assist the executor of their will. However, there are a number of particular scenarios in … Continued
According to Investopedia, “Probate is a legal process in which a will is reviewed to determine whether it is valid and authentic. Probate also refers to the general administering of a deceased person’s will or the estate of a deceased person without a will.” Before any assets can be distributed to beneficiaries, the executor of … Continued
