When someone completes an estate plan, they have an excellent grasp of why they signed their Will or Trust and what that accomplishes. As time passes, folks often forget what their estate planning documents control. These documents are intended as the means to distribute assets…
Simply put, no one can predict what the future holds, but it’s preferable to at least plan for likely outcomes. Everyone needs to have a plan for what happens to their assets when they die. Wills and trusts have similar purposes, but each has their…
When someone dies with property lacking a joint title holder or beneficiary that property is considered probate property. Probate property has to pass through a deceased person’s estate before it can be distributed to any heirs, legatees, or beneficiaries. The Personal Representative of an…
When someone dies, and an estate is required, there are two distinct possibilities for what dictates the disposition of assets in the estate. If the decedent has a valid will, that will controls how the estate is handled. However, if someone dies without a will, there…
When someone dies, and an estate is required, there are two distinct possibilities for what dictates the disposition of assets in the estate. If the decedent has a valid will, that will controls how the estate is handled. However, if someone dies without a…
By: Dennis M. Twigg, Esq. Hoffman, Comfort, Offutt, Scott & Halstad, LLP More and more, people are moving between Maryland and Pennsylvania. This article highlights a few major differences between Pennsylvania and Maryland from an Estate Administration. It’s important to be aware of the differences when…
When former Maryland governor and mayor of Baltimore, William Donald Schaefer, died in 2011, he left $1.4 million to a civic fund in his name. The Baltimore Community Foundation administers the William Donald Schaefer Civic Fund whose purpose is to make several grants each year for…
The Boston Marathon tragedy serves as a reminder that while we can’t control our destiny, we can take steps to prepare ourselves and loved ones for the worst. Advance directives provide us with an opportunity to state our preferences for health care decisions in the…
We all know that accidents and illnesses happen. But when younger people pass away or become incapacitated, their loved ones are often left to deal with complex legal and financial concerns at a time when they are already overwhelmed by grief and loss. A few…
One of the most difficult decisions people face when preparing their Will is who to appoint as executor/executrix – the person responsible for carrying out your wishes and administering your estate upon your death. In Maryland, the executor is known as the Personal Representative. The…