Tag Archives: estate planning attorney
Three Celebrity Probate Disasters and Tragic Lessons
One would assume that celebrities with extreme wealth would take steps to protect their estates. But think again: some of the world’s richest and most famous people enter the pearly gates with no estate plan, while others have made estate planning mistakes that tied up their fortunes and heirs in court for years. Let… Read More »
What to Do if Your Trustee Is Unresponsive
A trustee has a duty under the law to communicate with beneficiaries and keep them reasonably informed as to the progress of the trust administration. In Maryland and the District of Columbia, such duty to inform may require the trustee to give beneficiaries a copy of the trust document, provide information regarding the anticipated… Read More »
Three Things You Need to Know about Cryptocurrency and Your Estate Plan
The popularity of cryptocurrency has rapidly increased in recent years, with more people buying and selling it. Here are three things you need to know about cryptocurrency in relation to your estate plan. Beware of the Tax Consequences Transferring your cryptocurrency to other people, either during life or at your death, could have income,… Read More »
LGBTQ+ Estate Planning to Protect Yourself and Your Loved Ones
Estate planning is for everyone. Regardless of your wealth, age, marital status, gender identity, or sexual orientation, it is crucial to have a plan in place to protect your money, property, and loved ones in the event of an accident, illness, or death. For LGBTQ+ Americans, estate planning can be even more important. Despite… Read More »
An Estate Plan Should Not Be a Set-It-and-Forget-It Endeavor
As we all know, life happens. There is really nothing we can do about it. However, some of the most common life events can have a dramatic effect on your estate plan. If you think your estate plan is like a slow cooker and you can set it and forget it, you and your… Read More »
A Senior’s Guide to Estate Planning
Most older adults acknowledge that estate planning is essential. Yet, nearly half of Americans age 55 or more do not have a will, and even fewer have all the elements of an estate plan, including designated powers of attorney, a living will, or health care directives. These documents help guide your representatives to provide… Read More »
Does a Domestic Partner Have the Same Rights as a Spouse When It Comes to Estate Planning?
The short answer to whether couples in a domestic partnership have the same rights as married couples when it comes to estate planning is … probably not. To a large extent, the state in which you live, and maybe even the city or county, determines domestic partners’ rights. What Is a Domestic Partnership? Everyone… Read More »
Electronic Wills: What are they, and should I use one?
What Are Electronic Wills? It was not very long ago that all legal documents were printed on paper and signed with a pen. But in today’s world, where we sign commercial contracts, form and run businesses, and buy everything from groceries to cars online, it seems almost prehistoric for state laws to require that… Read More »
Using Beneficiary/Transfer-on-Death Deeds
What Is a Transfer on Death Deed? If you own real property, such as a home, in your sole name but you have not created a trust and transferred your property’s title to the trust, it is virtually guaranteed that your beneficiaries (or heirs) will have to deal with probate after your death. If… Read More »
Changes to the FAFSA Form (and What It Means for Grandparent-Funded 529s)
For grandparents who want to leave a legacy to their grandchildren, the gift of a 529 college savings plan is an option. Not only can opening a 529 plan account help a grandchild with educational expenses, it can also help grandparents with their estate planning goals. In the past, grandparent 529 plans had the… Read More »
