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Are Maryland Wills Public Records?

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Wills of living persons in Maryland can be filed with the Register of Wills for the county in which the person lives. The wills are held for safekeeping by the Register of Wills but they are not part of the public records. In the State of Maryland you may not review the Will of a […]

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Validity of a Handwritten Will in Maryland

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Under Maryland law a handwritten will, which is also known as a holographic will, is considered legally valid. There is no requirement in Maryland law that a will be typed. That said, the will must still conform with all the other requirements for estate documents as provided for under Maryland law and having a handwritten […]

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Maryland Estate Planning: Creating Estate Planning Documents such as Wills, Trusts, Durable Powers of Attorney & Advance Directives

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Here are some good questions to ask an attorney when you are considering hiring that attorney to create an estate plan for you. These are questions that are sometimes asked of me and I have included my answers after each question. “How do you draft your estate planning documents?” I begin by learning what you […]

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Baltimore, Maryland Estate Planning Attorney: Can a Will be Changed or Modified Years After it Was Created?

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You can change your will at any time by signing an amendment known as a “codicil” or by having a new will prepared. Either a codicil or a new will must be executed with the same formal requirements under Maryland law as the original will. You should not attempt to change your existing will by […]

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Pikesville, Maryland Estate Planning Attorney: Where to File a Will in Pikesville & Baltimore County

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Maryland law allows Wills to be filed with the county in which you live. As an estate planning attorney who works in Pikesville, I have encountered clients who have failed (or their attorney failed) to file their Will with the county. This is a critical final step in the Will creation process as it ensures […]

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Baltimore Estate Planning Attorney: Maryland General and Limited Power of Attorney Act

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Having a Durable Power of Attorney for Finances (DPAF), also called a Financial Power of Attorney, Durable Power of Attorney, or simply a Power of Attorney—allows an individual to act on your behalf in the event you become incapacitated. Having a DPAF is an important document if you own property or have income, investments, or […]

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Maryland Estate Planning Attorney: What if a Trust Does Not Indicate Whether it is Revocable or Irrevocable?

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Under Maryland law, when a Trust is silent as to whether it can be revoked that Trust is usually found to be revocable. For a free, confidential conversation to discuss this and other estate planning matters, or to create your own estate plan, Trust and Will, contact Maryland estate planning attorney Stephen J. Reichert at […]

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Baltimore, Maryland Estate Planning Office: What Happens to Property Obtained After a Will is Created?

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Under Maryland Code, there is a presumption that a Will passes all property the testator owns at the time of her death. This includes all property acquired after the execution of the Will, unless the Will contains specific provisions to the contrary. For a free confidential conversation to discuss these and other estate planning matters, […]

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Does a Maryland Will Have to be Notarized?

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No. Maryland Code, Estates and Trusts, does not require the notarization of a Will created in Maryland. An Advance Directive (aka, Health Care Directive, Advance Health Care Directive, Maryland Advance Directive) and Living Will (aka, Maryland Living Will) also does not require a notary seal in Maryland. As created by the 2010 Maryland General and […]

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Maryland Revocable Trust Attorney: Revocable Living Trust (aka “Revocable Trust” or “Living Trust”) and Probate

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Do assets in a Maryland Revocable Trust pass through probate? No. When your Revocable Trust (also known as a “Living Trust”) is created your lawyer should assist you in transferring your property into the Revocable Living Trust. Title to the property is transferred by the settlor (the person who created the Revocable Living Trust) to […]

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