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Formal Requirements for a Valid Will in Maryland

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Under Maryland law you must sign your will and two or more witnesses must sign the will in your presence. There are also formalities on informing the witnesses as to what you are signing though they are not required to read and understand the contents of the will. Each witness must be at least 18 […]

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What Death Taxes are Payable in Maryland?

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Both the federal and state governments impose taxes upon the property/estate of a decedent. A federal estate tax with graduated rates is imposed on all property interests that the decedent owned at the time of death. The federal estate tax applies to probate assets and also to non-probate assets. For example, joint property and insurance […]

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How Much Does a Maryland Will Cost?

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Lawyers often charge on an hourly basis at rates that vary depending on the region of the country and experience of the attorney. Also, the thinking is that the estate planning needs of each person will be different therefore, the cost of a Will is affected by the amount of time it takes to review […]

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How to Revoke a Maryland Will

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Before deciding to revoke a Will you should discuss the pros and cons with an experienced estate planning attorney. There are many good reasons to revoke a Will but this should almost always include replacing the Will with a new updated Will. Creating a new Will is an excellent way to revoke a prior Will. […]

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How Should My Maryland Will Provide for My Children?

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When your will is drafted you should designate a person, or people, who will serve as guardian if you and your partner both die while your child is a minor; in Maryland this is a child under the age of 18. Your will also gives you the opportunity to create trusts that will control how, […]

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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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Maryland Wills & Estate Planning: Disposing of Property Restrictions

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Are there any restrictions in the state of Maryland on the manner in which a will may dispose of property and can a wife or child be disinherited? A surviving spouse has certain rights that could alter the way in which you intended to dispose of your assets. Maryland laws prevent a spouse from being […]

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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 Administration: How to Remove a Personal Representative

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Under Maryland Law a Personal Representative can be removed from service. Maryland law sets the standard for removal. To remove a PR you should retain a Baltimore probate attorney so that the facts can be evaluated against the law, and if necessary a hearing can be held. There have also been instances where having an […]

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Maryland Estate Planning Lawyer: Does a Maryland Will Dispose of All Assets?

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No. A Will addresses only asserts that will pass through Maryland probate. These include assets that belong to you only and are not shared with another person. If property is owned jointly with another individual than that property may not be considered probate property. For example, if your house is titled as “joint owners with […]

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