Best Ways to Preemptively Avoid a Will Contest

While anyone can contest your will after you have passed away, there are several things you can do to prevent them from succeeding. The first and best way to avoid a will contest is to establish a trust. This is the most common way to avoid probate and to make contesting a will difficult. […]

Post Tagged withAnne Arundel Estate Planning, Baltimore Estate Planning, Baltimore Wills, Estate Planning Attorney, Glen Burnie Estate Planning, Maryland Wills, MD Estate Attorney, MD Estate Planning

A Personal Representative (aka executor) is a person appointed in an estate plan, or, when there is no will, appointed as a matter of law or by the court. This role involves ensuring that the decedent’s wishes are fulfilled when distributing assets, as well as managing the decedent’s affairs, including paying taxes and other bills. […]

Post Tagged withBaltimore Estate Planning, Estate Administration Baltimore County Maryland, Maryland Estate Administration, Maryland Probate Attorney, MD Estate Planning, Probate Attorney Baltimore Maryland

Unless the Post Office is informed of a person’s death, mail will continue to be delivered to the decedent’s address. If you are the Personal Representative (or Executor), it will be necessary to continue receiving mail until all financial or business matters have been settled. However, a time will come when you will want to […]

Posted by reichertlegal
Posted in Attorney Baltimore Maryland, Attorney Maryland, Estate Planning Attorney North Bethesda Maryland, Estate Planning Baltimore County, Estate Planning Baltimore Maryland, Estate Planning Carroll County, Estate Planning Montgomery County Maryland, Family Lawyer Baltimore Maryland, Maryland Personal Representative, Uncategorized
Mar, 09, 2023
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What Are the Inheritance Rights of Adopted and Step-Children in Maryland?

In the state of Maryland, adoptive children lose all inheritance rights from their biological parents but gain full inheritance rights from their adoptive parents. If an adopted child is left out of a will, Maryland’s intestacy laws are used to determine the adoptive child’s share. Step-children do not acquire inheritance rights from their adoptive […]

As a general rule, a will governs the distribution of assets only after the testator dies. Any changes to a will that are made during the testator’s lifetime will be valid. A will is not active until the owner of the assets passes. For example, if a testator wills her home to her son, but […]

What is Common Law Marriage and Does it Exist in Maryland?

Common Law Marriage is a framework for individuals who are legally married in certain states without actually being formally recognized as married by the state. Typically these laws refer to couples who have cohabitated, or lived together for a certain amount of years. The requirements to achieve this threshold is different from state to state. […]

In order to obtain power of attorney you must have the Principle decide the amount of power they wish to give. There are different types of power that falls into broad categories of Financial and Healthcare. For each of these powers to be granted, separate documents must be created. The General and Limited Power of […]

A Will is an important legal document that should be kept in a safe and secure location. There are many great options such as a safe deposit box, a personal safe in the house or even by your attorney. The Will needs to be in a place that is safe from theft and damage from […]

Posted by reichertlegal
Posted in Estate Planning Annapolis Maryland, Estate Planning Anne Arundel County Maryland, Estate Planning Aspen Hill Maryland, Estate Planning Attorney North Bethesda Maryland, Estate Planning Attorney Pikesville Maryland, Estate Planning Baltimore County, Estate Planning Baltimore Maryland, Estate Planning Hagerstown Maryland, Estate Planning Potomac Maryland, Estate Planning Waldorf Maryland, Wills & Trusts Annapolis Maryland, Wills & Trusts Anne Arundel County Maryland, Wills & Trusts Ellicott City Maryland, Wills & Trusts Howard County Maryland, Wills & Trusts Maryland, Wills & Trusts Woodlawn Maryland
Apr, 11, 2018
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Can a Personal Representative Designated in a Will Act Before the Principal’s Death?

A Personal Representative has no power to do anything before death. Only a Power of Attorney or court appointed guardian can act during the principal’s lifetime. As such, it is important to meet with a lawyer and execute the proper Power of Attorney documents before such an individual is needed, rather than later when issues […]

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 […]