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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. […]

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Maryland Estate Planning: How Do I Obtain Power of Attorney?

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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 […]

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Can a Personal Representative Designated in a Will Act Before the Principal’s Death?

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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 […]

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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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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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Odenton, Maryland Estate Planning: File Your Will in Odenton, Md. & Anne Arundel County, Md.

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Maryland allows Wills to be filed with the county in which you live. As an estate planning attorney, I have encountered clients in Maryland 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 safe keeping and […]

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Maryland Estate Planning: What does “My descendants who survive me per stirpes” mean?

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When having a Will or Trust drafted, if you agree to include this language your assets will be distributed equally to your lineal descendants who are blood relatives or legally adopted. Your children will be the first to receive your assets. If any of your children die before you, the percentage of assets due to […]

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Maryland Estate Planning Lawyer: Why Putting a Child on a Home Title Complicates an Estate Plan

Learn why putting a child on a home title complicates an estate plan. Article Here To discuss this and to create your own estate plan contact Maryland attorney Stephen J. Reichert: 410-299-4959, sreichert@reichertlegal.com or by clicking here.

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Maryland Estate Planning: Selecting a Trustee

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Let’s start with the kinds of Trusts available to you. There are two general categories: • Testamentary Trusts, which are created under a Will • Non-Testamentary Trusts—Revocable (inter vivos) and Irrevocable Trusts—which are created outside of a Will The Testamentary Trust In the Testamentary Trust category, the Trustee you select begins to serve either during […]

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