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What New Parents Need to Know About Estate Planning?

While assembling a new crib or changing diapers, estate planning is probably the farthest thing from your mind. However, life’s busyness does not diminish the importance of making sure your family has everything they need in case something unfortunate were to happen to you.   Where should you start?   Begin with your living documents. […]

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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: Is a Living Trust a Good Idea?

A living trust is a written legal document that places assets in a trust which can still be used by the principle. Once the principle dies, the trust can be transferred to the designated beneficiaries. There are many benefits to creating a living trust. One reason to create a living trust is to avoid probate. […]

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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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Maryland Probate Lawyer: Initial Duties of a Personal Representative

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After an estate is opened in probate, through the Register of Wills, the Maryland Personal Representative must examine the decedent’s mail, financial records, safe deposit box, important documents and tax returns. It is the Personal Representative’s duty to determine how the property is legally titled by reviewing the ownership documents such as deeds and bank […]

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Severna Park, Maryland Estate Planning: File Your Will in 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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