Regardless of an individual’s age, financial status, or family situation, below I will discuss what I believe to be the five fundamental documents that provide a strong foundation to any estate plan. 1. Testamentary Document…

Appeals of Orphans’ Court Decisions In most venues throughout Maryland, a party in an estate looking to appeal a decision made by an Orphans’ Court has two options: file an appeal to the Court of…

After a person passes away, anyone who believes the decedent owed them money or property at the time of the decedent’s death may file a claim against the estate. Claims against an estate can include…

By Zachary W. Worshtil On October 1, 2020, Maryland is set to join the growing ranks of states to integrate non-probate assets and arrangements in its law regulating spousal inheritance. On that date, Chapter 435…

Last month, I examined the new Maryland SAFE Act recently passed by the Maryland legislature and set to go into effect on October 1, 2021. Along with the SAFE Act, there are three additional new…

While other higher-profile bills approved by the Maryland General Assembly during the 2021 session garnered more attention, the recently passed Senate Bill 327 – Civil Actions – Financial Exploitation of Susceptible Adults and Older Adults…

Recently, two sensationalized accounts of guardianship matters have put a national spotlight on adult guardianships. First is the Netflix film “I Care a Lot.” This movie features Marla Grayson (played by Rosamund Pike), a crooked,…

Shortly after Larry King passed away on January 23, 2021 at age 87, it was widely reported that the prominent television and radio host merely had a simple, handwritten will executed in the months before…

Last month, I discussed common mistakes made during pre-death estate planning and how they can negatively affect estate administration posthumously. Often these avoidable mistakes lead to unnecessary, contentious and costly litigation. Beginning this month and…