One of the most common misconceptions in estate planning is that having a will allows an estate to avoid probate. It does not. In fact, a will is typically the document that directs how property is distributed through the probate process, not around it. For homeowners and families in Maryland Read more
Many people create a revocable living trust believing it will help their family avoid probate after they pass away. Often, that is exactly what happens. However, simply signing a trust agreement does not automatically avoid probate. In fact, one of the most common estate planning issues I encounter is a Read more
Creating a revocable living trust is only part of the process. For the trust to actually control your real estate, the property must first be properly transferred into the trust. This step is commonly referred to as funding the trust, and it is one of the most overlooked parts of Read more
Owning real estate in more than one state is common. What many property owners don’t realize is that this can create unexpected legal and financial complications after death—especially when no planning has been done in advance. One of the most common questions that comes up is: Do I need a Read more
Do you own property in Maryland but live in another state? Did you know that an out-of-state death can trigger a 1% probate fee in Maryland? Many homeowners own property in more than one state. But what often goes unnoticed is what happens after death—especially when someone who lives outside Read more
When people think about estate planning, they usually think about wills and trusts. But there’s a critical piece that is often overlooked: How your real estate is titled. In Washington, DC and Maryland, estate plans frequently fail—not because the documents were drafted incorrectly, but because the deeds were never aligned Read more
Step-by-Step: How to Transfer a Property into a Trust in Maryland Owning real estate is often a family’s biggest asset and one of the most important pieces of any estate plan. Often the estate plan will transfer a property into a revocable living trust or another type of trust to Read more
Most people assume a deed only changes hands when there’s a sale. In reality, a large share of Maryland deed transfers involve no money at all — what real-estate law refers to as no-consideration transfers. Even though no money changes hands, these transfers must be done correctly to avoid recordation/transfer Read more