DO I HAVE TO PAY THAT CLAIM AGAINST THE ESTATE? – maybe not!

Personal Representatives may find themselves facing questionable claims in the estate they are administering.  Whether it is a claim for a Decedent’s unpaid credit card bill showing charges from months after her date of death, or a medical bill for a procedure the Decedent never underwent, it can be frustrating

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LEGISLATIVE UPDATE – Spousal Election Law

A recent change in Maryland’s “spousal election law” (effective October 1, 2020) could significantly impact estate plans for married individuals, particularly those with “blended families.”  A brief synopsis of this change is available HERE. Certain strategies available under prior law to ensure the effectiveness of a married individual’s estate plan

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UNDERSTANDING INTESTACY – What happens without an estate plan?

Many people, particularly young adults, do not prioritize establishing or maintaining an estate plan. This may be for a myriad of reasons. One explanation we hear from many is that they believe their assets would pass the same way by law if they died intestate (without a will) as they would direct the assets to pass in their will. However, one cannot be certain of this without familiarity with the rules of intestate succession. Furthermore, this oversimplification disregards many other potential issues whereby family interests could be impaired if no plan is in place and intestacy laws are left to govern.

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2019 LEGISLATIVE UPDATE – new laws of interest

Several new laws pertinent to estates and trusts were passed during the 2019 Maryland General Assembly legislative session.  The following are summaries of the most significant. Surviving Spouse’s Elective Share:  Maryland law has long included statutory provisions designed to protect a surviving spouse from disinheritance.  But a combination of modern

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MODIFIED ADMINISTRATION – What is it? Why (not) elect it?

Personal Representatives (PRs) of Maryland probate estates are normally required to file detailed accountings of estate financial transactions with the Register of Wills, which are then approved by the Orphans’ Court.  This can be tedious and costly. Responding to public pressure for simplification, the Maryland legislature in 1997 enacted a

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