What is estate planning?

Your estate is made up of your real and personal property, insurance proceeds, investments, and other tangible property. Estate planning involves the development of a strategy for the preservation of property during life and the distribution of property after death. If you fail to create your own estate plan, the state will create one for you. Adams Law Office, LLC is a suburban Maryland and Washington, DC metropolitan law firm assisting clients with the development of a plan for the distribution of their property after death through individualized advice and preparation of applicable documents, such as wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and advance healthcare directives.

Why have a will?

Without a will, state laws of “intestate succession” kick in. *In MD, the following distributions would apply if you died without a will:

• If survived by spouse and parents:

  • ½ of estate, plus $15,000 to spouse

  • Balance to parents
    

 

• If survived by spouse and children:

• ½ of estate to spouse; ½ to children
  

 

• If survived by spouse and adult children:

• ½ of estate, plus $15,000 to spouse

• ½ of estate to children (not including step- children)
  

 

• If no living heirs or step-children:

• Estate goes to the Board of Education

 

If the intestate laws do not precisely reflect your wishes, a will and/or a revocable living trust is necessary.

*See MD Code Ann., Estates and Trusts §§ 3–101 et seq. (2003) for a complete description of intestate distributions.

What are the benefits of a will?

• You decide the distribution of your property, rather than the government
• Potential to reduce taxes and fees
• Avoid court appointed guardianship
• Minimize time and complication of probate
• Designate guardian(s) for your children
• Express your wishes regarding life support, etc.
  

What is a revocable living trust?

 

A revocable living trust (“RLT”) is a legal device for holding title to property for the benefit of a beneficiary. With an RLT, you, the property owner are the settlor (creates and can amend the trust), the original trustee (manages and distributes the property held in trust), and the beneficiary until death, at which time, a successor trustee transfers the property to the successor beneficiaries . Control over the property remains with the owner(s) during life and the transfer of property after death occurs without probate. If you have property in more than one state, a trust can eliminate the need for probate proceedings in multiple jurisdictions.  Also, if your estate is sizable and over the estate tax exemption amount (over $2 million in 2008 or over $3.5 million in 2009) including life insurance, a revocable living trust for you and your spouse can save your beneficiaries thousands in estate taxes.

 

What is probate and should it be avoided?

Probate is the process by which a court supervises the distribution of probate property according to a verified will or the laws of intestate succession. Probate property generally includes assets owned individually. The primary reasons for avoiding probate involve the costs and time associated with the process. However, in Maryland and DC, the actual court costs and probate fees involved in most estates are nominal and the probate process is more streamlined than in the past. For most estates, a valid will and individualized planning can minimize the impact of the probate process.