What is estate planning, and why does it matter?

Estate planning refers to the process of establishing through valid legal documents your wishes for your future medical care, care of any dependants, and most famously, your assets. The estate planning process matters because it ensures that you can have a voice in what occurs during a time when you are physically unable to voice your preferences, such as during a medical emergency or after death. You deserve to decide for yourself what will happen to you, any dependents in your care, and your wealth. Through estate planning, you have the chance to make known: What you want or don’t want to be done if certain medical situations were to happen Who you want to care for your dependents, such as children, if you can’t do so yourself How to pass on or divide your assets, which, regardless of the size of your estate, represent a lifetime of work, savings, and investments Estate planning is generally accomplished through the creation of legal documents like wills, trusts, and advance directives.

Who needs estate planning?

Estate planning isn’t only for the wealthiest Maryland residents. It’s recommended that all adults have at least some form of estate plan in place if they have any of the following: Any assets to protect or pass on Any children or dependents whose future care you need to designate Any preferences for the future of your medical care if you were unable to communicate your wishes due to illness or injury Estate plans and the documents used to create them are customized to your unique needs. Making an estate plan doesn’t have to be a massive undertaking. Our estate planning attorneys in Maryland will assess your individual situation and help you understand your options during a free consultation. We’re prepared to develop an estate plan that accomplishes your goals and avoids unnecessary hassles.

What is the difference between a will and estate planning?

A will is one of the most well-known tools used in estate planning, but the full breadth of what constitutes estate planning encompasses much more. In some instances, you may only need a will to achieve your goals. In other cases, a trust, advance directives, and other tools may be needed to create the comprehensive plan necessary to protect your estate as you wish. Determining what tools and strategies are ideal for your estate plan requires a thorough review of your unique situation by experienced Maryland wills lawyers.

What does an estate planning attorney do that software programs and templates don’t?

While there are templates and software programs that allow for do-it-yourself will creation, these tools don’t provide the advantages that professional estate planning attorneys in Maryland can. They can’t offer legal advice, inform you of the tax implications of different options, or formulate a strategy based on your specific situation. In some instances, a will produced with these templates or software programs may not even be considered valid, undoing any benefit of writing a will in the first place. Estate planning is a serious legal matter that should be handled by a professional, not a template. Your will and estate plan are only as reliable as the party you trust to create them.

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Wills and advance directives are so important because they provide you with your one chance to ensure your wishes for the future are known. The guidance of knowledgeable Maryland wills lawyers is crucial to ensuring that your intentions are followed if you’re ever in a position where you’re unable to make medical decisions for yourself and preventing arguments over your estate after you pass away.

At Maronick Law LLC, we’re committed to guiding clients all over Maryland through the estate planning process. We’re ready to answer your questions and create the documents you need to express your wishes. To get started with a free consultation, contact us today.

Legal Assistance for Wills and Estate Planning in Maryland

Reliable estate planning requires you to take into account the legal process, the factors that make a document valid, the different types of estate planning tools, and tax implications. You need knowledgeable Maryland wills lawyers working to understand your needs and develop an individualized estate plan that fits your circumstances.

Understanding Wills and Estate Planning

Estate planning is achieved through the strategic use of legal documents such as wills, trusts, and advance directives.

Wills

A will generally outlines how your assets should be distributed after your death. In some cases, wills can express wishes beyond the division of your wealth. For example, a will could designate who will care for any children or pets and potentially even establish any preferences you have for a funeral, burial, or cremation of your body.

Trusts

A trust, also known as a living trust, is a more complicated form of estate planning tool than a will. If you establish a trust, it will be funded during your lifetime. Trusts generally offer benefits such as greater control over your assets and the ability to avoid the probate process that, in many situations, is required when executing wills.

Advance Directives

An advance directive is a tool you can use to provide directions regarding your future medical care. In the event that you’re not able to make your wishes known, such as if an injury or medical condition leaves you incapacitated and unable to communicate, this document can establish your wishes. It can also potentially save your loved ones from having to make very difficult decisions about whether and when to withdraw or withhold medical care.

The Importance of Wills and Estate Planning

It’s important for adults with any assets, dependents, or strong wishes regarding their future medical treatment to take estate planning seriously. Estate planning offers important protection for your family, your wealth, and your values.

Without an estate plan in place, what happens to your assets upon your death is in question. Your wealth might not pass to the beneficiaries you would choose. Even if your wealth does ultimately go to the people you intend, the process of determining what occurs can be lengthy, costly, and frustrating, particularly for beneficiaries who are already dealing with the emotional impact of grief.

Not specifying who you would want to care for any children or other dependents puts your family at risk. In the event of your death, relatives might squabble over who gets custody of the children, and your dependents may end up in the care of a party you wouldn’t have chosen.

Many people have strong feelings about what they would want if they were in a coma, on a ventilator without meaningful brain function, or otherwise in a medical situation in which they could not voice their own decisions. People who are young and seemingly in good health may think they don’t need to specify their wishes through an advance directive, but unfortunately, such emergencies can happen unexpectedly. It’s better to have this document in place and never need it than to neglect to make an advance directive and leave your family wondering how you would want them to handle your medical care.

How Maronick Law LLC Can Help

The team of Maryland wills lawyers at Maronick Law LLC considers estate planning an important part of our practice and the services we provide for our community. Many people find the notion of estate planning overwhelming, but avoiding this task puts at risk your ability to protect your family and your assets.

Our estate planning attorneys in Maryland simplify the process of having wills, trusts, advance directives, and other legal documents created to meet your individual needs. Our process includes:

Assessing your estate planning needs during a free initial consultation
Advising you on how we can help and what estate planning for your situation will look like
Creating valid, comprehensive estate planning documents that strategically achieve your goals

With our estate planning attorneys in Maryland guiding you through the process of creating your will, you can feel confident that your estate plan perfectly fits your priorities.

How to Choose an Estate Planning Attorney

To make sure your estate plan covers your needs, you need seasoned Maryland wills lawyers you can trust. Consider factors like reputation, experience, and communication style. Through your estate plan, you’re putting together a blueprint for your future legacy, so you need to make sure you’re being heard by your attorneys and that they are answering your questions in clear, helpful ways.

Why Choose Maronick Law LLC as Your Estate Planning Law Firm?

Clients across the state count on Maronick Law LLC for help with their estate planning and other legal needs because of our:

Experience: Our team of respected attorneys has more than 80 years of combined experience practicing law.
Personalized service: We know the key to effective legal assistance is a strategy and implementation that fits your unique needs, and we create individualized wills and estate plans for each client we serve.
Statewide legal help: We make estate planning as convenient as possible with numerous office locations throughout Maryland, including offices in Glen Burnie, Baltimore, Ocean City, and Towson.

When you’re looking for estate planning assistance, look no further than the Maryland wills lawyers at Maronick Law LLC.

Contact the Maryland Wills Lawyers at Maronick Law LLC Today for a Free Consultation

Estate planning should provide peace of mind, not add to your stress. With the right Maryland wills lawyers guiding you through the process, you can rest assured that your wishes for the future of your medical decisions, your assets, your dependents, and other priorities are thoroughly documented.

For help from estate planning attorneys in Maryland, contact Maronick Law LLC online or call 443-351-6657 today.

Frequently Asked Questions About Wills & Estates in Maryland

Estate planning refers to the process of establishing through valid legal documents your wishes for your future medical care, care of any dependants, and most famously, your assets.
The estate planning process matters because it ensures that you can have a voice in what occurs during a time when you are physically unable to voice your preferences, such as during a medical emergency or after death. You deserve to decide for yourself what will happen to you, any dependents in your care, and your wealth.
Through estate planning, you have the chance to make known:
What you want or don’t want to be done if certain medical situations were to happen
Who you want to care for your dependents, such as children, if you can’t do so yourself
How to pass on or divide your assets, which, regardless of the size of your estate, represent a lifetime of work, savings, and investments
Estate planning is generally accomplished through the creation of legal documents like wills, trusts, and advance directives.
Estate planning isn’t only for the wealthiest Maryland residents. It’s recommended that all adults have at least some form of estate plan in place if they have any of the following:
Any assets to protect or pass on
Any children or dependents whose future care you need to designate
Any preferences for the future of your medical care if you were unable to communicate your wishes due to illness or injury
Estate plans and the documents used to create them are customized to your unique needs. Making an estate plan doesn’t have to be a massive undertaking. Our estate planning attorneys in Maryland will assess your individual situation and help you understand your options during a free consultation. We’re prepared to develop an estate plan that accomplishes your goals and avoids unnecessary hassles.
A will is one of the most well-known tools used in estate planning, but the full breadth of what constitutes estate planning encompasses much more. In some instances, you may only need a will to achieve your goals. In other cases, a trust, advance directives, and other tools may be needed to create the comprehensive plan necessary to protect your estate as you wish. Determining what tools and strategies are ideal for your estate plan requires a thorough review of your unique situation by experienced Maryland wills lawyers.
While there are templates and software programs that allow for do-it-yourself will creation, these tools don’t provide the advantages that professional estate planning attorneys in Maryland can. They can’t offer legal advice, inform you of the tax implications of different options, or formulate a strategy based on your specific situation. In some instances, a will produced with these templates or software programs may not even be considered valid, undoing any benefit of writing a will in the first place.
Estate planning is a serious legal matter that should be handled by a professional, not a template. Your will and estate plan are only as reliable as the party you trust to create them.