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Q: Is my mother entitled to $10,000 for living expenses before estate settlement?
My mother's husband has passed away after 33 years of marriage in Maryland. His will attempts to leave her with nothing. She currently resides in the home they lived in and has property taxes due but needs $10,000 for living expenses before the estate settles. Is she entitled to claim this... View More 
Mark Oakley
answered on Jul 25, 2026
answered on Jul 25, 2026
Under Maryland's elective share law, a surviving spouse cannot be completely disinherited and has the right to claim a set fraction of the deceased spouse's augmented estate, which includes both probate and non-probate assets. The exact share depends on whether there are surviving... View More
Q: Is my mother entitled to $10,000 for living expenses before estate settlement?
My mother's husband has passed away after 33 years of marriage in Maryland. His will attempts to leave her with nothing. She currently resides in the home they lived in and has property taxes due but needs $10,000 for living expenses before the estate settles. Is she entitled to claim this... View More
Cedulie Renee Laumann
answered on Jul 25, 2026
answered on Jul 25, 2026
There are protections in Maryland law to guard against intentional or unintentional disinheriting the surviving spouse (unless of course both parties consent in a binding pre or post nuptial agreement). Assuming that your mom did not expressly waive her rights to inherit from her husband, she... View More
Q: How can I terminate my alimony as a recipient in Connecticut?
I am the recipient of alimony in Connecticut, and I would like to terminate it. I don't have any particular legal or financial reason motivating this decision—I simply wish to stop receiving it. Could you advise on the appropriate form or legal process to accomplish this?
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Renee C Bauer
answered on Jul 25, 2026
answered on Jul 25, 2026
Hi,
It's not often people wish to stop receiving alimony. The payor will want to get alimony modified and a court order stating they no longer have to pay, because if you told them they don't need to pay and later changed your mind, you could file a contempt against the payor... View More
Q: Can we terminate the lease without penalties due to lack of a signed renewal?
I've lived in my rental in Maine for 1 year and 5 months. Our original lease agreement was for one year. We emailed our landlord about renewing our lease, but we never received any written confirmation or a new lease to sign. Now, we want to leave before our supposed lease renewal date is up,... View More
Elliott R. Teel
answered on Jul 25, 2026
answered on Jul 25, 2026
It depends on the exact language of the lease. But if there is no clause about an automatic renewal for a certain amount of time, you would be considered tenants-at-will on a month-to-month basis. The terms in the lease about terminating would still apply, such as how much time you need to give... View More
Q: How can I find an attorney for a Medicare SNF denial appeal at OMHA ALJ level in Washington?
I am seeking assistance from attorneys who specialize in helping Medicare beneficiaries with third-level OMHA ALJ appeals. The specific issue involves the denial of coverage for Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) services for the beneficiary. Previous lower-level appeals have been made and denied,... View More
Tim Akpinar
answered on Jul 25, 2026
answered on Jul 25, 2026
A Washington State attorney could advise best, but your question remains open for a week. Revisit your post for further responses, but your best bet is to take affirmative steps in reaching out to attorneys on your own, especially if you are facing a limited timeline. What you describe is a narrow... View More
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