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Maryland Estate Planning Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Divorce, Estate Planning and Family Law for Maryland on
Q: If your wife gets money from the sale of her moms house, is the husband entitled to the money? Or is it just the wifes?
Nina Whitehurst
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answered on Dec 20, 2024

Inherited property (which includes cash) is the separate property of the heir/beneficiary.

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Maryland on
Q: I am the PR for my deceased husbands estate. There was no will and the kids were minors at the time of death. .

The estate was closed and settled on 6/2021. I have since joined a class action regarding my husbands illness. A settlement amount has been offered. What do I need to do if anything? Ty in advance This was in Maryland. However I currently reside with kids in Pennsylvania.

Cedulie Renee Laumann
Cedulie Renee Laumann
answered on Dec 17, 2024

Assuming some or all of the funds will be payable to your late husband's estate, any additional funds will require filing a supplemental inventory and supplemental account (if a regular estate) or a supplemental schedule B (if a small estate). Basically a Personal Representative has an... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Maryland on
Q: I was listed as a heir to someone who died interstate there over 50 relieves on that list it was my bio moms first cousi

Why would I only get 0.48 of percent and another first cousin once removed get 3.33 percent and there is a first cousin twice removed getting 1.67 percent my mother was also deceased also my sisters cold was listed as a heir but my child was not I live in ca the case is in md

Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on Nov 25, 2024

When someone dies without a will, their estate is divided among the relatives of the deceased, but that does not mean every blood relative gets an equal share. For instance, if someone dies and never had children and both parents were deceased, but they had four siblings, then their estate gets... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Maryland on
Q: How would I be able to get details on a trust fund created by family that I am no longer in contact with?

I know of a trust fund in my name and would like to find out details as I don’t know anything about it other than the fact that it exists.

Cedulie Renee Laumann
Cedulie Renee Laumann
answered on Nov 25, 2024

Generally, there is no right to get a copy of anyone else's planning documents while the planner is still living. So if the relative who created this Trust is still living (and assuming it is a typical trust), usually it is entirely up to that person to decide what, if anything (or nothing)... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning for Maryland on
Q: Can a lawsuit assume a trust if a co-trustee is sued?

My sister has defaulted on a contract. I fear she is to be sued. She is co-trustee along with my Mother and myself of an account that pays for Mothers residential care. If sued will the party have access to the trust? Should we remove my sister's name from the trust to be able to assure... View More

Cedulie Renee Laumann
Cedulie Renee Laumann
answered on Oct 3, 2024

A Trustee overseeing someone else's Trust is a fiduciary or someone who manages someone else's money/assets. In some situations a Trustee actually manages their own assets for their own benefit in which case their creditors could usually get at such assets. However, when a fiduciary... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Maryland on
Q: If I die before my spouse is he entitled to my 401K?

I accumulated all of my 401K funds prior to getting married. I have named beneficiaries (not my husband) on all of my 401Ks. He is named as my beneficiary on my life insurance. If I die before him, is he entitled to any of my 401K funds?

Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on Sep 13, 2024

Absent a pre- or postnuptial agreement that provides otherwise, a spouse has the right to reject whatever they are receiving under the deceased spouse’s will and elect their statutory share. The old law used to be a straight 1/3 to 1/2 (depending on whether there are minor children involved) of... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Real Estate Law and Estate Planning for Maryland on
Q: Property left as tenants in common. One sibling was listed co-buyer on mortgage. 6 acres of land. Co- buyer own home?

Home and land was willed to 6 siblings. Mobile home was not attached to land as collateral and not on traditional permanent foundation. One sibling (not co-buyer stayed in home and paid off mortgage) Co- buyer signed over title. Now title is in one name and deed includes all siblings. Was this... View More

Cedulie Renee Laumann
Cedulie Renee Laumann
answered on Aug 31, 2024

An attorney cannot realistically analyze the state of a particular title without looking at the estate filings and the deed. That said, I'll try to give some general information below that might be helpful.

"Title" and "Deed" are generally interchangeable terms...
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2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning and Real Estate Law for Maryland on
Q: Father added my niece to his deed so she is now co-owner of house. Can he will or bequeath his share of the deed to me?
Cedulie Renee Laumann
Cedulie Renee Laumann
answered on Aug 31, 2024

Generally speaking co-owners can each freely transfer their interest in real property. However, if there are survivorship rights already in the deed a Will is ineffective to transfer to someone else (because it will go to the survivor in the deed and not be a part of the deceased person's... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Maryland on
Q: My parent created a trust but forgot to add a family property that is shared with siblings.

Is an attorney needed to add the property or is there a form that can be filled out?

Cedulie Renee Laumann
Cedulie Renee Laumann
answered on Aug 31, 2024

Property is transferred to a Trust through means of a Deed or Assignment depending on whether the property has a ground rent. Different counties have additional requirements and all deeds require an intake (and in some cases affidavits). While deeds are not terribly complex, there are a lot of... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Maryland on
Q: What do you do in Maryland if Trust documents are missing?

My kids are the beneficiaries of a trust set up by their deceased grandfather. It is for their education mainly, with health etc as a secondary goal. We have been using it with no issues but the co-trustee has resigned and the new trustee won't assume the role until they see the trust... View More

Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on Jun 18, 2024

(1) I assume you asked the co-trustee who resigned if they have a copy of the trust, or when they last saw a copy or who last had it; if not, start there, and then go back in time to the families of each prior trustee, if any, and ask about old paper files still in existence, that might contain a... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning and Real Estate Law for Maryland on
Q: Hello, can a Disclaimer of Inheritance be signed electronically in Maryland? Thank you so much.
Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on Mar 20, 2024

Yes, but before you do so, make sure that the disclaimer achieves the results you want it to achieve. A disclaimer by law is treated as if the person disclaiming died before the decedent. If the Will directs that a deceased heir’s share be distributed “per stripes”, or by some other method,... View More

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4 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning, Real Estate Law, Arbitration / Mediation Law and Probate for Maryland on
Q: My husband and his dad are on the deed for his dad's house. If his father dies and the will says otherwise, who owns?

My husband and his father are on the deed to his father's house. His father died but the will says that all 3 kids get the estate. So that would mean all 3 kids would be on the deed when he passes. Since my husband was originally on the deed before he died, does that mean it's officially... View More

Cedulie Renee Laumann
Cedulie Renee Laumann
answered on Mar 2, 2024

It all depends on how the deed was written. If the deed gave the co-owners survivorship rights, the surviving owner would own it all regardless of what the Will said (because there would be no interest to pass through the Will as it would have automatically gone to the survivor). However, if the... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Family Law, Gov & Administrative Law and Social Security for Maryland on
Q: Mother (SSI recipient) owns her home & would like to sell & come live with me. Can we purchase a home together? How?

My mother is 80 years old and lives in Florida. We'd like to sell her home and have her come live with me ( a married woman) in Maryland so that I may care for her as she ages in place. We'd like to use the proceeds of the sale to purchase a home in Maryland. I would apply for a home... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Feb 29, 2024

When considering purchasing a home together with your mother, who is a recipient of Supplemental Security Income (SSI), it's important to understand how co-ownership might impact her benefits. SSI eligibility is sensitive to income and assets. However, a primary residence is not counted as an... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning for Maryland on
Q: Can I transfer a house that I own into my mom's revocable living trust in Maryland?

I own a fully paid house in Rockville MD. I want to sell it to my mom but also have her put it into a trust with me as the beneficiary. Can I transfer the deed directly into her trust, or does the title first need to be transferred to my mom before she can transfer it into her trust?

Nina Whitehurst
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answered on Feb 25, 2024

Yes, your mother’s trust can be the buyer, and you can be the seller, with a deed to match. This makes perfect sense if it truly is an arm’s-length transaction.

However, if what you are actually doing is gifting the house to her, then you should not do that without talking to an...
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1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Maryland on
Q: Can a lawyer be a beneficiary in a will and insurance policy, and leave their children out of it?

My father is mentally unstable. He would have doctors comit him to have his attorney have him released, for a large fee. My father died because the doctors and family was afraid to authorize treatment for a infection. His attorney is is sole benefactor in his life insurance and will. Isn't... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Jan 10, 2024

It's not inherently illegal for a lawyer to be named as a beneficiary in a client's will or life insurance policy, but this situation can raise questions of undue influence or conflict of interest. If your father's mental capacity was in doubt, there could be grounds to challenge the... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Family Law for Maryland on
Q: How do I guarantee that my funeral wishes are respected? I want cremation but my family is for burial.
Cedulie Renee Laumann
Cedulie Renee Laumann
answered on Dec 15, 2023

There is no way to absolutely "guarantee" what people will do after one's death but taking the following 2 steps will make it more likely that final wishes will be honored:

1) pre-pay your expenses. If cremation and/or funeral arrangements are made while living and prepaid,...
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2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning and Family Law for Maryland on
Q: My grandmother has a house, when she purchased the house she put it in her name and 2 of her childrens name.

She is the only person that’s paid into the mortgage. She has 6 children one is deceased, 5 living. When she passes away she wants, after the house is sold (it’s already paid off) the money to be split evenly between the 5 living children and the the portion that would have went to her deceased... View More

Cedulie Renee Laumann
Cedulie Renee Laumann
answered on Dec 7, 2023

There are a variety of planning tools someone can use to name beneficiaries while keeping power to freely change those designations. Perhaps, if your grandmother got good advice, the deed is a life estate deed with full powers still vested in the planner. If so, she could change it freely by a... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Real Estate Law, Estate Planning and Probate for Maryland on
Q: sisters want to sell a house they inherited, one wants reimbursed for paying the mortgage before the sale is that legal?

Two sisters inherited a house, one is the executor of the will. They both wish to sell the house but the executor payed the mortgage for the last two months out of pocket instead of out of the estate funds. She now wants reimbursed saying there were no estate funds only the bequeathments as set by... View More

Thomas C. Valkenet
Thomas C. Valkenet
answered on Dec 5, 2023

Yes. The sister can petition the court to remove the Personal Representative, who is not doing the job properly. There is no reason to pay a mortgage if the estate is insolvent. It just means the house must be sold. The bank will get all its money at settlement, if the price is high enough. The... View More

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3 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning, Real Estate Law and Probate for Maryland on
Q: Is it legal for the executor of an estate to force a benificiary to pay for a mortgage on a house they inherited?

Two sisters inherited a house with a mortgage now one sister wants the other sister to quit claim deed the house. Said sister is also the executor of the estate and is forcing my wife to either pay half the mortgage or quit claim on said house

Thomas C. Valkenet
Thomas C. Valkenet
answered on Dec 5, 2023

"inheritance" doesn't mean the bank loan is forgiven. It must be either paid off from Estate funds, or refinanced by the person inheriting the property. A "quitclaim" deed (one without the usual warranties of title) means the mortgage lien/loan obligations of the dead... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Elder Law for Maryland on
Q: Are trust management services available and feasible for estates worth about $500,000?

I'm thinking about setting up a trust but don't know anyone I want to trust to be a trustee, so I'm looking for options. I've heard that trust management services are expensive and primarily for the wealthy. Would appreciate suggestions.

Cedulie Renee Laumann
Cedulie Renee Laumann
answered on Nov 30, 2023

This question comes up quite often.

Most of the time the person making the trust will be the initial trustee and designate others to serve after their death or incapacity. Whether hiring a professional trustee is feasible or not depends in part on how long you want/need trust oversight....
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