Ask a Question

Get free answers to your Estate Planning legal questions from lawyers in your area.

Lawyers, increase your visibility by answering questions and getting points. Answer Questions
Maryland Estate Planning Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Maryland on
Q: My mother became a beneficiary of a trust in 2002- I have discovered she wasn’t notified of its existence until 2007.

The trustees are refusing to provide account statements for that time period. Can I petition for a full accounting for 1997-2006?

Anthony M. Avery
PREMIUM
Anthony M. Avery pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Oct 12, 2023

Most if not all of those years will have busted the applicable SOL. Hire a competent MD attorney to sue for conversion, breach of fiduciary duty and an accounting. Try to toll them as much as you can. The other beneficiaries are probably defendants also, which will put pressure on the trustees... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Maryland on
Q: Estate planning a car under the estate was totaled we got a insurance check for it are we able to use it before closing
T. Augustus Claus
PREMIUM
T. Augustus Claus pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Sep 11, 2023

In Maryland, the utilization of insurance proceeds from a totaled vehicle within an estate necessitates careful consideration of various factors. The appointed estate executor or administrator typically holds the authority to manage the estate's assets, including insurance payouts, adhering to... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Real Estate Law and Probate for Maryland on
Q: My brother and I inherited our father's house with no lien (equal shares). I am buying his 1/2 interest in the property

based on the FMV. I am paying cash, no loan needed. I am wondering the pros/cons of either (1) transferring the property into our joint names first, then completing the buy-out after the estate is closed, or (2) doing the buy-out through the estate, then we distribute the house/funds accordingly.... View More

Cedulie Renee Laumann
Cedulie Renee Laumann
answered on Aug 31, 2023

Thanks for your post. One beneficiary/heir buying out the other(s) presents a fairly common scenario.

When an estate has enough other liquid assets, then to eliminate transfer taxes it often makes sense to distribute the real estate entirely to the child who wants to acquire it and...
View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Maryland on
Q: Is an executor of a will required to disclose and pursue all verbal wishes of the deceased?
Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on Aug 8, 2023

No. Only what is written in the will, to the extent it is legal. Verbal wishes may be carried out in the discretion of the PR to the extent that the heirs are not harmed financially, or they do not object.

3 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning for Maryland on
Q: If I leave anything in my estate planning to my mother, can her husband (my stepfather) claim any of it as her spouse?
Cedulie Renee Laumann
Cedulie Renee Laumann
answered on Jun 13, 2023

Generally speaking Maryland law does not give anyone the right to demand an inheritance going to anyone else, even their spouse. That said, depending on how planning documents are drafted and order of death, sometimes people do wind up with an inheritance intended to go their spouse.... View More

View More Answers

2 Answers | Asked in Real Estate Law, Estate Planning and Probate for Maryland on
Q: Hello, I am attempting to make sense of what rights I may have as tenants in common with my brother in my fathers's Will

In the Will, he states, "I give and devise unto my wife my real estate [home address] for the remainder of her natural life, or until she shall decide to reside elsewhere on a permanent basis, or until she shall remarry...she shall pay all maintenance cost, insurance, and property taxes at her... View More

Cedulie Renee Laumann
Cedulie Renee Laumann
answered on Jun 5, 2023

Hi and thanks for posting a real estate question.

The first variable is whether your father's wife is still living. This appears to be a life estate to your father's wife, with the life estate ending if the life tenant moves out or remarries.

You describe a position...
View More

View More Answers

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Maryland on
Q: Any legal ramifications for withholding a will when someone passes ?Also related, anyway to find attorney who prepared

My boyfriend of 10 years passed away April 1. He told me in 2020/2021 he had done a will & it was with his papers at his shop. He told me who the executor was & that his son wasn't to get anything. It was not filed with register of wills

I believe his son found the will.... View More

Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on May 31, 2023

Have you checked with the executor to see if he has a copy of the Will, or any correspondence regarding being named executor? Do you or anyone you know have access to the shop where the Will supposedly was stored? Do you know who he named as beneficiaries under his will?

The purported...
View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Maryland on
Q: what can be done to force.executor to sell a house per the will

grandma died in 2017. dad and cousin are to split proceeds from.sale of house. executor, dads brother, haa not put house up for sale. what can be done to force him to sell the house?

Richard Sternberg
Richard Sternberg
answered on May 28, 2023

Retain counsel. Petition for Order to Sell or, in the Alternative, Replace PR for Self-Dealing.

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Personal Injury, Constitutional Law and Probate for Maryland on
Q: My case has not been heard in five court cases where I have lost each time. How do I file the papers to defend myself?

The reason my case has not been heard is because of conflicting legal advice that I received on justanswer.com. Based on the petitions the lawyers are filing against me, the one that told me to serve the petition on everyone was wrong. What do you do when the court makes decisions that violate the... View More

Maxwell White
Maxwell White
answered on May 26, 2023

Unfortunately, this may be a situation in which you need to get an attorney. The truth is that getting an attorney is costly, but not getting one is even more costly. There are certain legal matters that can be handled without an attorney, but based on what you have said so far, this likely is not... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning for Maryland on
Q: I want to be taken off a friend's will as executor, but she isn't cooperating. What recourse do I have?
Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on Apr 23, 2023

You have no control over what someone puts in their will. However, anyone can decline to accept appointment as an executor. Just because someone names you their executor does not mean that you have to accept it. If you refuse the honor, someone else may petition to be appointed or the court will... View More

View More Answers

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Maryland on
Q: Aunt passed away and left entire estate to the nieces and nephews of 2 of her 3 siblings.

The 2 siblings (parents of the beneficiaries) pre-deceased her. Her 3rd sibling is still living (her sister). She did not leave anything to her 3rd sibling (her sister) or her children.

The children of her living sister are threatening to contest the will. Can the nieces and nephews of... View More

Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on Mar 23, 2023

The children of the living sibling of the decedent do not have standing to contest the will because they would not receive any part of the estate even if they prevailed--only their mother would if the will were set aside.

If the living sibling granted a power of attorney naming someone...
View More

2 Answers | Asked in Probate and Estate Planning for Maryland on
Q: My 2nd home is in Maryland. My 2 kids live there. My will gives it to them equally but can they live there thru probate?
Richard Sternberg
Richard Sternberg
answered on Mar 2, 2023

You need to discuss your situation with a lawyer. There are way too many unanswered questions. Is the home free & clear? Are there other heirs? Will the two heirs share it equally and get along in it? Do you want them to have the house or the proceeds from the house?

The short, and...
View More

View More Answers

1 Answer | Asked in Tax Law and Estate Planning for Maryland on
Q: My wife and I have a revocable trust that holds the deed for our primary residence and an investment rental property.

My wife and her son bought an additional rental property with the deed in their names. What are the tax considerations of leaving that property separate from the trust vs transferring the deed to the trust. Her son is the executor of the revocable trust.

James L. Arrasmith
PREMIUM
James L. Arrasmith pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Mar 4, 2023

The tax considerations of leaving the rental property in your wife and her son's names versus transferring the deed to the revocable trust will depend on several factors, including the ownership percentage, rental income, and capital gains implications. Here are some general tax... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Maryland on
Q: Will excuses the need to post bond for the performance of duties. Do I still need nominal bond in MD?

Maryland probate estate value is $10,000 or more.

Will states: "I hereby excuse those persons named in or appointed pursuant to this Will as Personal Representatives from the necessity of posting any bond or other security for the faithful performance of their respective duties."... View More

Cedulie Renee Laumann
Cedulie Renee Laumann
answered on Feb 22, 2023

In a word, yes, even where a Will waives bond the Register can still require a nominal bond to cover anticipated inheritance tax and other court fees.

Wills almost always waive the bond requirement for monies going to people who may inherit. However the government doesn't...
View More

View More Answers

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Maryland on
Q: I am a beneficiary of a trust. Am I entitled to know the sources of my inheritance and what other beneficiaries receive

I am a beneficiary of my mom's trust along with my siblings. My mom's estate is in Maryland. Am I entitled to know the value of each account, investment, stock, property (each asset that will be liquidated), and either the dollar amount or percent given to each beneficiary?

Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on Feb 5, 2023

You are entitled to a copy of the trust and an annual accounting of the transactions and investment experience of the assets of the trust.

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Elder Law and Public Benefits for Maryland on
Q: How do I properly spend down funds to keep ssi/medicaid?

Good Evening,

My mother who receives medicaid and SSI saved up assets due to the fact that she moved into subsidized housing which only charged her 200 a month for rent. She currently has about 10k saved up in her account which is over the asset limit and I'm trying to spend the money... View More

Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on Dec 25, 2022

You may find this article helpful, although it is a bit dated (2011) and laws change:

https://www.specialneedsalliance.org/the-voice/utilizing-the-spend-down-option-to-maintain-ssi-andor-medicaid-eligibility-2/

To clear the whole amount you might purchase a special bed for her, one...
View More

2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning for Maryland on
Q: I'm looking for case law in Maryland that shows a Will take precedence over a beneficiary on a bank account?

If a person dies and names a beneficiary on a bank account that is different than what is in the Will, does the Will take precedence or do you have to take that person to court if they don't hand over those funds as it is laid out in the Will?

Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on Dec 8, 2022

The beneficiary designation on the bank account controls, regardless of what the will says. The will only controls assets in the estate. By definition, any asset such as a financial account that is governed by a contractual agreement between the decedent and the financial institution, that by its... View More

View More Answers

2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Maryland on
Q: Aunt died intestate in the state of Maryland.

No spouse, no children, no parents, no grandparents. One living sibling, and three deceased siblings. Does the living sibling receive everything, or do the children of the deceased siblings (nieces and nephews) receive a share?

Cedulie Renee Laumann
Cedulie Renee Laumann
answered on Nov 18, 2022

If there is no Will and no surviving spouse, parents or children / grandchildren, the nieces and nephews of the Deceased (children of the deceased sibling) receive under "representation". For example, if there were 4 siblings who either survived or who died with their own issue, then the... View More

View More Answers

2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning for Maryland on
Q: If my mother owned a property with my brothers name on the deed wbut says unto their heirs . Does this mean I have right

Do I have rights upon my mothers death as a heir

Cedulie Renee Laumann
Cedulie Renee Laumann
answered on Nov 11, 2022

It would depend on the deed language. Two people (including a parent/child) can own property together with or without survivorship rights and the mere fact that the word "heirs" is in the deed doesn't tell the whole story.

View More Answers

3 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Maryland on
Q: What happens if someone refuses to sign probate papers?

Everyone has already appeared in Orphan's court and agreed to the administators. Bit now one person is refusing to sign the approval papers. Can the court make everyone proceed with probate?

Richard Sternberg
Richard Sternberg
answered on Nov 10, 2022

Your question says you are in DC, but it is posed as a Maryland question, and I am going to guess the estate is filed in PG County, because, even though it's called Orphan's Court formally, in Montgomery, the hearings are in the Circuit Court by the Circuit Court bench, so laypeople never... View More

View More Answers

Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.

The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.

Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.