Essex, MD Wills and Estates Lawyer

Baltimore Crimianl Defense Lawyers

Your will describes your wishes for your property and assets after your death, making it one of the most important documents you could write, and our attorneys are here to assist you.

Before we start writing your will in Essex, our lawyers will help you decide who you want your executor to be. We can then get started itemizing your assets and figuring out how you want them divided among designated beneficiaries after your death. We will write the document with specific instructions and according to Maryland’s requirements for wills so that the court upholds it in the future. We can then help you file it with the Register of Wills Office in your area and review it with you periodically in case you want to change in the coming years.

For help with your case from Rice, Murtha & Psoras, call our wills and estates lawyers today at (410) 694-7291.

What Our Lawyers Will Do Before Writing Your Will in Essex, MD

Before writing your will, our attorneys must identify who will be your executor, who will be your beneficiaries, and how many assets we need to distribute among them. This is an important process, as it lets our lawyers understand your wishes and start planning how to meet them.

Identify Your Executor

One of the most important things about planning your estate and writing a will is identifying the person who will handle the role of executor when you are gone. After the testator’s death, the executor is the one who ensures their estate is managed according to the directions left in the will. The executor will locate assets and distribute them to beneficiaries and may have to be present at court appearances during probate. Being the executor of a will is a big responsibility, which is why many people leave it to a spouse, parent, or trusted friend. This person must understand the responsibility that they are assuming by being your executor, which our lawyers can help explain.

Pinpoint Your Beneficiaries

Next, we will go over everyone you want to be named as a beneficiary and designate assets or inheritance to them. Beneficiaries can include your extended family, your children, spouse, parents, friends, or even charitable causes you want to give to. When planning for the future, our lawyers can help you decide whether or not to place assets into trusts for younger beneficiaries so that they are protected until adulthood or after they reach other milestones. If beneficiaries are your minor children, our attorneys will also encourage you to name a guardian for them in your will.

Itemize Your Assets

The most time-consuming aspect of preparing wills is itemizing the testator’s assets. Our attorneys can make a comprehensive list of all assets you own, including real estate, vehicles, bank accounts, investments, and retirement accounts if they do not already have designated beneficiaries. In addition to fully appreciating all your assets and their value, we must gather documents showing your ownership, such as property deeds, vehicle titles, and bank account information. Putting assets into trusts during estate planning can shield them from probate after your death, which is something our wills and estates lawyers can explore when assisting you in Essex.

What Our Lawyers Will Do While Writing Your Will in Essex, MD

In Maryland, wills must be written in a particular way, or they will be void. Our attorneys will ensure your will adheres to all mandatory criteria so that it will be honored after your death.

According to Md. Code, Ests. & Trs. Art., § 4-102(b), wills must be in writing, generally typed, signed by the testator, and signed by two credible witnesses in the presence of the testator. Furthermore, testators must be 18 years or older and legally competent to make their wills. Wills in Maryland do not have to be notarized, and audio, video, and oral wills are not valid.

Using clear verbiage and plainly expressing your wishes for particular assets and beneficiaries is important so that your directions are easily followed. Being specific is crucial, so our lawyers will spend time ensuring you are pleased with your will and our plan for your estate before making any final decisions.

What Our Lawyers Will Do After Writing Your Will in Essex, MD

Once your will is written, we can file it with the Maryland Register of Wills Office location in your jurisdiction. This can ensure the document is safeguarded, though you can also keep copies at home for your own records.

While kept at the Register of Wills Office, your personal information will remain confidential. While you are alive, only you or someone you expressly grant permission to can withdraw your will from the Register of Wills Office. Upon your death, your will can be easily located, and probate or asset distribution can commence. Keeping a copy in a safe at home may be wise, too, as this will allow you to easily reference it over the years and identify any changes you want to make.

If you change your mind regarding any aspects of your current will, our attorneys can help you execute a codicil to amend it. This essentially creates a new will, which our lawyers can once again file with the Register of Wills Office. Like your original will, if you do not follow the specific rules for executing a codicil, it might not be upheld after your death. In such cases, a decedent’s assets are distributed according to Maryland’s intestacy laws, which might contradict the decedent’s wishes for their assets and to whom they are left.

As your financial situation changes, your family grows, and your assets ebb and flow, it is important to analyze your will periodically and see if there are many amendments you should make via a codicil. Our lawyers can help with this every few years or so in Essex.

Call Our Essex, MD Attorneys for Help Writing Your Will

For a free case discussion with Rice, Murtha & Psoras’ wills and estates lawyers, call us today at (410) 694-7291.