A New Era of Attorneys
Before 2016, it was nearly impossible for a Grandparent to obtain custody of a grandchild. This was because the burden to obtain custody was high and required the grandparent to establish that the biological parent was unfit or that exceptional circumstances existed. Fortunately, after the case of Conover v. Conover, Maryland adopted the de facto parent status. In this week’s #FamilyFriday articleRead More
By Jessica L. Estes
Generally, most people do not have sufficient income or assets to fund their long-term care for extended periods of time. And, most people are not what the government deems “needs-based,” so they would not qualify immediately for any needs-based benefits. Rather, most individuals are somewhere in the middle.Read More
By: Jessica L. Estes, Esq.
If you read last week’s #TuesdayTips article, you learned how to protect your stuff in three easy steps: 1) know the rules; 2) know your predators; and 3) know your options. Easy, right? But, knowing is only half of the equation. Now, it is time to: Assess your needs; Create what is missing; and Tie in your plan. In other words, you must ACT!Read More
By Jessica L. Estes
Asset preservation is simple; all it takes are three easy steps. First, know the rules. Second, know your predators. Third, know your options.
There are two sets of rules: rules that apply during your lifetime and rules that apply after your death. During your lifetime, your named financial and health care powers of attorney will be able to act for you with respect to your finances and medical/end- of-life decisions, respectively. These are your rules. If you do not have these powers of attorney, you should get them; otherwise, your loved ones will have to apply for legal guardianship of you. Read More
It’s that time of year again… the hustle and bustle of the holidays are upon us! If you are like me, you may still be searching for that perfect gift for everyone on your list. Perhaps this year, as you make your list and check it twice, you may want to consider a charitable remainder trust.
A charitable remainder trust is an irrevocable trust that allows the donor, or anyone else you name, to receive each year either a fixed dollar amount from the trust or a percentage (at least 5%) of the value of the trust. Read More
What is guardianship and do I need it? Guardianship is the court process whereby an individual (usually a family member) is appointed by the court to make health care and/or financial decisions form someone who the court has deemed incompetent and not able to make those decisions him or herself. It is what the court calls, “the means of last resort” because the court prefers alternatives over guardianship because it is so restrictive. Such alternatives are powers of attorney, joint account ownership, etc.Read More
OFFICE HOURS & LOCATION:
20 Ridgely Avenue
Suite 204
Annapolis, MD 21401
Phone: 410-919-1790
Fax: 443-782-2516
Hours: Mon-Fri 9AM-5PM