Can Someone Challenge Your Will or Trust?
You may have heard that leaving someone $1 in your will prevents that person from challenging your estate plan after you die. You may also assume that using a trust instead of a will prevents someone from challenging your wishes. Neither strategy makes an estate plan automatically immune from a challenge. Maryland law […]
Can You Disinherit Your Spouse in Maryland?
What happens if a situation arises where you want to leave your spouse little or nothing under your estate plan? What if you or your spouse forget to update an estate plan before one of you dies? Maryland law has what’s called an “elective share,” which allows a surviving spouse to claim a portion […]
Can You Lose the Liability Protection of Your LLC?
Most people form a limited liability company (“LLC”) to protect their personal assets from business debts and lawsuits. In most cases, an LLC does exactly that. However, if you fail to treat your LLC as a separate business, a court may decide to “pierce the LLC veil.” That means the court can hold […]
How to Request an Evaluation Under IDEA in Maryland (& What Schools Must Do Next)
If you think your child may need special education services, you have the right to request an evaluation at any time. Maryland follows both the Federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (“IDEA”) and the Code of Maryland Regulations (“COMAR”). Those laws give parents clear protections once they make the request. Understanding these steps helps […]
What Happens to Special Education if the Department of Education Is Eliminated?
Recent discussions about reducing or eliminating the United States Department of Education have caused many parents of children with disabilities to ask an important question: What happens to special education if the Department of Education goes away? The short answer is that special education would not disappear overnight. However, major changes to federal […]
How an LLC Fits into Your Estate Plan
When planning for the future, asset protection and efficient transfer are key goals. A limited liability company (“LLC”) can help you achieve both. By integrating an LLC into your estate plan, you can maintain control of your assets during your lifetime, streamline their transition after death, and reduce certain risks and potential taxes. Protecting […]
Maryland Estate Tax Planning After the One Big Beautiful Bill
On July 4, 2025 the Federal ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ (“OBBB”) became law. The legislation affects four critical financial areas: Estate Planning, Asset Strategy, Entity Structure and Compensation Strategy. The OBBB effective dates range from retroactive changes in 2025 to future rollouts into 2029. This article addresses OBBB’s Estate plan and tax provisions for […]
LLC Management: Who Should Run The Shop?
Determining who will manage the day-to-day affairs of your business is an important decision. You need to know, at the outset, who will manage operations, both for the success of your business and because the Limited Liability Company (“LLC”) Operating Agreement demands it. Luckily, LLC Operating Agreements are very flexible, and you can tailor the […]
QTIP Provisions Explained: Support Your Spouse and Secure Your Legacy
When you remarry but you still want to protect children from a prior marriage, estate planning can feel like walking a tightrope. You want financial security for your new spouse, but you also want to make sure your children ultimately receive the inheritance you intend for them. A QTIP provision makes that balance possible. QTIP […]
Gun Trusts in Maryland: What You Need to Know
If you own firearms in Maryland, you may want to consider including a Gun Trust in your estate plan. A Gun Trust is a legal tool that helps you hold and transfer firearms while staying compliant with state and federal law. What makes Gun Trusts unique? A Gun Trust is designed specifically for […]