SoMD Estate Planning

Estate Planning Attorneys in Southern Maryland

Estate Planning Basics

What to Bring to Your First Estate Planning Consultation

Coming prepared to your first estate planning consultation saves time and helps your attorney provide better guidance. Bring a list of your assets including real estate, bank accounts, retirement accounts, life insurance policies, and investments. Bring any existing estate planning documents. Think about who you want to serve as executor, trustee, guardian for children, and healthcare agent. Have an idea of your goals — who should inherit what, and are there any special circumstances like a blended family or special needs child?

At SoMD Estate Planning, we help families across Southern Maryland create comprehensive, personalized plans. Contact us about our $1,500 flat-fee estate plan.

Estate Planning for Homeowners: Protecting Your Biggest Asset

For most families in Southern Maryland, their home represents their single largest asset. How your home is titled directly affects what happens to it when you die. Property titled solely in your name goes through probate. Transferring your home into a revocable living trust avoids probate entirely while maintaining your full control during your lifetime. Joint tenancy with right of survivorship is another option but offers less flexibility.

At SoMD Estate Planning, we help families across Southern Maryland create comprehensive, personalized plans. Contact us about our $1,500 flat-fee estate plan.

Charitable Giving and Estate Planning: Making a Lasting Impact

Including charitable giving in your estate plan allows you to support causes you care about while potentially reducing estate taxes for your family. Options include direct bequests in your will, charitable remainder trusts that provide income to you during your lifetime then benefit a charity, charitable lead trusts, and donor-advised funds. Maryland’s estate tax makes charitable planning particularly valuable — charitable gifts reduce the taxable value of your estate.

At SoMD Estate Planning, we help families across Southern Maryland create comprehensive, personalized plans. Contact us about our $1,500 flat-fee estate plan.

Retirement Accounts and Estate Planning: IRAs, 401(k)s, and TSP

Your retirement accounts — whether an IRA, 401(k), 403(b), or TSP — are likely among your largest assets. How these accounts are treated in your estate plan has significant tax implications for your beneficiaries. The SECURE Act changed the rules for inherited retirement accounts, generally requiring non-spouse beneficiaries to withdraw all funds within 10 years. Proper beneficiary designation and coordination with your overall estate plan can help minimize the tax burden on your heirs.

At SoMD Estate Planning, we help families across Southern Maryland navigate these important decisions. Contact us about our $1,500 flat-fee estate plan.

Estate Planning in St. Mary’s County: Lexington Park, Leonardtown, and Beyond

St. Mary’s County is home to a vibrant mix of military families at Pax River, government contractors, watermen, and longtime residents in communities like Leonardtown, Lexington Park, and California. Each family has unique estate planning needs. Military families need deployment-ready plans with guardianship provisions. Property owners along the waterfront need to plan for real property transfer. Federal employees and contractors need to coordinate government benefits with their estate plan.

At SoMD Estate Planning, we help families across Southern Maryland navigate these important decisions. Contact us about our $1,500 flat-fee estate plan.