by Sara Yen | Estate Planning
Owning real property (real estate) as Joint Tenants with Right of Survivorship is easy, common, and should come with a parental warning label. It’s possible, even with the best of intentions, to disinherit both minor and adult children. There are several forms of...
by Sara Yen | Estate Planning
Payable on death accounts—“POD accounts” for short—have become a popular tool for avoiding probate in the last decade or so. A POD account is a type of bank account, authorized by state law, which allows the account owner to designate one or more beneficiaries to...
by Sara Yen | Estate Planning
While it’s not unheard of for an original Last Will and Testament to be misplaced, the situation can have serious consequences. And, as this article illustrates, it can happen to anyone! Each county in the state of Maryland has a Register of Wills—an elected official...
by Sara Yen | Estate Planning
You’ve finally decided to meet with an estate planning attorney and get your affairs in order. It’s time to make sure your family is protected. Now that you’ve scheduled the first appointment, what’s your next step? You can do one of two things: (1) Simply wait for...
by Sara Yen | Estate Planning
Some states collect an Estate tax (also known as a “death tax”) which is based on the value of the deceased person’s estate and, in some states, who inherits it. As of January 1, 2015, 19 states and the District of Columbia collect an estate tax, including Oregon and...
by Sara Yen | Estate Planning
Our office is often asked where original estate planning documents—wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives—should be stored for safekeeping. While we generally recommend a fireproof home safe, consider the following: A home safe For a home safe to...
