Susan C. Trimble, Esq
The Law Office of Susan C. Trimble, LLC
1400 W. Lombard Street, Suite 901
Baltimore, MD 21223
Phone: 1-(410) 878-7006
Fax: 1-(206) 888-4783
Maryland Mobile Last Will & Testament Services
Testimonials
We provide guidance on the following areas of estate planning:
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Last Will & Testament
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Drafting will codicils (amendments)
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Durable Power of Attorney or Limited Power of Attorney
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Advance Healthcare Directive & Health Care Agent appointment
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Basic Trusts
WE COME TO YOU!
Never leave the comfort of your own home !
(PLEASE NOTE: We practice COVID safety: We are able to provide virtual delivery via on-line video conferencing or phone conferencing, or we can deliver to your home and have a safe 6 foot distance with PPE in your porch or garden, whichever best suits your needs.)
*Balto Wash Metro Area+
What is a Will?
A will is a document that lists how your property will be distributed in the event of your death. A will can do many things, including:
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Establish who you trust to handle your affairs upon your death
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Specify how you want your property divided at your passing
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Specify who will be the guardian of your children if your spouse passes away or you are a single parent
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Ensure someone will care for your pet & make sure they have the funds to do so
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If a minor will inherit from you, you can name the person who will hold & protect the money until the child is old enough to inherit
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You can set up a Trust for an adult child who may currently be less responsible to handle money than you would prefer
Why do I need a Will?
Everyone should have a will, regardless of whether they don't have children or a have a smaller estate. Without a will, your assets will be distributed according to Maryland "intestate" law upon your death. "Intestate" is from the Latin word, intestatus, in- (not) + testatus (witness).
If you die intestate, the Maryland law, essentially the government, will decide who gets your property.
This makes it difficult for your family to close your estate, and may leave them without the assets you would like them to have.
Susan Trimble, has years of experience creating custom wills and estate plans and she is ready to assist you in protecting your family and your assets.
Call us today for your FREE CONSULTATION
Call (410) 878-7006
But...can't I just write my own will?
Although working with an Attorney costs a little more than buying a will writing kit or using an inexpensive on-line will writing service, it's not much when you consider that errors in your will can render it void or unenforceable. Your wishes may never be carried out. Consider some common mistakes that can actually ruin your will after you are gone. You may not have the training and ability to anticipate potential pitfalls and areas of confusion, such as:
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Forgetting to update your will when your life changes
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Improperly adding or amending your will, rendering the changes null and void
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Inconsistency - when the wording in the content of the will is contradictory it can void the gift entirely
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Improperly signed or improperly witnessed - two witnesses are required to watch you sign, and beneficiaries cannot be witnesses or the gift and possibly the entire will fails and becomes null and void.
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Insufficient detail - when the property named is not adequately described to eliminate confusion. For example you give your Toyota to John Smith, what if you replaced the Toyota with a BMW? What is John Smith entitled to?
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Vague wording in your will
Many do-it-yourself wills lack clarity, and when that happens, disputes arise and often the Court is left to interpret your intentions, often not the way you would have wanted.
Have a blended family or been divorced? The chances for errors increase dramatically. In these situations, you need an attorney can properly ensure your exact wishes will be carried out. The small increased cost of using a professional is well worth it!
We can answer your questions, such as:
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If you leave a house to someone, who is responsible for the property taxes and property upkeep?
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If you leave an asset to several of your children, and one or more passes away...do the remaining children inherit the asset or does it go to the deceased child's children, your grandchildren?
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If you want to forgive a debt you are owed, perhaps from a child or friend, how do you ensure that your Personal Representative doesn't try to collect it after you are gone on behalf of your Estate?
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How do I ensure my cat or dog is cared for if something happens to me? Can I leave money to a pet?
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Maryland law requires my Executor to post a bond but I don't want my Executor to have to pay to manage my estate, or my chosen Executor may not meet the criteria to get a bond (fiduciary insurance policy), so how do I waive this bond requirement?
What is a Trust?
A trust is a legal arrangement, usually created by writing in your will, or created by a separate document. In this document, you (the "settlor") establish one or more people or a company (called the trustees), to take control of the money or assets which you specify (called the trust property), which the trustees must use for the benefit of one or more people (the beneficiaries). A trust can be created by you while you are alive, or can be created upon your death by putting instructions in your Will.
There are many reasons a Trust can help assist you in protecting the assets (money or property) that you specify to be held for your named beneficiary (such as a minor child, or adult disabled child), from incurring inheritance taxes, or from losing means-tested benefits. A trust is a wonderful tool that can help you in the following ways:
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ELDER CARE: separate assets from a person so that he or she can qualify for elder care services, ensuring access to means-tested state benefits.
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DISABILITY: separate assets from a disabled person so that he or she can qualify for disability benefits or services, ensuring access to means-tested state benefits.
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MINORS AND INHERITANCE TAX: separate assets from a person for the future benefit of a minor child until the child reaches reach a certain age, and to minimize inheritance tax they will incur.
