Estate planning is essential for ensuring that money and property owned by a person at the time of his or her death are distributed according to his or her wishes. Maryland estate plans are important for many reasons, including the peace of mind of the benefactor. This peace of mind often comes from knowing that one’s family members will not be fighting over assets after one’s death because a solid estate plan is in place.
In addition to providing peace of mind, an estate plan also allows a person to prevent the state from making decisions concerning the distribution of his or her assets. By controlling the distribution of assets, one can also lower the tax burden heirs will end up facing. Inheritance taxes are complex and an understanding is necessary for the proper planning for one’s estate.
While there are many different ways to plan an estate, the most regularly used document is the will. A will defines to whom assets go after death and can even appoint a person to care for minor children. Trusts are also important, especially for those with minor children, so that it is defined when and how the money left to those children can be spent. By using a trust, one can outline how and when money can also be released to ensure that it is spent in the ways that one desires.
An estate plan is an important matter for a Maryland resident. It can help to ensure that one’s estate is disbursed in the way in which one desires for it to happen. Attorneys who focus their practices on estate planning can assist individuals and couples in making estate planning decisions that will meet their needs and protect their assets for future generations.
Source: cheatsheet.com, “A Beginner’s Guide to Estate Planning“, Brian Wu, March 3, 2015
