articles

Your Healthcare Wishes
How to Make Sure Your Medical Wishes Are Honored—Even If Your Family Disagrees: Guidance on Creating an Advance Directive in Olney 
It’s one of the most difficult truths we deal with in this work: We sit with clients—often in the midst of long illnesses—who tell us they are at peace. They’ve fought hard. They’ve made their decisions. And when the time comes, they’re...
How Can I Talk to My Family About Inheritance Without Starting Drama
How Can I Talk to My Family About Inheritance Without Starting Drama?
An Olney Estate Lawyer Explains How to Keep the Peace We’ve all seen the movies—someone passes away, and the family gathers for the dramatic will reading, only to spiral into chaos when expectations don’t match reality. But in real life,...
Can I Write My Own Will in Olney
Can I Write My Own Will?
As an experienced Olney will and trust lawyer, I’m often asked whether residents can legally write their own wills without an attorney. The short answer is yes—Maryland law does allow individuals to create their own wills. However, the more important...
Timing Matters Lessons From Gene Hackmans Estate
Timing Matters: Estate Planning Lessons from Gene Hackman's Case an Olney Estate Planning Lawyer Explains
Recent news about Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy’s passing has highlighted a crucial but often overlooked aspect of estate planning—the timing of death between spouses, especially in blended families. As an Olney estate planning lawyer, I’ve...
How the SECURE Act 2
How the SECURE Act 2.0 Affects Your Retirement Account & Beneficiaries: Insights from an Olney Estate Lawyer
The SECURE Act 2.0, signed into law in 2022, introduced major changes to retirement accounts, impacting everything from Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) to beneficiary inheritance rules. These updates are crucial for individuals planning their estates,...