519 S. Sharp Street Baltimore, MD 21201
(410) 528-0327

Estate Planning

I create customized Wills, Trusts, Financial Powers of Attorney and Health Care Powers of Attorney – Advance Directives and Living Wills. I focus on your Estate Planning documents to protect your family and assets after your death – wills and trusts, Asset Protection documents to protect your family and your assets during your life in the event of incapacity, and Health Care Protection documents allow you to made medical decision in the event of incapacity.

What an Effective Estate Plan Should Do

  • Protect Beneficiaries: By preparing a Will, you determine who will inherit from you and when. For example, you may wish to leave assets to certain heirs in trust until a given age or even for their lifetime. This is certainly the case for minor beneficiaries and typically the case in blended families. This is also very important for children with special needs.
  • Protect Against Family Fighting and Litigation: A well-planned estate can avoid Will contests and costly court battles which can drain the estate of its assets and leave your family in complete disrepair.
  • Reduce Estate Taxes: Federal and State estate taxes can greatly reduce the amount of assets which ultimately pass to your heirs. A good estate plan can reduce or even eliminate estate taxes altogether.
  • Protect Assets: A comprehensive estate plan that includes an Asset Protection Trust allows you to safeguard assets in advance of a long-term health care need. Your hard earned money is thereby permitted to pass to your family members without the risk of spend-down.
  • Plan for Incapacity: a Financial A Power of Attorney and Advance Directive Health Care Power of Attorney (Living Will) allow you to plan ahead in the event of incapacity. These important legal documents enable you to keep control of key financial and health care decisions by making arrangements in advance and appointing trusted agents to assist you in the future.
Practice Areas

HOW DO YOU BEGIN THE PROCESS?

You will have a planning session with attorney Tina Hall in-person, by telephone or via Zoom.  We will discuss the assets you own.

You may own real estate. We will discuss who you want to inherit your estate and how and when you want your estate to pass. For example you may want your real estate to pass at the time of your death through a will or a trust. You may want to transfer partial or total ownership of your real estate during your life by way a of deed.

You may own investments, stocks, bank accounts, automobiles and other property. We will discuss who you want to inherit these assets.

During our initial meeting I will ask you to tell me about the people you want to be certain are taken care in after your death. These people may be your spouse, children, other family members, non-family members or charities. I will ask questions to be certain I understand your wishes and circumstances.

We will discuss which people you would like to appoint as the beneficiaries and Personal Representative of your Last Will and Testament. This consultation is a great opportunity for you to ask any questions you may have regarding your assets and property and the recommendations I make.

After your initial consultation, I will begin drafting your documents. Depending on the nature and value of your assets, and on your decisions and preferences, I will prepare some, or all, of these documents for you.

  • LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT: a legal document used to express your last wishes. It dictates how your estate will be allocated after death.
  • TRUST: a legal document to provide management of your assets and property during your life and after your death
  • DURABLE PERSONAL FINANCIAL POWER OF ATTORNEY: a legal document whereby you appoint an individual to make financial decisions and manage your property and asset in the event you become incapacitated and cannot handle these matters yourself.
  • ADVANCE DIRECTIVE DURABLE POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR HEALTH CARE (Living Will): a legal document allowing you to appoint a person or persons to make decisions about your health care if you become unable to do so. It can also state your expressed wishes for medical care in the case you become incapacitated.