Montgomery County Estate Planning Attorney

Wills, Trusts & Estates Attorney in Bethesda, Maryland

Planning one’s estate is a very important process of growing older. With that said, it is important to start the estate planning process when you are young. It is truly never too early to start preparing for the future. Your estate plan should be modified as your life changes over time, as there will inevitably be a number of significant changes over the years that can’t be predicted at the time when estate planning begins. Your future personal and financial security will depend on the decisions that you make today. Thorough planning goes a long way in protecting your assets and family. Our trust and estate attorneys will help you make the right choices for your future. It is important to have the guidance of a compassionate and knowledgeable estate planning attorney that can help with each step of the process. The legal team at JD Katz is well versed in all matters of estate planning in Maryland and the Washington D.C. metropolitan area. If you are thinking about estate planning, contact JD Katz today.

Our Services

For years, the legal team at JD Katz has provided clients throughout Maryland with quality estate planning services when they need it most. Whether you are considering estate planning in Washington, DC for the first time or have recently experienced a life-changing event such as childbirth, marriage, illness, or a move across state lines, JDKatz can help. Estate planning is the smartest move for your future. We encourage you to contact our estate law attorneys to discuss your options. Our firm understands how important it is to plan for the future and is ready to help you ensure that your wishes are met and assets are secured. Some of our many estate planning services include the following:

Why do I need an estate plan?

We believe that everyone needs an estate plan to resolve their estate in order to ensure the best outcome for their loved ones. We also believe that a good estate plan should fully transfer your assets at the time of your death, in a manner that is time and cost efficient in order to avoid unnecessary taxes, and discourages fighting amongst the beneficiaries. For most people, this means they need to have a will at the foundation. Through a well-drafted will, we help you name your executor (also referred to as a Personal Representative) and appoint guardians for any minor children (those under 18) you may have. Our will and estate efforts also may make specific gifts of your personal property to family members, friends, and charities. However, since all wills must go through probate, we also need to identify which property will pass through the will and which property passes outside of probate (and not under the will).

Better estate plans also avoid probate by transferring the property outside of the will. Where your plan is designed to avoid probate by transferring most of the property through a revocable living trust, we make sure and include a “pour-over” provision in your will so that any property which may have been overlooked or acquired later will be transferred to the appropriate trust and delivered to your intended beneficiaries. Most importantly, we work with your and your financial planners, brokers, and insurance representatives to ensure that the plan is funded. We’ve reviewed hundreds of plans drafted by other lawyers and all too often find that they’ve not been completed by transferring the assets or retitling beneficiary designations so that the will and probate plan works as described.

Contact JD Katz

At JD Katz, we truly believe that we can’t do great planning without first really understanding your needs and goals. Our estate planning attorneys will take the time to sit down with you personally and get to understand your desires and needs for your future, and for how you want your estate to be distributed after you are gone. We believe that when we establish the right combination of estate planning documents, including, wills, trusts, and advance directives, we can craft a comprehensive estate plan that meets your current and future needs. Our main motivation is to help you secure a legacy for future generations. If you require strong legal representation and guidance from an experienced legal team, JD Katz is ready to serve. Our firm has provided quality legal services to the residents of Maryland for decades. Contact JD Katz today to schedule a consultation.

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