With a new year comes updated exemptions for estate tax exclusion and gift tax for 2023. What is the “estate tax exemption” and where is it going in 2023? The estate tax exemption is the amount of non-charitable bequests that can pass tax-free to someone…

Maryland’s “Statute Against Financial Exploitation Act” (SAFE) was enacted in October 2021. In the past year, it has proven to be a valuable additional layer of protection for Maryland seniors. What gave rise to the SAFE Act? Troublingly, in recent years, there have been growing…

Clients and friends of BDBF are accustomed to seeing us in our professional garb. But that doesn’t mean we don’t love Halloween! It’s time to see a different side of your BDBF attorneys. Here are our favorite (PG-rated) Halloween costumes of all time! Liz Farley My fiancé…

October 1 is the date when the majority of laws enacted by the Maryland legislature during the preceding session take effect. While the 2022 legislative session wasn’t as busy of a legislative session as 2021 as far as the estate and trust world is concerned,…

In the last few weeks, parents across the country have navigated an emotional and logistical whirlwind. Sometimes tear-filled, often stressful, we’re talking about moving your kids into college. Parents almost always remember the dorm essentials – laptop, sheets, mini-fridge, storage cubes, desk lamp, whiteboard, and…

Much like students returning to the first day of school, standing up one-by-one, and telling tales of summer travel to classmates, BDBF attorneys present “how we spent our summer vacation”. Dan Shaivitz This summer my family took a trip to southern California and, as part…

Estate planning clients often engage us along with their spouses. Even though each spouse signs their own will, they often coordinate their documents with one another after a major life event, such as a marriage, birth of a child, or emancipation of grown children. These clients…

As our clients age, they increasingly rely upon the assistance of others for financial matters. Our clients often want to formalize this relationship to ensure that the bank or retirement plan custodian will recognize the authority of a trusted friend or family member to give instructions. When…

You’ve finally crossed that item off your household to-do list. You’re going to meet with an attorney to discuss your estate planning.  What should you expect both before and after the consultation? Before the Consultation — The Intake Questionnaire Prior to your consultation with the…

Estate planning documents are drafted to stand the test of time. That being said, estate planning documents should be reviewed at least every 2-3 years to see if updates are necessary. Here are the 5 things to consider when reviewing your existing documents and determining…