Contrary to popular belief, most wills won’t avoid taxes, and can’t determine custody issues.  However, wills can put good, common sense conditions even on transfers of property that most people consider normal, and they can be tailored to suit your personal family situation.  They can also prevent court action to determine trustees, guardians, and conservators, actions which are typically much more expensive than a simple will, and which may occur if you don’t spell the matters out in a will.  Along with your will, at Hillman, Brown & Darrow we also will draft Powers-of-Attorneys and Living Wills to assist your affairs upon disability and end-of-life decisions.  These are documents that clients often don’t consider but are of tremendous help.  The attorneys here stand ready to assist you in planning for your family’s future, during your life and beyond.

ADVANCED DIRECTIVE and DESIGNATION OF HEALTH CARE AGENT. These are for medical decisions. We recommend that you read and execute the State of Maryland ADVANCED DIRECTIVES forms, as these have been adopted for uniform acceptance by all hospitals and health care providers.

SIMPLE WILLS. A standard Simple Will is about 7 pages long, and typically leaves your household belongings to your spouse if living and your children. Typically your entire residuary estate would be left to your spouse first if living, and then to your children in equal shares. If any of your children are under the age of 25 there can be a Trust provision to hold their shares until they reach 25. SPECIFIC BEQUESTS. Usually, more often than not, spouses with children don’t make specific bequests. Rather, everything is left all to your spouse if living and then to your children. If you have specific bequests, you must state so specifically in the standard will. Specific bequests can also be added later by a short specific Codicil.

Powers of Attorney must be notarized in proper form. Wills must be correctly executed with at least two witnesses and should be kept in a safe place. There is specific and necessary language for legal and proper Wills and an attorney should be consulted to make sure that your Will has been executed properly.