While only a part of a comprehensive estate plan, wills and trusts are typically the cornerstone of every estate plan.
Last Will and Testament
A will is the foundation of most estate plans. It allows you to clearly direct how your property should be distributed, appoint a trusted personal representative to manage the administration of your estate, designate guardians for minor children, and create testamentary trusts to protect beneficiaries when appropriate. A carefully drafted and properly executed will ensures your intentions are carried out efficiently and helps reduce the risk of confusion or disputes for your family.
Maryland Will Requirements
Maryland law requires certain formalities for a will to be legally valid, including that the person creating the will be of legal age and sound mind, and that the document be properly prepared, signed, and witnessed. Our experienced estate planning attorneys carefully guide you through each step of the process to ensure these requirements are fully satisfied. We also take additional safeguards when documents are signed in our office to help minimize the risk of future challenges and protect the integrity of your plan.
Types of Trusts
Trusts are powerful estate planning tools that allow you to do more than simply pass assets to the next generation. Trusts allow you to control how those assets are managed, protected, and distributed over time. Unlike a will, which transfers property outright, a trust places assets under the care of a trustee you choose, ensuring they are invested responsibly and distributed according to the guidelines you set.
This structure can provide meaningful protection for beneficiaries of all ages and circumstances. Trusts can help safeguard inheritances for minor children, support beneficiaries who may not yet be ready to manage significant assets, and protect funds from creditors, divorce, lawsuits, or spendthrift behavior. They can also preserve privacy, streamline administration, and, in certain cases, reduce estate taxes or support long-term care planning.
We regularly design trust-based plans for individuals and families who want greater control, flexibility, and long-term protection.
Revocable Living Trusts
A revocable living trust allows you to maintain control of your assets during your lifetime while simplifying management if you become incapacitated and avoiding probate for assets held in the trust upon your death. Because these trusts remain private and can be amended by you as life changes, they are a flexible and efficient option for many individuals and families seeking a smoother transition for their loved ones.
Irrevocable Trusts
Irrevocable trusts offer additional protections and planning opportunities. These structures may be used to reduce estate taxes, protect assets from creditors, preserve eligibility for Medicaid, or accomplish advanced wealth-transfer goals. We work closely with clients and their financial advisors to design strategies that balance protection, efficiency, and long-term flexibility.
Special Needs Trusts
For families with disabled or vulnerable beneficiaries, special needs trusts provide financial support without jeopardizing eligibility for government benefits such as SSI or Medicaid. These trusts can be funded by parents or loved ones, by the beneficiary's own assets, or through pooled arrangements, and are carefully structured to protect both security and independence.
Testamentary Trusts
Testamentary trusts are created within your will and take effect after death. They can help manage inheritances for minor children, protect beneficiaries who may need financial oversight, or provide structured distributions over time. These trusts offer an added layer of protection and thoughtful stewardship for the next generation. Because they are included in your will and created after your death, they do not avoid probate.
Powers of Attorney and Advance Medical Directives
A thoughtful estate plan also prepares for life, not just what happens after death. Financial powers of attorney and advance medical directives ensure that someone you trust can step in to manage your finances, handle legal matters, and make healthcare decisions if you become ill or incapacitated. Without these documents, your loved ones may be forced to pursue court-appointed guardianship simply to pay bills or speak with doctors.
By planning ahead, you maintain control over who acts on your behalf and ensure your assets and personal wishes are managed smoothly both during your lifetime and after your passing.
When to Update Your Estate Documents
Your estate planning documents, including your will and trust, should evolve as your life does. Major events such as marriage, divorce, the birth of children or grandchildren, changes in assets, moves to another state, or shifts in the law often warrant a review. We encourage ongoing check-ins and view our relationships with clients as long-term partnerships, ensuring your plan continues to reflect your goals and circumstances.
Our Process
At Leffler, Bayoumi & Oliver, LLC, we take a comprehensive and highly personalized approach to preparing wills and trusts as part of a comprehensive estate plan. Every engagement begins with a thoughtful consultation where we take the time to understand you, your family, your assets, and your long-term goals. From there, we design an initial strategy and recommend the planning tools that best protect the people and priorities that matter most to you.
We then draft your documents to reflect that strategy, tailoring each plan to your specific circumstances and coordinating the provisions across your will, trusts, and incapacity documents, so they work together seamlessly. You'll receive the documents in advance to review, and we are available to talk through the plan, answer questions, and refine details so you feel fully comfortable and confident before signing.
When you are ready, we personally oversee the signing process in our office to ensure everything is properly executed under Maryland law and positioned to withstand scrutiny later. After execution, we continue to provide guidance on implementation, such as trust funding and aligning beneficiary designations. We can also coordinate with your financial advisor or accountant as appropriate to help ensure your plan functions as intended.
Estate planning is an ongoing relationship, not a one-time transaction. We remain available for future questions and periodic reviews, helping you update your plan as life evolves, so it continues to serve your family well over time.
Start Planning with Confidence
Thoughtful estate planning is one of the most important steps you can take to protect your family and everything you have worked hard to build. At Leffler, Bayoumi & Oliver, LLC, we combine legal precision with practical guidance and personal attention, helping you create a plan that is clear, comprehensive, and built to last. If you're ready to put the right protections in place, we invite you to schedule a consultation and begin building an estate plan designed specifically for you and your family.
