Frequently asked questions.

Life and legacy planning is our thoughtful approach to traditional estate planning.

Far more than filling out a set of legal documents, life and legacy planning is the development of a custom and comprehensive plan that clarifies what matters most to you when it comes to love, family, money, life and death.

Holistic life and legacy planning:

• Protects your family from court and conflict;

• Promotes your dignity and ensures that your wishes are known in the event of your incapacity;

• Provides your loved ones with clear instructions and insight in case of the unexpected; and

• Preserves your values as well as your valuables.

Effective plans begin with wise, experienced, and heart-centered legal counsel to help you make empowered and forward-thinking decisions in the face of changing laws, needs, and priorities.

We would be honored to partner with you in creating a plan that works when you and your family need it most. Schedule a Life and Legacy Planning Session today.

A widespread misconception about estate planning is that it’s only for the rich or elderly. Many think legacy planning can wait until later in life. But if you have a vision for the future – and how you want it to unfold – the surest way to protect that vision is through comprehensive planning.

Unfortunately, whether eighteen or eighty years old, none of us have the luxury of taking life and good health for granted. If you were to unexpectedly die or lose the ability to make decisions for yourself without a legal plan in place, your intentions and desires would remain unknown.

For example:

• Your family may be in conflict about how to care for you in an emergency medical situation or disagree about what you would have wanted regarding life support or organ donation. You would have no say as to the continued care of your children or who would inherit your assets, and when;

• Your loved ones - and in many cases your own partner - would not have access to your financial or business accounts, even if just to pay the bills; and/or

• You would have no say regarding the continued care of your children.

Every adult needs an estate plan. We can help you choose which one through custom life and legacy planning. Please give us a call today.

You may think that after you die, everything you own will simply go to your spouse, children, or closest family members. But, it’s not that simple.

With a few exceptions, when you pass away your assets will go through probate, a court process by which assets are transferred to a deceased person’s heirs and their creditors are paid.

In Maryland and the District of Columbia, probate :

• Can take over a year and cost a significant amount of money, depending on the specifics of the estate; and

• Is a public court proceeding, leaving heirs with no privacy.

Court proceedings can be difficult, especially coupled with fresh grief. Give us a call to discuss how to avoid probate.

Wills and trusts form the foundation of most estate plans. While both documents are designed to distribute your assets to your loved ones upon your death, the way they work is quite different.

From when they take effect and the property they cover to how they are administered, wills and trusts have some key differences that you should consider when creating your estate plan. That said, when comparing the two documents, you won’t necessarily be choosing between one or the other—most plans include both.

In fact, a will is a primary part of nearly every person’s life and legacy plan. Yet, you may want to combine your will with a living trust to avoid the blind spots inherent in plans that rely solely on a will. For instance, if your estate plan only consists of a will, your family must go to court if you become incapacitated or die. A trust helps you to avoid probate, while allowing you to be even more specific about how and when assets transfer to your loved ones. A trust can save time, court fees and potentially reduce estate taxes.

Give us a call to determine the right solution for your family.

We love DIY home improvement projects as much as the next person, but we’re careful to leave the complex renovation to the experts because the consequences there - like a broken gas main - could be disastrous.

The same goes for estate planning. In recent years, there has been an influx of online providers offering DIY estate planning documents and services. These services claim to provide, at low or even no cost, the ability to generate computer-drafted documents that may bear some of the hallmarks of professionally-prepared documents. But these services will ultimately fail the vast majority of families because they miss critical jurisdiction-specific laws, don’t allow for personalization, and lack the experienced, personal, and long-term guidance of a trusted legal advisor, committed to preserving your legacy.

Mistakes made in the creation of your estate plan can alter familial relationships, leave your children in the care of unsafe guardians, force your loved ones into court and conflict, and cause catastrophic financial ramifications. And at that point, you will not have the opportunity to explain your intentions.

Cedar Counsel provides more than technical expertise in drafting complicated documents. We have extensive experience in counseling clients in the most intimate decisions regarding their finances, family, and future. We custom design each estate plan to best serve the unique needs and wishes of every client we serve. And if we determine that online estate planning would be appropriate for your circumstances, we will guide you to the best option. Because frankly, the one-size-fits-all approach isn’t appropriate or ultimately effective for estate planning.

We would be honored to serve as your trusted legal advisor and help you create a plan that works when you and your family need it most. Please call to schedule a complimentary consultation today.