Planning Operating Expenses into Your Wills and Trusts Administration in Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties

When working with a wills and trusts administration lawyer here in Montgomery or Prince George’s County, there are certain things you probably already have in mind.  For example, you may want to set up trusts to avoid tax pitfalls or to create a will, which clearly outlines what is to happen to your property upon your death.  Many people completely overlook the fact that the estate itself will have operating costs associated with it, and these need to be planned for, as well.

One example is your home. Perhaps you plan to have the house sold so your heirs can split the proceeds.  This can be a great idea, but who pays for taxes, basic utilities, etc. while the house is on the market?  Another consideration is one in which your life insurance policy may not pay out immediately.  How does a surviving spouse pay his or her living expenses during this time?  Wills and trusts administration in Montgomery or Prince George’s County doesn’t generally happen overnight, so it’s important to have some sort of plan in place for the interim period.

When planning your estate in Maryland, here are a few key expenses to keep in mind:

•     Expenses for surviving children

•     Ongoing debts

•     Lawyer’s fees

•     Court costs and probate fees

•     Income tax on money earned while the estate is being settled

Working with a wills and trusts administration lawyer will help you better prepare for how these and other costs will be covered when the time comes.  Many estates are made up mostly of assets–which don’t include a lot of cash. So, it may be necessary for certain assets to be sold off in order to cover other costs.  Rushing to sell assets in this way (or to secure a loan against them) can cause a number of problems for your heirs.  They will likely not get full value for items and will create more debt for themselves and/or the estate.

There are some ways to prepare for this and protect your loved ones.  Your wills and trusts administration lawyer will have some good suggestions to offer, some of which might include:

•     Sell assets now or in the near future when their value is high

•     Determine how costs will come out of your family’s inheritance

Keep in mind, it is common to provide compensation to the executor of your will or trustee of your trust.  You may have other expenses to consider, such as providing money to someone to care for your pets after you have passed away.  Again, a wills and trusts administration lawyer can help you identify what kinds of costs are likely to come up and he or she will offer advice on how best to prepare for them.

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Kinsey Law Group, P.C. was formed to focus on the needs of families.  If you have questions or concerns, you’re invited to call 301-968-1630 or send an e-mail anytime, without cost or obligation.

Get a copy of our free guide “WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW CAN HURT YOUR FAMILY: 5 Easy Ways to Make Sure Your Children, Wishes and Assets Stay Protected Should Something Happen to You”

We offer many of our Assisted Reproduction/Surrogacy and Estate Planning services virtually (legal services online) to save you time and to make obtaining legal help more convenient for you.

Locations: Montgomery County (Bethesda, Maryland); Prince George’s County (Upper Marlboro, Maryland).

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