Maryland Law of Estates & Trusts General Estate Planing Topics Asset Protection & Estate Planing

This is a treatise that Mr. Franke wrote using his lecture notes from the law school course that he taught.

These topics (including FAQs) are designed to provide general, non-technical information.

These are resources for Estate Planning professionals and others presenting a more detailed analysis.

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A Tax, Business, Estate and Trust Law Praictice

 

We are an estates and trusts law boutique in downtown Annapolis, Maryland.  Fred Franke is a fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel; he is past chair of the Estate and Trust Section of the Maryland State Bar Association; and he was an adjunct professor of law at the University of Baltimore having taught the estates and trusts course in the night division.  The firm consists of a seasoned estates and trusts lawyer, an associate lawyer, a CPA skilled in fiduciary accounting issues, and trained paralegals.  We offer a personal and individualized approach to your estate planning needs.  

We have a specific focus:

  • Estate Planning: Planning to minimize death taxes and to assure the transfer of wealth to the intended beneficiaries.  We prepare the documents necessary to implement estate plans: simple and complex wills, revocable trusts, life insurance trusts, special needs trusts, family partnerships, charitable remainder trusts, powers of attorney, health care directives, and many other documents.
  • Asset Protection Planning: Assisting clients to structure their affairs so to reduce exposure to potential future creditors for themselves and for their beneficiaries.
  • Estate/Trust Administration: Assisting in all facets of wealth transfer management including preparing estate tax returns and guiding clients through probate and non-probate wealth transfer.
  • Fiduciary Litigation: Representing personal representatives, trustees, beneficiaries and others in estate or trust related litigation.
  • Expert Witness and Consulting Services: Assisting lawyers in connection with litigation and/or estate planning for their clients.