HWK’s blog focusing on estate matters
Whether you’re new to estate planning or looking to update your current strategies, our blog offers insights, practical advice, and the latest updates to help you make informed decisions. Explore topics ranging from wills and trusts to tax implications and asset protection, all designed to empower you, safeguard your loved ones’ future, and put you into an estate of mind.
Our blog content is not legal advice but rather general information. Please consult with our legal professionals for personalized advice.
A New Maryland Court Rule Regarding Specific Transactions Took Effect on July 1, 2026
Rule 10-304.2, a new Maryland court rule regarding Specific Transactions took effect on July 1, 2026. Maryland law includes a classification called a Specific Transaction for financial transactions that may be necessary for a minor or person with a disability, but who do not have ongoing financial...
A Windfall and a Target: Navigating Family Expectations After Sudden Wealth
Good news in the form of a sudden windfall can put your family in a new financial position that may materially alter your legacy and estate plan. And while it may seem like a pure positive, it can also attract the attention of the Internal Revenue Service and prompt a reevaluation of which...
When an Adult Child Has a Crisis: How an Emergency Can Reshape Your Estate Plan
You never stop being a parent. Even when your child reaches adulthood, they are always in your thoughts—and, in many cases, your estate plan. There may be times when your adult children need you just as much—or more—than they did while growing up. If they are suddenly facing a disability, chronic...
Sudden Widowhood: Navigating Legal and Financial Chaos After a Spouse’s Death
You and your spouse planned a life together, and nothing can fully prepare you for their loss. Like most people, you may have let the thought cross your mind only to quickly push it away because it felt too painful to consider. But some level of planning is one of the most meaningful ways to...
Milestone Ages in Special Needs Planning: Key Considerations at Ages 18 and 21
Families supporting a child with disabilities often describe the transition to adulthood as both meaningful and challenging. Turning 18 and 21 bring significant legal, financial, educational, and benefits-related changes, many of which require advance planning to avoid gaps in decision-making...
Too Late Too Plan: Navigating Legal and Financial Barriers After Dementia Progresses
Too Late Too Plan: Navigating Legal and Financial Barriers After Dementia Progresses Looking back, it often feels clearer. The signs were there—missed appointments, repeated questions, unusual behavior, small but noticeable changes. You were paying attention; you just thought there would be more...
The Window of Opportunity: Legal Steps to Take When You First Notice Memory Problems
The Window of Opportunity: Legal Steps to Take When You First Notice Memory Problems You have been seeing the signs for months. Mom or Dad has not quite been themselves lately. They are forgetting things more often: appointments, addresses, payments, names. The other day, they got lost going to a...
Estate Planning Facts for the Holiday Season: Meaningful Reflections to Guide Your Legacy
Estate Planning Facts for the Holiday Season: Meaningful Reflections to Guide Your Legacy The holiday season is a time for celebration, connection, and tradition. It also provides a rare opportunity to pause, reflect, and consider the legacy you want to leave behind. Between family gatherings,...
A Dementia Diagnosis Changes More Than Healthcare: Seven Legal Moves to Make While You Still Can
A Dementia Diagnosis Changes More Than Healthcare: Seven Legal Moves to Make While You Still Can With dementia cases in the United States estimated to double by 2060—and roughly 42 percent of Americans over age 55 at risk of developing dementia according to recent research[1]—a diagnosis is...
Estate Planning for a Longer Life
Estate Planning for a Longer Life (and Legacy) Who wants to live to be 100? That depends on who you ask. One thing is clear: the odds of reaching that milestone are increasing, along with the length of retirement and the many changes that come with it. Estate planning for a longer life is becoming...











