HWK’s blog focusing on estate matters

When a parent lives in a nursing home or assisted living community, emergency preparedness takes on a new level of importance. Here in Maryland, families may face risks ranging from hurricanes and severe coastal storms to flooding, winter weather, power outages, and extreme heat. While senior care...

Marylanders are no strangers to severe weather. However, emergencies can unfold with little warning - from coastal flooding to winter storms, outages, and fires. While most disaster preparedness plans focus on food, water, and emergency supplies, protecting your important legal and financial...

Every September, National Preparedness Month encourages individuals and families to prepare for emergencies before they happen. Sponsored by FEMA, the campaign focuses on practical steps such as understanding local risks, creating an emergency plan, and building an emergency supply kit. For...

International travel may be seamless, but your estate plan may not be.  Many estate plans are designed around U.S. laws and institutions. If you own property abroad, hold overseas accounts, maintain dual citizenship, or spend significant time in another country, your plan could face unexpected...

Travel takes us beyond our daily routines and into new experiences. Whether you're traveling for business or pleasure, being away from home can reveal something many people overlook: weaknesses in their estate plan. In today's digital world, estate planning is about more than having the right...

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...

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...

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...

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...