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.
Choosing the Ideal Trust for Your Wishes
Choosing the Ideal Trust for Your Wishes The term estate may bring to mind mansions, vast fortunes, and a level of wealth that many people do not possess. This misconception may lead to the false impression that estate planning is only for the rich and famous, discouraging those with more modest...
Beneficiary and Transfer On Death Designations
Beneficiary and Transfer-on-Death Designations: Are You Doing It Right? Do you know which of your accounts have beneficiary designations, sometimes called transfer-on-death (TOD) or payable-on-death (POD) designations? Have you updated them recently? Are you aware of what can go wrong if there are...
Is Outright Distribution the Perfect Fit for Your Loved Ones
Although Americans are living longer and spending more time—and money—in retirement, many parents intend to leave an inheritance to their children. The exact amount can vary greatly depending on individual circumstances and wealth levels, but even a small inheritance can be meaningful and help set...
Ensure Your Loved Ones Call the Right Doctor
Now that we are in March, we are well past the point at which most of us have abandoned our New Year’s resolutions. As in previous years, improving physical health ranked among the top goals that Americans set for themselves in 2025.[1] But while goals like losing weight and building strength...
Who Is Part of Your Professional Team
If you are like most Americans, you have at least one to-do list. You might also use lists when you are shopping, brainstorming, setting goals, and planning for events. To-do lists, grocery lists, bucket lists . . . the list goes on. However, there is one crucial list that often gets overlooked:...
Net Worth: Do You Know What You Own
Americans’ median household net worth (meaning half the households have more and half the households have less) is around $193,000, while the average net worth is just over $1 million, according to the Federal Reserve, the central bank of the United States.[1] The median gives a more accurate...
Maximize Tax Benefits and Protect Your Spouse with a Qualified Terminable Interest Property Trust
Valentine’s Day spending totaled nearly $26 billion in 2024, including an all-time high of $6.4 billion spent on jewelry.[1] Yet many Americans report feeling disappointed that their partner did not do enough to celebrate Valentine’s Day.[2] More than 40 percent of US adults say they feel stressed...
Protect Your Wealth and Your Spouse with a Spousal Lifetime Access Trust
February, the month of love, is the perfect time to show your loved ones that you care about their financial futures. While chocolates and flowers are nice gestures, a spousal lifetime access trust (SLAT) can make a more lasting gift, especially with the record-high estate tax exemption set to...
How to Avoid Probate in Maryland
Probate can be a time-consuming and often stressful process for loved ones after someone passes away. For Maryland residents, avoiding probate means ensuring that assets are transferred efficiently, privately, and with minimal legal interference. At HWK Law Group, we understand the importance of...
One in Four Americans Say Nothing Will Motivate Them to Create a Will
The Chilling Truth: One in Four Americans Say Nothing Will Motivate Them to Create a Will In a world filled with uncertainties, it’s startling to learn that a significant portion of Americans are leaving their futures unprotected. According to recent surveys, one in four Americans state that...