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Serious Diagnosis
A serious diagnosis changes priorities. Healthcare proxies, financial powers of attorney, and the documents that ensure your wishes are honored.
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Retirement
Retirement changes your financial picture. Healthcare directives, beneficiary reviews, long-term care planning, and protecting what you've built.
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Marriage
What married couples need in place: one joint trust or two, wills, beneficiary updates, and the spousal rights your state grants you automatically.
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New Baby or Adoption
Your family is growing. Your protection should too. Guardian nominations, trusts for minors, beneficiary updates, and the documents new parents need in place.
Learn moreForms for Planning Your Estate in Maryland
Free forms for planning your estate in Maryland: a will, living trust, pour-over will, both powers of attorney, living will, and TOD deed.
Healthcare Power of Attorney
Maryland requires 2Md. Health-General Code Ann. § 5-603Verified Oct 15, 2026View source witnesses for a healthcare power of attorney; notarization is not requiredMd. Health-General Code Ann. § 5-603Verified Oct 15, 2026View source.
Transfer on Death Deed
In Maryland, a transfer-on-death deed is signed before a notaryMd. Code, Real Prop. §§ 14-1001 to 14-1014Verified Oct 1, 2026, then recorded with the county before the owner's deathMd. Code, Real Prop. §§ 14-1001 to 14-1014Verified Oct 1, 2026.
Vehicle Transfer on Death
Name a beneficiary to inherit your vehicle at death without probate. Available in 26 states and the District of Columbia.
Living Will
In Maryland, the living will is the Maryland Advance Directive: Planning for Future Health Care Decisions (Part II: Treatment Preferences ("Living Will"))Md. Code, Health-Gen. Title 5, Subtitle 6, Part I (Health Care Decisions Act), §§ 5-601 to 5-618; Part II (Advance Directive Program), §§ 5-619 to 5-626Verified Sep 27, 2026View source, a written instruction that is valid with no agent named.
Last Will and Testament
In Maryland, a will is signed before 2Md. Est. & Trusts § 4-102Verified Sep 16, 2026View source witnesses, and it is self-proved when properly executedMd. Est. & Trusts § 4-102Verified Sep 16, 2026View source.
Tools for Planning Your Estate in Maryland
Free tools for planning your estate in Maryland: what a will or trust costs, whether you need a trust or TOD deed, and how documents are signed.
Do I Need a TOD Deed?
Maryland authorizes transfer on death deedsMd. Code, Real Prop. §§ 14-1001 to 14-1014Verified Jul 15, 2026: a recorded, revocable deed that passes real property at death outside probate.
Do I Need a Vehicle TOD?
Maryland allows a transfer-on-death beneficiary designation on a vehicle titleMd. Code, Transp. 13-115Verified Oct 1, 2026View source, filed through the Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA).
What Does Estate Planning Actually Cost?
An attorney-prepared revocable trust in Maryland runs $4,250Estimate: 10 hours at $425, Clio's Maryland Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $6,375Estimate: 15 hours at $425, Clio's Maryland Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source and a simple will $1,110Estimate: 3 hours at $370, Clio's Maryland Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $2,220Estimate: 6 hours at $370, Clio's Maryland Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source, against $0 to $549 up front plus a subscription with an online service.
How Much Life Insurance Do I Need?
In Maryland, four years at a public university cost about $95,872NCES Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 330.20, public 4-year in-state tuition, fees, room and board, academic year 2022-23Verified Oct 3, 2026View source and the cost of living is near the U.S. averageBEA Regional Price Parities, all items, by state, 2024Verified Oct 3, 2026View source; the state levies an estate taxMd. Tax-Gen. § 7-309Verified Sep 15, 2026View source above $5,000,000Md. Tax-Gen. § 7-309Verified Sep 15, 2026View source.
Are My Beneficiary Designations Protected?
Maryland does not revoke an ex-spouse as beneficiary at divorceMd. Code, Est. & Trusts § 4-105; § 14.5-604; § 17-112Verified Sep 15, 2026View source; employer plans under ERISA follow federal rules either way, so a 401(k) beneficiary changes only by a new designation.
How Do I Sign Estate Documents?
Find witness, notary, and remote signing requirements for all 50 states.
Will My Estate Documents Transfer?
Check if estate planning documents signed in one state are valid in another.
How Much Does Probate Cost?
Probate on a $500,000 estate in Maryland costs an estimated $33,231Md. Est. & Trusts § 7-602 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source. Attorney fees run 2.1%Md. Est. & Trusts § 7-602 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.3%Md. Est. & Trusts § 7-602 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate under a reasonable-compensation standard.
Maryland Estate Planning Resources
In-depth guides covering Maryland probate laws, trust requirements, and estate planning strategies.
