Estate Planning Basics
Understand the foundational tools and the questions each one helps answer.
Free resources
I’m a lawyer, but I’m not your lawyer
unless we put it in writing.
That is an important boundary. It does not mean I cannot help you find a place to begin.
Neighbor to neighbor
Something really can be
better than nothing.
I cannot overstate the value of having a qualified professional help you plan. I have seen the problems that can happen when people try to DIY complicated legal planning. But I have seen even more families deal with the consequences of having no plan at all.
We try to make professional planning accessible, including payment arrangements where appropriate. I also understand that legal services are simply not financially possible for every person at every moment.
So, neighbor to neighbor, I want you to have somewhere to start.
Browse by topic
A growing library for
real family questions.
Aging, Medicaid & Long-Term Care
Learn what to gather, what to ask, and why planning early matters.
Home, Property & Legacy
Find public records and learn how property ownership connects to a larger plan.
Start here: free public resources
Useful places to begin.
Outside source: PowerofAttorney.com
View resource Power of Attorney Forms
An outside resource offering downloadable power-of-attorney forms. Plan Well Legacy Law did not prepare or tailor these forms for you, and a generic form may not fit every circumstance.
Official State of Maryland resource
View resource Maryland Real Property Search
Look up Maryland property information and deed references through the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation.
MDLandRec
View resource Maryland Land Records
Create a free account, choose the property’s county, and use details from the Real Property Search, including a deed reference when available, to find recorded deed images and land records.
DC Recorder of Deeds public records
View resource Washington, DC Land Records
Search available recorded deeds and other land records. DC property is commonly identified by its Square, Suffix, and Lot, called an SSL. Use the SSL or other known property details to begin.
What does that even mean?
Here’s the plain-English version.
Lawyers use a lot of words that everybody else is somehow expected to already understand. You shouldn’t need a law degree just to understand the basic tools available to your family.
What is a will?+
A will is a legal document with instructions for property governed by the will after death. It can name the person who should administer the estate and address guardianship wishes for minor children. Having a will does not, by itself, avoid probate.
What is a revocable living trust?+
A revocable living trust is a legal arrangement created during your lifetime. You can generally stay in control while living and capable, name who manages trust property if you cannot, and give instructions for trust property after death. Creating the trust and properly funding or coordinating assets with it are separate steps.
What is a financial power of attorney?+
A financial power of attorney lets you authorize a trusted person, generally called an agent, to handle specified financial and property matters for you. The authority actually granted depends on the document.
What is an advance directive?+
An advance directive addresses health-care decision-making. It can name who should make health-care decisions if you cannot make or communicate them yourself and document certain wishes about medical care.