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Q: My mother died 13 years ago. My brother has been in charge of her estate. He refuses to put her home up for sale, instead using the estate's money to pay the upkeep on an empty house for 13 years. What can we do to get this estate settled? Can my brothers and sister do anything? A: The short ...

For only the third time in 40 years, the nation's elderly and disabled Social Security recipients will not receive an increase in benefit payments next year.  However, as a direct result of this about 30 percent of Medicare are facing a staggering 52 percent increase in their Part B premiums and ...

The Veteran's Administration (VA) offers a pension benefit to low-income veterans (or their spouses) who are in nursing homes or who need help at home with everyday tasks like dressing or bathing.  The pension, called Aid and Attendance, is currently underused, but impending regulations will soon...

Immediate annuities are among the tools elder law attorneys use to help married nursing home residents qualify for Medicaid coverage while protecting the standard of living of the healthy spouse and to help preserve assets for the families of unmarried or widowed nursing home residents. Immediate...

Are you wondering whether you really need to hire a probate, estate planning or elder law lawyer? Think adding someone you trust to your bank account or deed is the answer? It may be, but oftentimes it is not that simple. A little bit of knowledge, and in particular relying on the well-intentione...

OVERVIEW OF 2015 FEDERAL AND MARYLAND TAXES AND RELATED PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS A. Federal Estate Tax Exemption. The federal estate tax exclusion amount currently is $5.43 million – for 2015. The federal estate tax rate on estates in excess of the exemption amount is 40% B. Maryland Estate Ta...

The Truth in Lending Act was passed to help consumers “avoid the uninformed use of credit, and to protect the consumer against inaccurate and unfair credit billing.” See 15 U.S.C. Section 1601(a). This section of the Act states the three (3) day right to rescind a loan transaction. Consumers are ...

Time to get your Will and Estate Planning affairs in order? – A Will, Power of Attorney and other estate planning is essential to protect your assets and your loved ones. If you need an experienced estate planning attorney in Dundalk, Bel Air, Towson, Owings Mills, or Baltimore, ROB GOLDMAN LEGAL...

Marriage in trouble? Considering a Separation Agreement or Divorce? Stressed, depressed, don't know what to do? Need legal advice to know your “Rights & Options?”  Whether you want to try to save the marriage or feel it is time to move on, your local Bel Air and Dundalk lawyer, Rob Goldman, can s...

The child dependency exemption can be a significant financial benefit to the claiming parent in some cases and in other cases it can be of little or no benefit. The general rule, based on the Internal Revenue Code (the “IRC”), is that the parent having primary custody of the child is entitled to ...

If you need a guardianship attorney in Dundalk, Bel Air, Owings Mills or Downtown Baltimore, ROB GOLDMAN LEGAL SOLUTIONS is the law firm Marylanders turn to for calm, sensible advice and Peace of Mind. When Is Guardianship Appropriate? Simply put, if an individual is no longer able to manage his ...

Caring for an aging or frail parent? Exhausted? Overwhelmed? Worried about the nursing home taking your home and savings?  If you need an elder law lawyer in Dundalk, Bel Air, Towson, Owings Mills, or Downtown Baltimore, ROB GOLDMAN LEGAL SOLUTIONS is the law firm Marylanders turn to for calm, se...

ROB GOLDMAN LEGAL SOLUTIONS provides adult guardianship legal services in Baltimore, Dundalk, Essex, White Marsh, Abingdon, Bel Air, Havre de Grace, Owings Mills, Reisterstown and throughout Baltimore and Harford County, Maryland. Contact us now to inquire about your guardianship rights.

Any competent person over 18 years of age may serve as legal guardian absent facts that persuade a court that such person is unsuitable to serve as guardian. Legal guardianship is a serious matter and one should have an understanding of the nature and scope of one's obligations as guardian and ha...

Typically, the court will appoint the same person to serve as to guardian of the person and guardian of the property, but may appoint separate guardians. Much depends on the facts and circumstances. Whenever the is a family dispute over who should be guardian the risk of the court appointing a th...

The ability to understand the nature and effect of a power-of-attorney is critical, but there are other factors a court requires to evidence sufficient mental capacity. Mental incompetency or incapacity can be a complex area where different standards of incapacity may apply depending on the conte...

Generally, if the court is satisfied that the petitioner is a suitable person to be appointed guardian, such determination being considered separately with regard to guardian of the person and guardian of the property, the petitioner will be appointed legal guardian. However, the court may decide...

A person who lacks the ability to manage his or her affairs or make responsible business or healthcare decisions may need a legal guardian. Mental incapacity or cognitive impairment is a matter of degree. Contact us now to inquire about your guardianship rights.

Generally, a durable general power-of-attorney, if adequately drafted, enables the agent or attorney-in-fact, to act on behalf of the incapacitated person, like a guardian would and thus guardianship is not necessary. However, if the person who gave the power-of-attorney is cognitively impaired a...

Contesting a guardianship can be highly stressful and costly, but when a loved one's health, safety and financial security are in jeopardy, one has to do the right thing and act swiftly. The first step should be to consult with an experienced guardianship lawyer to evaluate the situation and prov...

Because this is a complex area, the first step should be to consult with an experienced guardianship lawyer to evaluate the situation and provide guidance as to how to proceed. Stress and misguided good intentions, not to mention those who have ill-intentions, may easily cause major family rifts ...

The procedure or process for becoming a legal guardian first requires a determination as to whether the alleged disabled person needs guardianship of the person or of the property or both, – more often it is both. A petition for guardianship needs to be filed in the circuit court for the county i...

The procedure for challenging or contesting a Will is to file a “Caveat” against the Will, which will begin Caveat proceedings. The court will suspend the powers of the Personal Representative until the contest is resolved. Caveat proceedings can range considerably in complexity and cost. The pru...

Allegations of mental incapacity, undue influence, abuse of a confidential relationship, coercion, fraud, and the like raise tricky factual and legal issues. The prudent thing to do is to consult with an experience probate lawyer as soon as possible. Contact us now to inquire wills and related le...

Typically, the decedent's estate. However, frequently family members make last minute arrangements and sign papers at the funeral home agreeing to be responsible. If you signed such papers, you are personally liable. However, if there is enough money in the estate, you can be reimbursed. Contact ...