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 Annapolis estate planning attorney serving Anne Arundel County. Wills, living trusts, powers of attorney, and probate help. New 2026 tax law changes your plan. 

 You've worked hard to build something worth protecting. Whether it's a home on the Chesapeake, a business in Annapolis, a retirement account, or simply the family you want to provide for — an estate plan makes sure what you've built goes where you want it to go.

Without a plan, Maryland's intestacy laws decide for you. Courts get involved. Families argue. Probate takes months. The people you care about are left managing paperwork during the hardest moments of their lives.

At Law Offices of Diana L. Klein , we help individuals and families in Annapolis and throughout Anne Arundel County create estate plans that are clear, legally sound, and actually reflect their wishes. Whether you need a simple will or a comprehensive trust strategy, we explain your options in plain language and build a plan around your life — not a template.  We also handle estate administration if you are faced with a family member who recently passed away and you do not know where to begin

No-Cost consultation. Serving Annapolis, Severna Park, Glen Burnie, Pasadena, Arnold, and all of Anne Arundel County.

 1. Federal estate tax exemption raised to $15 million

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act permanently raised the federal estate and gift tax exemption to $15 million per individual ($30 million for married couples), effective January 1, 2026. The old exemption — which was scheduled to drop to roughly $7 million — is gone. For most Maryland families, this eliminates federal estate tax entirely.

But here's the catch: Maryland's estate tax exemption remains at $5 million. That creates a $10 million gap where Maryland residents owe zero federal estate tax but can face substantial state tax — up to $800,000 on a $10 million estate and up to $1.6 million on a $15 million estate.

If you haven't updated your estate plan since 2024, the math has changed. Formulas built into older trust documents to minimize federal tax may now work against you — potentially disinheriting a spouse or misfunding a trust.

2. Maryland SB 939 raises the homestead bankruptcy exemption to $125,000

Maryland's new homestead exemption law (effective June 1, 2026) now protects up to $125,000 in home equity — and it applies to homes held in revocable trusts. This is excellent news for families who have already done estate planning: homes transferred into a living trust now carry the same bankruptcy protection as homes held outright. If you've been advised that putting your home in a trust was risky from a creditor standpoint, that calculation has changed.

We can make sure your assets are distributed to who you want , not Maryland law. 

We can prpare:

1. Last Will and Testaments  -  A will directs who inherits your property, names a personal representative to manage your estate, and — critically — lets you name a guardian for your minor children. Without a will in Maryland, the court decides who raises your kids. That alone is reason enough to have one. 

2. Revocable Living Trust -  A living trust holds your assets during your lifetime and transfers them to your beneficiaries after you die — without probate. There are no court proceedings, no public record, and no months-long delay. In Maryland, where probate can take a year or more for complex estates, a properly funded living trust is one of the most valuable gifts you can leave your family. 

3. Power of Attorney  - A durable financial power of attorney authorizes someone you trust to manage your finances if you become incapacitated. Without one, your family may need to go to court to get that authority — a costly, stressful process called guardianship.

For military families in the Annapolis area, a power of attorney is essential before deployment. It allows your spouse or designated agent to manage mortgage payments, finances, and legal matters while you are overseas.

4.  Healthcare Directive / Advance Directive - An advance directive (sometimes called a living will) tells your doctors and family what medical treatment you want — or don't want — if you cannot speak for yourself. A healthcare proxy names the person authorized to make those decisions.  These documents prevent family conflict during the most difficult moments and ensure your wishes are legally binding.

5.  Probate & Estate Administration - When a loved one passes away in Maryland, someone must administer the estate — filing with the Register of Wills, notifying creditors, managing assets, and distributing property. Whether the estate is simple or contested, we help personal representatives navigate the process efficiently and correctly. 

6.  Asset Protection & Trust Strategies - For Maryland residents with estates between $5 million and $15 million, the $10 million gap between Maryland's $5 million estate tax threshold and the federal $15 million exemption creates real tax exposure. Strategic trust planning — including credit shelter trusts, QTIP trusts, and lifetime gifting — can significantly reduce or eliminate Maryland estate tax. 

Estate Planning is not just for the wealthy.  Many people assume estate planningis only for the wealthy or the elderly.  It isn't.  Here are the people we see most often - 

1. Young families

2. Blended families

3. Military families and veterans

4. Small business owners

5. People who have not updated their documents in 3 years.

Start with a 30-minute no cost consult.  It does not have to be complicated or expensive.  Call us at 443-569-4574 or contact us online.