The Law Offices of Craig E. Berman, LLC

The emphasis of this practice area is to assist individuals, families and businesses to create and implement a plan to pass accumulated assets and wealth to heirs and/or charitable organizations in an orderly and efficient manner. We provide our clients with the estate planning tools available to achieve estate planning goals such as Wills, Trusts, Financial and Health Care Powers of Attorneys and Living Wills for individuals; Buy-Sell Agreements for corporate stockholders and/or partners; as well as organize Family Limited Partnerships, Limited Liability Companies, Private Foundations and Charitable Trusts in order to implement the planning strategies. Emphasis is placed on minimizing the potential burden of estate taxes, gift taxes, generation skipping taxes and other imposed inheritance taxes. The potential impact of income taxation is also considered with respect to tax basis adjustments that occur with certain assets as a result of death. We provide assistance with the review of beneficiary designations of life insurance policies and retirement accounts to coordinate with the implementation of the client’s estate plan. Deed preparation and filing with the local land records office is provided as part of the estate planning process. The firm also provides advice regarding effective domestic asset protection planning strategies designed to protect accumulated wealth and assets from threats of creditors by utilizing various trusts and entities.

The death of a family member, loved one or friend is difficult in so many different ways. Our firm tries to provide the support and assistance to those dealing with the legal issues that often arise in this circumstance, such as the identification and inventory of assets, distribution of assets to beneficiaries and the overall estate and probate process. We provide representation before the Register of Wills and Orphans’ Courts throughout the State of Maryland, as well as advice and counsel with the establishment and continuing administration of Trusts. We assist with the accumulation, appraisal, reporting, distribution and/or sale of the estate and probate assets. Our firm prepares all necessary documents and forms that are required for administering an estate in Maryland, as well as preparing federal income, fiduciary and estate tax returns.