Imagine this: A family loses a loved one unexpectedly. In the midst of their grief, they now face months—sometimes years—of probate court proceedings, legal fees, and family disputes over how assets should be handled. It’s a heartbreaking and unnecessary burden.
Now, imagine a different scenario—one where your family is protected, your wishes are clear, and your loved ones receive what you intended for them, without stress, legal battles, or excessive fees. That’s what estate planning with our firm can do.
How Planning with Our Firm Saves Your Family Money, Conflict, and Stress Compared to Probate in Maryland
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How Planning with Our Firm Saves Your Family Money, Conflict, and Stress Compared to Probate in Maryland
The High Cost of Probate vs. The Savings of Planning
Many people assume that having a will is enough to avoid probate. It simply is not. In Maryland, even with a will, your estate must go through probate unless you have a properly structured trust-based estate plan.
Let’s compare the costs of probate versus proactive planning with our firm.
Meet the Smiths: A Family’s Estate vs. Probate Costs
The Smiths are a typical Maryland family with the following assets:
• 401(k): $500,000
• Home Value: $600,000
• Brokerage Account: $200,000
• Total Estate Value: $1.3 million
If the Smiths don’t have a trust and pass away with only a will (or no plan at all), their estate will go through Maryland probate. Here’s what that process could cost:
Court Fees in Maryland
For a $1.3 million estate, the Maryland Register of Wills fee is $2,500.
Attorney & Personal Representative Fees
Maryland law allows attorneys and personal representatives (executors) to charge up to:
• $1,800 for the first $20,000 of the estate
• 3.6% of the remaining amount
For the Smiths’ $1.3 million estate, that means:
• $1,800 on the first $20,000
• 3.6% of $1,280,000 = $46,080
• Total Attorney & Executor Fees: $47,880
Total Probate Costs
• Court Fees: $2,500
• Attorney & Executor Fees: $47,880
• Total Cost: $50,380
***That’s over $50,000 lost to probate, plus months or years of delays and family frustration.
How Our Planning Saves Your Family Thousands
Instead of your family losing over $50,000 to probate, you could set up a comprehensive estate plan for $2,500 to $8,000 with our firm.
With a trust-based estate plan:
No probate: Your assets transfer privately and immediately to your loved ones.
No executor or attorney fees: Your family keeps more of your hard-earned money.
Faster process: Instead of waiting 6-18 months (or longer) in probate, your heirs inherit within weeks.
The Hidden Cost of Probate: Conflict, Stress, and Delays
Beyond the financial costs, probate creates stress and conflict at the worst possible time.
• Family Disputes: When money is involved, even close families can fall apart over disagreements. Siblings who once got along may stop speaking over inheritance issues.
• Delays: Maryland probate can take a year or more, leaving your family in limbo while bills, taxes, and legal fees pile up.
• Emotional Toll: Instead of focusing on healing, your family is stuck in a legal battle with courts, attorneys, and creditors.
Planning in advance eliminates these problems before they begin.
You Can Protect Your Family—For a Fraction of the Cost
Estate planning isn’t just about avoiding probate—it’s about giving your loved ones’ clarity, security, and peace of mind.
For a fraction of what a probate proceeding will cost, our firm will:
Create a comprehensive trust-based plan that bypasses probate entirely
Ensure your assets transfer smoothly to your loved ones
Protect your estate from unnecessary taxes and fees
Minimize family conflict by making your wishes legally clear
Give your loved ones peace of mind during a difficult time
You Have Two Choices:
1. Leave it to chance and let the courts decide—costing your family tens of thousands of dollars and months (or years) of stress.
2. Take control now, for a fraction of the cost, and ensure your loved ones are taken care of without probate.
The choice is clear. Let’s start the conversation today. Schedule a consultation to protect your family’s future.
