Mobile Estate Planning in Gaithersburg, Maryland
Estate Planning Attorney Serving Gaithersburg, MD
Estate planning is personal, and getting the right guidance should not require you to rearrange your day around a traditional law office.
I am Dawn Trainor-Fogleman, an estate planning attorney with more than 30 years of legal experience and more than 20 years focused on estate planning. I am a mobile attorney, which means I come to you. I meet with clients in Gaithersburg in their homes at mutually convenient times.
I help individuals and families create and review Wills, Trusts, Powers of Attorney, Advance Medical Directives and other estate-planning documents. My goal is to explain your options in plain English, answer your questions and help you put together a plan that makes sense for your life and your family.
30+ YEARS PRACTICING LAW
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20+ YEARS FOCUSED ON ESTATE PLANNING
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MOBILE ATTORNEY
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IN-HOME CONSULTATIONS
30+ YEARS PRACTICING LAW • 20+ YEARS FOCUSED ON ESTATE PLANNING • MOBILE ATTORNEY • IN-HOME CONSULTATIONS
START WITH WHAT YOU NEED
You Do Not Need to Know Which Estate Planning Documents You Need
Many people put off estate planning because they do not know where to begin. You may know that you need to get your affairs in order without knowing whether that means creating a Will, setting up a Trust, updating old documents or putting someone in place to make decisions if you cannot.
That is okay. You do not need to figure out the legal solution before you contact me.
You are creating your first estate plan
You want to make your wishes clear, decide who should handle important responsibilities and understand which documents belong in your plan.
You already have a Will or Trust
An older estate plan may no longer reflect your family, property, finances or wishes. Reviewing what you already have can help identify what still works and what may need to change.
You are deciding between a Will and a Trust
A Trust is not automatically better than a Will, and a Will is not the right answer in every situation. The right approach depends on what you own, whom you want to protect and what you want your plan to accomplish.
You are helping an aging parent
Estate planning can become especially important when a parent needs help preparing for future financial or healthcare decisions. Reviewing existing documents before they are needed can make it easier to understand what is already in place and what may still need attention.
You want someone you trust to make decisions if you cannot
Estate planning is not only about what happens after death. Powers of Attorney and Advance Medical Directives can address who has authority to help with financial and healthcare decisions during your lifetime.
WILLS AND TRUSTS
A Will and a Trust are different planning tools. A Will can provide instructions for distributing property after death, name the person who will administer your estate and nominate guardians for minor children. A Trust can provide additional options for managing assets during your lifetime and after your death.
But having more documents does not necessarily mean having a better estate plan.
Some families may be well served by a carefully prepared Will together with Powers of Attorney, healthcare documents and other appropriate planning. Others may have circumstances that make a Revocable Living Trust or another type of Trust worth considering.
I take the time to understand your family, property and goals before helping you decide which planning tools make sense.
Do You Need a Will, a Trust or Both?
The question is not simply, "Do I need a Trust?" It is,
“What do I need my estate plan to accomplish?”
YOUR COMPLETE ESTATE PLAN
What Documents May Be Part of Your Estate Plan?
An estate plan usually involves more than a single document. Each document has a different purpose, and the goal is to make sure the pieces work together.
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Your Will provides instructions for certain property after your death, names the person you want to administer your estate and can nominate guardians for minor children.
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A Trust may provide additional options for managing property, planning for incapacity and controlling how and when assets are distributed to beneficiaries. Revocable Living Trusts are one option, but they are not necessary for everyone.
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A Durable Financial Power of Attorney allows you to choose someone to handle financial matters for you if that authority is needed
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An Advance Medical Directive allows you to document important healthcare wishes and identify who should participate in healthcare decisions if you are unable to communicate those decisions yourself.
Depending on your circumstances, your plan may also address healthcare Powers of Attorney, HIPAA authorizations, nominations of guardians for minor children and other planning needs.
The important part is not collecting documents. It is understanding what each document does and making sure your estate plan reflects your wishes.
I COME TO YOU
Mobile and In-Home Estate Planning in Gaithersburg
Yes, I can meet with you at your home in Gaithersburg.
Being a mobile attorney is not an add-on to my practice. It is how I practice law.
Instead of requiring you to come to a conventional law office during traditional business hours, I meet with clients in their homes at mutually convenient times, in a setting where they are comfortable discussing personal family, financial and healthcare decisions.
Meeting at home can also make practical sense. Your existing Will, Trust, financial information and other important documents are often already there if we need to refer to them during our conversation.
Most importantly, we have time to talk. Estate planning should not feel like signing a stack of documents you do not understand. I want you to understand what your documents mean, why they are part of your plan and how they work together.
REVIEWING WHAT YOU ALREADY HAVE
Creating an estate plan is not always the end of the process. Life changes, and sometimes your documents need to change with it.
It may be worth reviewing your existing Will, Trust, Power of Attorney or Advance Medical Directive after a significant life change or when your documents no longer reflect your wishes.
Does Your Existing Estate Plan Still Fit Your Life?
A review may make sense when things have changed involving:
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Your family
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Property or finances
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Beneficiaries
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Healthcare wishes
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People chosen for important roles
You may also simply have documents prepared years ago and no longer remember exactly what they say. I can review them with you and explain them in plain English.
QUESTIONS ABOUT LIVING TRUSTS
There is not one price that applies to every living trust or estate plan.
The cost depends on the planning involved, your family and financial circumstances, the documents that need to be prepared and whether a Will-based or Trust-based plan is appropriate.
Cost is important, but it should be considered alongside what you actually need your estate plan to accomplish. Before deciding on a Trust, I want to understand your circumstances and whether a Trust is the right planning tool for you.
If cost is one of the questions you are considering, I have put together a separate guide explaining estate-planning costs in Maryland and the factors that can affect them.
How Much Does a Living Trust Attorney Cost in Gaithersburg?
MEET DAWN
Estate Planning With Someone Who Takes the Time to Explain It
Estate planning involves personal decisions about your family, finances and future. I believe you should understand the documents you are signing and feel comfortable asking questions along the way.
I have practiced law for more than 30 years, with more than 20 years focused on estate planning. My own experience handling my parents' affairs after they passed away close together also gave me a deeper understanding of how important thoughtful planning can be for the people left to carry it out.
That perspective is part of why I focus on estate planning today. I want to help you create a plan that reflects your wishes and that you understand before you sign it.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Estate Planning Questions for Gaithersburg Families
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Yes. I am a mobile estate planning attorney and meet with clients in their homes at mutually convenient times. You do not need to travel to a traditional law office to meet with me about your estate plan.
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Yes. I can review an existing estate plan with you, explain what your current documents do and discuss whether they still reflect your family, circumstances and wishes.
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It depends on what you need your estate plan to accomplish. Some people may be well served by a Will-based plan, while others may benefit from a Revocable Living Trust or another type of Trust. I can help you understand the differences and how each option may apply to your situation.
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Your needs may include a Will or Trust, Durable Financial Power of Attorney, Advance Medical Directive, healthcare planning documents and other documents depending on your circumstances. The right combination should be based on your family, property, wishes and planning goals.
View the Estate Planning Documents Checklist -
If you already have estate-planning documents, have them available for our meeting. Because I can meet with you at home, those documents may already be nearby if we need to refer to them.
START WITH A CONVERSATION
Estate Planning Help That Comes to You in Gaithersburg
You do not need to decide on a Will, Trust or any other legal document before you call me.
Start by telling me about your family, what you already have in place and what you want your estate plan to accomplish. I will help you understand the options and the documents that may make sense for your situation.
And you do not have to come to me. I am a mobile attorney. I meet with clients in their homes in Gaithersburg at mutually convenient times.