Category: Client Alert

If you pay or receive child support in Maryland, you are likely familiar with the concept of the “Maryland Child Support Guidelines”. In short, these guidelines provide the presumed amount of child support owed based upon the number of children and the combined monthly income of…

In a case involving somewhat unusual facts, the Maryland Court of Special Appeals revived a recovery for victims who suffered emotional distress without physical harm. A Harford County family was home at night, fast asleep. A drunk driver lost control of his truck and smashed into…

Regular readers of our e-newsletter know that, following a tempestuous fall, the federal estate tax seems to be settled for the time being. The IRS recently announced updates to the annual “exclusions” for estate tax and gifting for 2022. The estate tax exclusion is the…

For readers of the monthly Bulman Dunie e-newsletter over the last several months, you may have experienced whiplash. In the spring, we offered our first prediction as to possible changes to estate tax laws. We predicted no change to the federal estate tax exemption, but perhaps…

There is some good news on the horizon for those who have been injured in auto accidents. The Maryland General Assembly approved an amendment to the State’s Constitution to make court faster and cheaper for those hurt in auto accidents. Now, Maryland voters will need to vote…

Anyone who has spent time in the District of Columbia in recent years knows firsthand how prevalent electronic scooters have become. Zipping through parks, on sidewalks, and even on streets—they are everywhere. The D.C. City Council has noticed too. In December 2020, the D.C. City Council…

In his late April address to a joint session of Congress, and in various speeches thereafter, President Biden laid out many of his proposals for tax changes. Of chief concern to our estate planning clients are potential changes to the federal estate tax, as well…

Unfortunately, it is not unusual for BDBF attorneys to work with injured clients who cannot obtain a full and fair recovery against an at-fault driver. Often this is because the driver who hit them had no insurance or was underinsured. It adds insult to (often…

As we age, the adage “you can’t take it with you” begins to hit home. Indeed, many of our estate planning clients consider inter vivos (during lifetime) gifts to family members as part of their estate planning. Let’s bust three of the most common myths that exist about…

Whenever there is a change to estate tax laws, it can be particularly consequential to our clients. Assets that comprise a Decedent’s (deceased person’s) “taxable estate” are assets considered under the Decedent’s control as of the date of his/her death. Assets under a Decedent’s control and…