With a new year comes updated exemptions for estate tax exclusion and gift tax for 2023. What is the “estate tax exemption” and where is it going in 2023? The estate tax exemption is the amount of non-charitable bequests that can pass tax-free to someone…
Maryland’s “Statute Against Financial Exploitation Act” (SAFE) was enacted in October 2021. In the past year, it has proven to be a valuable additional layer of protection for Maryland seniors. What gave rise to the SAFE Act? Troublingly, in recent years, there have been growing…
In a recent Maryland appellate case, a husband was ordered to make a lump sum payment of $7 Million to his ex-wife for engaging in adultery, which led to the dissolution of the marriage. Here we provide some information about the case, and when couples might consider…
Clients and friends of BDBF are accustomed to seeing us in our professional garb. But that doesn’t mean we don’t love Halloween! It’s time to see a different side of your BDBF attorneys. Here are our favorite (PG-rated) Halloween costumes of all time! Liz Farley My fiancé…
October 1 is when the majority of laws enacted by the Maryland legislature in the preceding session take effect. This year, a new law takes effect October 1 in an attempt to reduce serious personal injuries from automobile accidents. Previously, Maryland drivers only had to…
October 1 is the date when the majority of laws enacted by the Maryland legislature during the preceding session take effect. While the 2022 legislative session wasn’t as busy of a legislative session as 2021 as far as the estate and trust world is concerned,…
In the last few weeks, parents across the country have navigated an emotional and logistical whirlwind. Sometimes tear-filled, often stressful, we’re talking about moving your kids into college. Parents almost always remember the dorm essentials – laptop, sheets, mini-fridge, storage cubes, desk lamp, whiteboard, and…
Much like students returning to the first day of school, standing up one-by-one, and telling tales of summer travel to classmates, BDBF attorneys present “how we spent our summer vacation”. Dan Shaivitz This summer my family took a trip to southern California and, as part…
The divorce process is daunting. For many of our clients, the road to a 10-minute uncontested divorce hearing has been fraught with contentious and exhausting negotiations. So much so, that the final hearing and receipt of the final order can feel anti-climactic. By the time they…
Estate planning clients often engage us along with their spouses. Even though each spouse signs their own will, they often coordinate their documents with one another after a major life event, such as a marriage, birth of a child, or emancipation of grown children. These clients…
