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Helping Families Plan For The Future With Creative Estate Planning

Last updated on June 8, 2026

In Montgomery County and Howard County, Maryland, our skilled estate planning lawyers are here to thoughtfully discuss your goals, offer sound recommendations and draft solid documentation that reflects your objectives.

Our team, led by attorney Suzanne Simpson, Esq., founding attorney of Simpson Law, PA, helps you transition your property and assets to your loved ones and their favorite charities using strategies that reduce or eliminate estate tax liability and costly, lengthy probate proceedings. When you work with us to create your unique estate plan, you give your loved ones comfort and closure without unnecessary financial burdens.

Before retaining us as your lawyers, we will explain the estate planning process, a timetable for its completion and your participation in the plan. Our standard document package includes a will, a power of attorney for health care, a financial power of attorney, a durable power of attorney and a living will, also known as a medical directive and the appointment of a health care agent.

Simpson Law, PA – Experienced Estate Planning And Probate Solutions

Rockville and Columbia trusts and wills law firm uses our years of experience, proven skills and your valuable input to address the unique needs of individuals, families and businesses in practice areas such as:

Wills: We can assist you in drafting the most fundamental document in your estate plan: your will. Before you pass, we can ensure that your wishes and goals are accurately reflected in this document.
Living wills and powers of attorney: If you become mentally incapacitated, a living will and power of attorney can state your medical, health care and financial requests, as well as who you would like to help carry them out. We can help you get the appropriate documentation so that the right person can fulfill your requests.
Trusts: Sometimes, you may need to include a trust in your estate plan. We can help you determine if you need trust and, if so, which type best fits your needs and situation.
Special/supplemental needs trust: If you have a vulnerable loved one in your family who will need specialized care after you pass, a special needs trust can help ensure they get the care they need long after you’re gone. We can help you set up a special needs trust and address any potential questions or concerns you might have.
Trust administration: Creating and implementing a trust is only half the battle. Ensuring the trustee or other third parties involved with the trust do what they need to is the other half. We can facilitate these transactions to ensure everyone complies with the rules when administering the trust.
Emergency planning: No one wants the worst-case scenario to happen. However, planning for the worst can ease the burden on anyone you are responsible for. We can help you factor in these emergency scenarios and put the appropriate safeguards in place to protect your loved ones.
Probate administration: If you and other beneficiaries disagree over a will or estate, we can help you navigate the probate process to challenge the legitimacy of a loved one’s will. We can also help with disagreements between beneficiaries, creditors and other parties.
Fiduciary services: If you need someone to step in and act in the best interests of yourself or an estate holder, attorney Simpson, our lead attorney, is a fiduciary and can carry out your wishes as requested.
Premarital agreements: If you’re getting married and want to protect your future assets, we can help you establish a prenuptial agreement by examining your and your fiancé’s financials and other factors.
Business succession planning: Passing your business to a loved one can be rewarding. It can also require a lot of careful planning and execution. We can help facilitate the business succession process to ensure things run smoothly.

Tailored Estate Planning For Every Life Circumstance

Estate planning is not one-size-fits-all. At Simpson Law, PA, we understand that your stage of life, family structure and goals all influence how your plan should be designed.

Young families: If you’re raising children, your top priority is likely their well-being. An estate plan allows you to name legal guardians for minor children, establish trusts to manage their inheritance responsibly and make decisions about who would care for them if something happened to you.
Blended families: Second marriages and stepchildren often require thoughtful planning to avoid unintentional disinheritance or future conflict. We can help you address inheritance rights for biological children, stepchildren, and current spouses with clarity and fairness.
LGBTQ+ families: Estate planning is essential for LGBTQ+ couples and families, especially in areas where legal protections may vary. Whether you are married, partnered or building a chosen family, we can help secure rights for your loved ones and designate trusted decision-makers for health care and finances.
Families with special needs: If you have a loved one with a disability, you may want to consider a special or supplemental needs trust. These tools can provide ongoing financial support without affecting eligibility for public benefits. Our team ensures that your plan supports your family member long after you’re gone.
Retirees: As you approach or enter retirement, estate planning focuses on preserving assets, planning for long-term care, and making sure your wishes for end-of-life care and asset distribution are clearly documented. We help retirees take full advantage of tax-saving tools and asset protection strategies.

Planning ahead, no matter your circumstances, can offer peace of mind for you and those you care about most.

Answering Frequently Asked Estate Planning Questions

If you’re considering starting an estate plan, you probably have some questions. At Simpson Law, PA, our estate planning lawyers have years of experience in helping all types of Howard and Montgomery counties families build a strong estate plan that covers all their needs. Let us answer a few common questions we receive from clients to help you get a better understanding of estate planning.

What’s the purpose of an estate plan?

There are many reasons to create an estate plan. It helps you address crucial issues that may arise if you become incapacitated or pass away. By anticipating these issues and preparing for them beforehand, a sudden illness or death will not have a negative impact on your assets or your loved ones. An estate plan helps you:

Determine how to pass down your assets
Manage financial and medical decisions in case of incapacitation or death
Arrange guardianships for minor children, dependents or pets
Set up funeral arrangements
Minimize conflicts among beneficiaries
Ensure your wishes are followed after your death

Creating an estate plan gives you control over your life until the last moment. Taking the time to consider what may happen in the future and thoroughly planning for the worst-case scenario offers peace of mind when the unexpected occurs. Our lawyers can help you build an estate plan that achieves all your unique goals.

When should I update my estate plan, will or trust?

While there’s no strict requirement for updating an estate plan, will or trust, the general rule of thumb is every three to five years. However, you may want to update these legal documents sooner rather than later, especially if you have had significant changes in your life, such as:

A marriage or divorce
The birth or adoption of a child or a grandchild
You or your spouse have become seriously ill or disabled
You bought or sold a large asset, such as a real estate or a business
A child or grandchild is now legally an adult
You or your spouse receive a large inheritance
A beneficiary, executor, guardian or trustee has died or is no longer in your life

Any of these situations warrant revisiting and revising your existing estate planning documents. By updating your estate plan at regular intervals or after these major life events, you can rest assured it will be ready when you need it most.

Can I use estate planning to protect my business assets?

Yes. If you own a business, your estate plan can include succession planning to identify who will run the business, how it will be transferred and what happens to your ownership interest. Using trusts, buy-sell agreements or incorporation strategies can also help shield your business from personal creditors and streamline the transition process.

Do I need an estate plan if I don’t have a lot of assets?

Absolutely. Estate planning isn’t just for the wealthy. Even without significant assets, you can use a will, powers of attorney and health care directives to protect your wishes, minimize confusion, and reduce stress for your loved ones in the event of incapacity or death.

What’s included in an estate plan?

Estate plans are different for everyone, so what you include in one won’t be the same as for your parents, your spouse or your friends. However, there are common estate planning elements that help build out a comprehensive plan, including:

Wills: This outlines all your beneficiary designations and how you want to distribute your assets amongst them. A will can also include details about funeral arrangements and guardianships for minor children or pets.
Trusts: There are many types of trusts, and they allow you to set aside assets for your beneficiaries that they can access according to the trust document.
Powers of attorney: There are two common types of powers of attorney: financial and medical. Financial powers of attorney act as a financial proxy to take care of any financial decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated. Likewise, a medical power of attorney is a health care proxy who makes medical decisions for you if you’re unable to make them yourself.

The legal process of creating an estate plan may feel overwhelming, as there are many different tools to establish. Our attorneys will guide you through the steps and provide quality legal advice based on years of experience and knowledge, so you can be confident in what you’re putting together.

From simple estates to large ones, everyone needs an estate plan that prepares them for the future. We are skilled estate planners who understand how to develop a comprehensive strategy that considers many details, including personal property, long-term care, tax planning and more. Call us today at 301-658-7951 to get started on your estate planning journey.

Trusted Maryland Estate Planning Lawyers

Simpson Law, PA, has positively impacted many lives across Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C., since 2003. Contact our Rockville estate planning attorneys at 301-658-7951 or by email for an initial consultation at our Spencerville law office. Please let us know if you need an evening appointment.