Last Will and Testament

A Last Will and Testament is one of the most important legal documents you can create. It’s the foundation of a solid estate plan. It’s a clear, written expression of your wishes for how your property, children, and personal matters should be handled after your death.

At Holt Legacy Law, we help Maryland families create wills that are legally sound, easy for loved ones to follow, and fully aligned with the rest of their estate planning documents.

What a Will Does in Maryland

A will gives you control over what happens to your estate when you pass away. Without one, Maryland’s intestacy laws decide who inherits your property, and the outcome may not reflect your true wishes.

Your will allows you to:

• Name who receives your property and personal belongings.

• Choose a personal representative (also known as an executor) to handle your affairs.

• Appoint guardians for minor children to ensure they’re raised by the people you trust.

• Leave specific gifts or charitable donations.

• Provide instructions for handling final arrangements.

A well-drafted will gives your loved ones clarity and peace of mind during an emotional time.

Pour-Over Wills and How They Work with Revocable Trusts

If you also have a revocable living trust, your estate plan will likely include a pour-over will. This special type of will works hand-in-hand with your trust to make sure nothing is left out.

Here’s how it works:

• A revocable trust allows you to title assets in the name of your trust during your lifetime.

• However, sometimes assets are unintentionally left outside the trust.

• A pour-over will “catches” those assets when you pass away and directs them into your trust.

This ensures that all your property ultimately passes under the terms of your trust while maintaining privacy, minimizing probate, and keeping your plan cohesive.

Learn more about how revocable trusts can help protect your family and simplify the inheritance process on our Revocable Trusts page.

Why Every Adult Should Have a Will

You don’t need to be wealthy or elderly to need a will. In fact, many of our clients at Holt Legacy Law are young families who want to make sure their children are cared for and their assets go to the right people.

Even if you already have a trust, your will serves essential purposes:

• It names guardians for your children.

• It designates who manages your estate.

• It ensures nothing is left unplanned.

Updating Your Will

Life changes and your estate plan should, too. We recommend reviewing your will every 3–5 years or after major events like marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, or the purchase of a new home.

Updating your documents ensures your will remains accurate and fully integrated with your trust, powers of attorney, and advance directive.

Avoiding Common Mistakes

We see too many Maryland residents make the same costly mistakes:

• Using online forms that don’t comply with state law.

• Forgetting to update beneficiaries after major life events.

• Failing to coordinate their will with their trust.

Our role is to make sure your plan is legally sound, clearly written, and strategically designed to meet your goals.

How Holt Legacy Law Can Help

We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all documents. Your family, your assets, and your goals are unique and your will should reflect that.

At Holt Legacy Law, we:

• Explain every option in plain language.

• Ensure your will and trust work seamlessly together.

• Include important details like guardianship, digital assets, and personal property.

• Help you sign and store your documents properly.

Our goal is to make sure your loved ones never have to wonder what you wanted.

Start Planning Today

Whether you’re creating your first will or updating an existing one, now is the best time to protect your family’s future.