Author Archives: Jay Butchko
What Is Pre-Mortem Probate?
Of the things that people worry about missing out on after they die, probate is not usually one of them. You might wish that you could listen in on your own funeral and hear people express the appreciation for you that they were never able to put into words when you were alive. You… Read More »
Assets That Don’t Belong in a Trust
When an estate planning lawyer advises you to establish a trust, you might be surprised. The popular image of trusts is that only wealthy people have them, and you certainly do not feel wealthy. The reason you are consulting an estate planning lawyer is that you are worried about not having enough money, not… Read More »
Give Your Tax-Free Gifts Now, Before the Year Ends
It’s hard to find much to be cheerful about at this time of year, especially in 2025. Yes, you are a year older and worse off financially than you ever thought you would be at this age, but that happens every year, and by now, you have enough wisdom to chalk it up to… Read More »
6 Home Features That Give Buyers the Ick
Everyone who has successfully bought a house or condo unit knows that getting emotionally attached to the property that might become your new home before you have closed on the purchase is a recipe for disappointment. Real estate purchase deals can fall apart for a variety of reasons. Buyers or sellers can inexplicably get… Read More »
Are Portable Mortgages a Thing?
Even though Canada is right on the other side of the border, we in the United States tend not to think about it much, but there is a lot to admire about our northern neighbor. For example, Toronto has a vast network of underground walkways where you can stay warm when you don’t feel… Read More »
Managing Without Long-Term Care Insurance
No estate plan is complete without documents that will enable you to access the care you want in the event that you suffer long-term health. We never know when our health will take a turn for the worse, and healthcare costs, from hospitalizations to home health aide services to prescription drugs to nursing homes,… Read More »
Estate Taxes and Inheritance Taxes in Maryland
There are plenty of reasons to love Maryland. Its weather lasts long enough in each season for you to enjoy them but not for the weather to become tiresome; we get enough snowfalls to allow for a few snowy selfies, but not enough that you feel you are enduring month after month of dreary… Read More »
Cheaply Renovated Properties Are a Trojan Horse
Of all the picturesque animal-related metaphors to emanate from inside the Beltway, “herding cats” is one of them. Anyone who has tried to get two or more children ready for school at the same time knows the feeling, even though here in D.C. we tend to use the metaphor in a workplace context. We… Read More »
An Old Year’s Resolution for Your Estate Plan
The fact that you are thinking about your estate plan can make you feel old, but not nearly as old as you feel when you tell your younger coworkers or family members that you have made a New Year’s Resolution. Young people are so used to uncertainty that they are incredulous that an adult… Read More »
What To Know About Whole Life Insurance
Estate planning often begins with wishful thinking. You look at the websites of financial planners who advise seniors on their finances, and you daydream about all the knee replacement-friendly hiking trips you can take and all the affordable 55+ communities where you might buy a modestly sized house. Once you get to the stage… Read More »
