By Tim Barkley. December 2015. The text message was from Susan: “How much can my fiancé’s mom give away in a year?” I called her back. Some things are best handled in person. “What’s up?” “Thanks for calling right back! My fiancé’s mom wants to give money to her kids...
By Timothy S. Barkley, Sr. October 2015. “You gotta be kidding!” Her voice was excited as she looked down at the test results. “We’re pregnant! After trying and trying … we’re finally pregnant!” He smiled and grasped her hand, squeezed softly. Their eyes met and both...
By Timothy S. Barkley, Sr. June 2015. The vacation is all planned, tickets bought, pet sitters engaged, but … “Hon, did we ever sign that will?” “What will? The one you downloaded? No, because we could never figure out the thing for the kids’ money.” “Oh, yeah. Well,...
By Timothy S. Barkley, Sr. May 2015. “But I heard that the nursing home took everything when you went in. That’s what happened to my grandmother – she went in and they told her she had to sell everything and give it to them.” The attorney nodded. “That was one...
By Timothy S. Barkley, Sr. April 2015. “Let’s talk about uncomplicating your estate plan. “When your plan was created in 2005, the federal estate tax exemption had just risen to $1.5 million. The Maryland estate tax exemption was $1.0 million. Do you have any idea...
By Timothy S. Barkley, Sr. March 2015. First, the phone call: “Can you look over our wills and trusts? It’s been a few years, and we want somebody to make sure they’re up-to-date.” Certainly. Let’s get together. Next week? The meeting. “We had this done about ten...
