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...
By Timothy S. Barkley, Sr. February 2015. “I don’t want to go through what Mom went through.” Pause. “I don’t want to put my kids through what we went through when Mom died. “When Mom had her heart attack, the ambulance crew did CPR and tried to bring her...
By Tim Barkley. October 2014. “Dad’s will leaves everything to me, but when I showed it to the bank they said I needed letters of something. Why can’t they just give me the money?” “Can’t I just go to the broker and cash in Mom’s account?...
By Tim Barkley. June 2014. Long-term care. Nursing homes. Adult daycare. Resented symbols of helplessness foisted on a generation of Americans who all their lives have prided themselves on self-sufficiency and independence. No one wants to think of herself helpless...
By Tim Barkley. May 2013. The threesome came through the door slowly, helping along Mom on her walker. The attorney welcomed them back to the conference room, helped to seat Mom and stow her hardware. The trio declined coffee or tea, but Mom accepted a glass of water....
