Practice Areas

Growing Families

Adoption

An adoption can be one of the happiest moments in a courthouse. Ben wants to share that with you if adoption is how you would like your family to grow. The process in Maryland can be complex, and Ben will gladly help you navigate them to help your family grow.

Surrogacy

Sometimes, surrogacy may be the best option for a family to grow. Maryland law is not especially evolved in the area of surrogacy, and there can be pitfalls, but Ben will help navigate them so that you can welcome a new baby into this world.

Parenting Plans

When the parents of a child are not married to each other, there may be certain presumptions already in place according to law. For example, the male spouse of a woman who gives birth may be presumed to be the father of the child, and may be on the hook for child support, regardless of whether that person did 'father' the child. These situations can be clarified with parenting arrangements, which can also be helpful to protect the family should other situations arise.

Protecting Families

Pre and Post Nuptial Agreements

When planning a marriage, things may seem like they are so wonderful, they will never end. Hopefully, this is the case for you. However, planning for the worst (including the possibility of divorce and what may happen at that point) means that you can focus on living your life and enjoying your time with your loved ones.

Wills and Trusts

A legal marriage can convey automatic rights of inheritance. When a legal marriage might not meet all of your families' needs, establishing a trust can provide a sense of security. Ben can help draft a trust that will not only provide your family with a sense of stability, but he will use his tax knowledge to save in federal estate taxes and state inheritance taxes.

Advanced Health Care Directives and Powers of Attorney

When the worst happens, you need to make sure that the right people can make decisions on your behalf. It is crucial to make sure that a trusted person can pay your bills and make medical decisions on your behalf when you are not able to.

Transitioning Families

Divorce

Sometimes, the right thing to do for your family is to change your family structure. This can be a difficult time, and Ben wants to use his training and experience to make sure that this can happen in a way so that your rights are protected and you are as secure as possible.

Tax Consultations

Even when you know that matrimonial relationship needs to change, there might be significant tax consequences to consider, relating to many different types of state and federal taxes. Having trained as an accountant and earned a Masters degree in Tax Law, Ben want to make sure that your tax burden is mitigated as much as possible so that you are not sending money to the state or the I.R.S. that could be going to improving your life.

If your needs are not specifically addressed above, but you feel you may need an attorney, feel free to contact Ben. If he doesn't think that he can personally address your legal needs, Ben can use his network of colleagues to find someone who may be more appropriate.