Guardianship is a legal process that grants one person or entity the legal authority to make decisions on behalf of another person who is unable to make those decisions for themselves. In Maryland, guardianships are often necessary for individuals who are unable to care for themselves or make decisions due to mental or physical incapacity. In this article, we will discuss the reasons for guardianship in Maryland and the process of obtaining a guardianship and most importantly, what you need to know about guardianship in Maryland before you file. Reasons for Guardianships in Maryland Obtaining ..read more

In it’s April issue, What’s Up Media featured Tara Frame as the Expert of the Month for estate planning, probate, and elder law.  The magazine feature profiles local business professionals who are serving as experts in their respective fields. In the feature, Tara answers questions about what inspired her to work in the field of estate planning and why she calls Anne Arundel County home.  With a 65+ year history, the firm has served as local go-to resources and experts in the field of estate planning, probate and elder law. Her collaborative and personal approach are also what make h ..read more

Are you just now beginning to wonder how you will pay for long-term health care for a spouse whose health is declining? Is your estate in order or do you need to update your will or create a living trust? Is your elderly parent unable to make sound financial decisions, let alone care for themselves on a day-to-day basis? An elder law attorney can help you safely navigate the twilight years of your or your loved one’s life. An attorney can help you minimize stress, familial arguments, and the potential for your loved one to be the victim of identity fraud or other financial harms. What is Elder ..read more

Social media is an important part of our lives these days. Most seniors, who use the internet, are on Facebook or other platforms, which can be a great way to stay in touch with family and friends. Other forms of social media have grown in popularity in the last decade as well, including Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, online dating websites, Snapchat, YouTube, and many others. Users share thousands of pictures and posts on these internet sites. But what happens to all of your social media accounts after death?  Who has the ability and authority to access social media accounts? How Accounts ..read more

If you own real estate in Maryland, it is important to consider and make informed decisions about these types of assets. A life estate deed can be a valuable tool to help you legally pass your real property assets to your heirs and avoid the probate process, while also preserving tax benefits.  This type of deed may be used during the estate planning process or the Medicaid planning process.  In this article, we will provide an overview of life estate deeds in Maryland. What is a Life Estate Deed? A life estate deed is a type of deed in Maryland which allows you to retain ownership a ..read more

Does your estate plan protect assets from long-term care costs? Does it include a strategy for long-term care?  Many people think that if they’ve done an estate plan, they have covered long-term care or Medicaid planning issues.  Nothing could be further from the truth. Medicaid planning is not estate planning and you’ll need an Elder Law attorney to guide you through the pros/cons of why you may or may not need Medicaid planning in addition to an estate plan. The biggest consideration for Medicaid planning is to ensure that an individual will have access to Medicaid and other govern ..read more

What is Probate and Why Should I Care? When an individual dies, unless, they have a trust, their assets first have to pass through probate before they can be transferred to beneficiaries. Probate is the legal process of validating a person’s will and making distribution pursuant to the terms of the will. During probate, the administrator to the estate is tasked with locating assets, paying debts and taxes, and, lastly, distributing assets to beneficiaries. Probate, which is implemented to combat fraud, is a time intensive and expensive process. It can take anywhere from six months up to severa ..read more

None of us wants to think about having an illness, being incapacitated, growing older, or how to care for a family member in these situations.  But, advance care planning is an important step you can take for yourself and your loved ones, at any age.  After all, none of us knows when a car accident, stroke, or other illness may happen.  Pre-planning allows you to carefully consider the types of decisions that will need to be made, well in advance of any health care crisis.   As part of our estate planning process, the attorneys at Frame & Frame can help you conside ..read more

Frame & Frame Attorneys at Law welcomes Attorney Veronica Zoberbier to the firm. Veronica will be leading the firm’s estate planning practice in Frederick, MD. Veronica has been working in the legal field since 2001 and is a member of the Maryland State Bar Association. Her areas of expertise include Wills, Trusts and Powers of Attorney, Estate Planning and Probate, Guardianships, Elder Law, and Living Wills. In her personal life, Veronica has experienced loss between friends and family. These experiences have grown her passion and awareness for helping people with their estate plans. She ..read more

As your parents get older, you may realize that they are more forgetful.  This can manifest itself in subtle ways at first, such as forgetting to close the garage door, repeating stories, or not knowing what day of the week it is.  These memory lapses may intensify over the years, and what begins as “senior moments” can quickly turn into dementia, a condition serious enough to cause real harm if the individual is not properly cared for. Unfortunately, Alzheimer’s and dementia are common with one in 10 people over the age of 65 diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer’s, according to the ..read more