Wills, Trusts, Estates and Probate

Comprehensive Legal Guidance for Protecting Your Legacy & Loved Ones

Planning for the future, settling an estate after a loved one’s passing, and resolving disputes over fiduciary obligations are among life’s most important legal matters. Effective estate planning ensures your wishes are honored, your family is protected, and your assets are handled in a way that reflects your values and goals.

Bean, Kinney & Korman provides comprehensive estate planning, probate, trust administration, guardianship guidance, and litigation support to individuals, families, business owners, and fiduciaries throughout Maryland, Virginia, and the Washington, D.C. region. We combine technical legal expertise with thoughtful, compassionate service to help clients navigate sensitive and often complex matters with confidence.

Whether you are planning for the future, serving as an executor or trustee, or facing a dispute related to an estate or trust, our attorneys deliver practical, tailored counsel.

Core Areas of the Wills, Trusts, Estates & Probate Practice

Estate Planning

Helping you create wills, powers of attorney, advance medical directives, and comprehensive plans that protect your loved ones and preserve your legacy.

Trusts & Estates Litigation

Providing strategic representation in disputes involving trusts, wills, fiduciary duties, accounting issues, and contested estates.

Guardianship

Assisting families with guardianship petitions, incapacity planning, and protection of vulnerable adults and minors.

Estate & Trust Administration

Guiding executors, administrators, and trustees through the legal and procedural steps of settling an estate or administering a trust.

Why Estate Planning Matters

Without a valid will or trust, state law determines how your assets are distributed — which may not align with your intentions. Thoughtful planning helps:

Protect minor children and dependents
Avoid probate delays and unnecessary costs
Minimize tax exposure
Clarify health care and financial decision-making
Preserve family harmony

Our attorneys help you translate your priorities into legally enforceable plans.

Who We Represent

We counsel and represent:

Individuals and families of all ages
Parents and grandparents
Business owners and entrepreneurs
High-net-worth clients
Executors, trustees, and fiduciaries
Beneficiaries and heirs
Guardians and conservators

We tailor legal solutions to each client’s personal, financial, and family circumstances.

How We Help

From straightforward wills to complex trust structures, from post-death probate proceedings to contested fiduciary disputes, our services include:

Customized estate planning
Drafting wills and trusts
Powers of attorney and living wills
Probate and estate settlement
Trust administration and accounting
Guardianship and incapacity planning
Litigation involving estates, trusts, and fiduciaries

Our team works collaboratively, anticipating issues before they arise and guiding clients through inevitable life transitions.

Wills, Trusts & Estates FAQs

What is the difference between a will and a trust?

A will directs how your assets should be distributed after your death and can designate guardians for minor children. A trust allows assets to be managed during your lifetime and distributed outside of probate, often with greater privacy and flexibility.

Why should I create an estate plan?

An estate plan ensures your wishes are legally documented, minimizes uncertainty for loved ones, preserves assets, and provides directives for medical and financial decision-making if you become incapacitated.

What is probate?

Probate is the legal process for validating a will and overseeing the distribution of assets under court supervision. Proper planning can reduce the need for probate or streamline the process.

Do I need a trust?

Trusts can be beneficial for avoiding probate, managing assets for minors or beneficiaries with special needs, and securing privacy. Whether a trust is right for you depends on your goals and financial situation.

What is guardianship?

Guardianship is a legal arrangement in which a court appoints an individual to make decisions for someone who is unable to manage their own affairs — such as a minor child or an incapacitated adult.