A will is written for the life you had on the day you signed it. Families change, property changes hands, and tax laws shift, so a document that fit perfectly ten years ago can quietly stop matching what you want. Grant, Riffkin & Strauss, P.C., a Rockville firm that handles estate planning and probate for Montgomery County families, regularly sees what happens when a will falls behind: a former spouse still named as executor, a house that was sold years ago, a guardian who no longer lives nearby. Below are ten signs your will needs attention, followed by five local firms that can help you update it.
What are the signs it’s time to update your will?
Any major change in your family, your finances, or where you live is a reason to review your will. A common rule of thumb is to read it over every three to five years even when life has been quiet.
- You married, divorced, or separated. Maryland law generally revokes will provisions favoring a former spouse after a divorce or annulment. Life insurance and retirement account beneficiary designations are handled separately, and they often still name the ex.
- A child or grandchild joined the family. Under Maryland’s Estates and Trusts Article, a child born or adopted after the will was signed can receive a share of the estate unless the will addresses that possibility. Parents of minors should also name a guardian.
- Someone named in your will died or can no longer serve. Maryland calls the executor a personal representative: the person who gathers assets, pays debts, and distributes what remains. If yours has died or is now in poor health, name a successor.
- You moved to Maryland from another state. A will signed elsewhere is usually still valid here, but spousal rights and tax rules differ. Maryland requires a written will signed by the person making it and by two witnesses.
- Your estate has grown. Maryland imposes its own estate tax on estates above $5 million, well below the federal exemption of $15 million per person in 2026. Maryland also charges a 10 percent inheritance tax on certain beneficiaries, such as nieces, nephews, and friends.
- You own real estate in another state. Property outside Maryland may require a second probate case there, called ancillary probate. A revocable trust or a change in how the property is titled can sometimes avoid it.
- You started, bought, or sold a business. Your will should say who controls your ownership interest and should line up with any operating or shareholder agreement.
- A beneficiary’s circumstances changed. A child with a disability who relies on means-tested benefits such as SSI or Medicaid may need a supplemental needs trust instead of an outright gift.
- Your wishes changed. Maybe you have grown apart from a relative, or you want to leave something to a charity you started supporting. The will should reflect what you want now.
- Several years have passed. Federal estate tax rules were rewritten by legislation in 2025, and a will drafted under older rules may contain formulas that now produce results you never intended.
Which Rockville-area law firms can help you update a will?
Each of these five firms includes estate planning among the services it offers in Montgomery County.
- Grant, Riffkin & Strauss, P.C.
- Trusts & Estates Law Group
- Law Offices of Clifford M. Cohen
- Law Office of Richard A. Burton, Jr.
- Avrine Law Firm
1. Grant, Riffkin & Strauss, P.C.
Grant, Riffkin & Strauss, P.C. is a boutique civil practice founded by Alan H. Grant, P.C., with an office at 15204 Omega Drive in Rockville. Alan H. Grant serves as owner and managing partner. The firm treats a will as one piece of a broader estate plan that can include powers of attorney, health care directives, non-probate assets, property transfers, and business succession.
That breadth matters for several of the signs above. Because the firm also handles residential and commercial real estate and small business matters, a client whose update was prompted by a property purchase or a business sale can address the related documents in one place. For families who have already lost someone, the firm advises personal representatives and trustees through probate and trust administration, taking on as much or as little of the process as the client wants.
2. Trusts & Estates Law Group
This Rockville practice focuses on trusts and estates matters, as its name suggests.
3. Law Offices of Clifford M. Cohen
A Rockville law office whose practice includes estate planning.
4. Law Office of Richard A. Burton, Jr.
Located in Rockville, this office offers estate planning services.
5. Avrine Law Firm
This Bethesda firm lists estate planning among its services.
What should you do if one of these signs applies to you?
Start by reading your current will with fresh eyes. Check whether every person named is still the right choice, whether the property it describes still exists, and whether your beneficiary designations agree with it. Small changes can often be made with a codicil, which is a formal written amendment signed and witnessed the same way as the will. Larger changes usually call for a new will. Either way, if your life has moved on since you last signed, now is a good time to sit down with a Maryland estate planning attorney and bring your plan up to date.
This article provides general information and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship.
Leave a Comment