Estate Planning

Preserving, protecting and passing on farm assets are major topics with horse farm landowners and other farm families when doing retirement and estate planning. The Baltimore County Office of the University of Maryland Cooperative Extension has designed a one-day seminar to help. This program will be given Thursday, Sept. 7, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn Hotel in White Marsh, Md. Intended for horse breeders, horse council members and wine growers, the program will discuss retirement, income sources, land preservation, insurance, risk management and the legal aspects of estate planning tools.

KEARNEYSVILLE, W.Va. - Workshops on estate planning are being offered Oct. 12 and Nov. 16 from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at the WVU Extension Office in Jefferson County, W.Va. Extension Agent Craig Yohn said Dan Norris of Chesapeake Financial Group made a similar presentation to owners of about 10 farms this past spring and has met with most of them since. "As land values go up and the average age of the farm community increases, taking proper steps to plan what happens to your estate is important," Yohn said.

Linda Norrington came by the Washington County Commission on Aging on Wednesday to get information and advice on advanced directives. “It's something I've been putting off,” the Hagerstown woman said. From there, she was headed to the county's Department of Social Services for legal advice on a will, real estate matters and, because she is a landlord, landlord-tenant issues. Norrington and others were taking advantage of the county's second annual Pro Bono/Law Day, getting free legal advice on about two dozen topics, including family, immigration, consumer, bankruptcy, foreclosure, motor vehicle, business and criminal law, said Assistant State's Attorney Michele Hansen, who helped organize the event.

Owners: Ferris, Baker Watts Inc. owns 35 percent; the remainder is management and private investors. Address: 111 S. Potomac St., Hagerstown, second floor. Opening date: Aug. 5. Products and services: Trust administration, estate planning and estate settlement. Market area: Mid-Atlantic. How did you get into your business or what motivated you to start it? "To fill a void in the area of personalized trustee services that large banks, with all the mergers and acquisitions, are no longer filling.

Estate planning workshop BOONSBORO - Bonnie A. Winders will discuss estate planning and elder law at 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 10, at Boonsboro Library. The program will discuss wills and trusts, advance directives, how to apply for Medicaid for a spouse or parents. The program is free. Registration is requested. Call 301-432-5723. English as a Second Language FREDERICK, Md. - C. Burr Artz Library in Frederick hosts classes for adults who want to improve their English-speaking skills.

Bands invite new players Hagerstown Community College Center for Continuing Education is calling all amateur musicians who would like the opportunity to meet other musicians and have some music-making fun. The New Horizons Strings is an all-string chamber ensemble that meets for lessons from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays in HCC's Kepler Theater. The New Horizons Band is open to all instruments and meets for group lessons/ensembles from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays at Paramount Brethren in Christ Church.

On more than one occasion, you have read in this very spot my musings about keeping the farm alive and well here in our little corner of the world. Today, I want to address the farm families and how they address the transitioning of the farm. We sometimes hear that the next generation is not interested or they cannot afford to take over the operation. If the latter is the case, I hope you are not the cause, as Pogo once stated, "We have met the enemy and he is us. " Failure of transitioning the farm to the next generation usually is a case of a failure to plan.

Edward Jones The six local Edward Jones investment representatives will host a free one-hour satellite broadcast titled "Leaving a Legacy: Your Guide to Estate Planning and Charitable Giving" on Dec. 14. The broadcasts will be at 11:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Topics that will be covered include six critical steps of estate planning, charitable giving and gifting strategies, how to work with an estate-planning team to help realize your...

WASHINGTON COUNTY - Kevin Miller decided to run for Register of Wills because he believes competition makes for a better solution. "I find it hard to believe offices are uncontested," said Miller, a Republican. John Bloyer, a Democrat who has held the position for 14 years, said that in the last two elections he ran unopposed. The Register of Wills serves a four-year term and earns $81,000 a year. The register's office opens more than 950 estates a year and takes in for safekeeping about 1,400 wills a year, according to Bloyer.

As obituary writers and eulogists searched to find the words to praise the late Robert Irsay, owner of the Indianapolis Colts football team, we have to believe that some members of his family were grumbling to themselves about what he's left behind for them to clean up. We recount it here, not to bad-mouth a man whose name has been "mud" ever since he stripped Baltimore of its beloved Colts, but as a warning to those who've been putting off...

The family movie “Rise of the Guardians” will be shown Saturday at 3 p.m. at Hancock Library in Widmeyer Park.  When an evil spirit known as Pitch lays down the gauntlet to take over the world, the immortal Guardians must join forces for the first time to protect the hopes, beliefs and imagination of children all over the world. The movie is rated PG. Admission is free, and refreshments will be served.  To register, call 301-678-5300.   Poetry workshop The second of two poetry writing and reading workshops takes place Saturday at 4 p.m. at the Hancock Community Center.  Space is limited and there is a registration fee of $20. The workshop will be led by Dina Coe, award-winning poet and teacher, and assisted by poet and teacher Karen Randlev, author of “Light Runner.”   To register call 301-678-6700.

Linda Norrington came by the Washington County Commission on Aging on Wednesday to get information and advice on advanced directives. “It's something I've been putting off,” the Hagerstown woman said. From there, she was headed to the county's Department of Social Services for legal advice on a will, real estate matters and, because she is a landlord, landlord-tenant issues. Norrington and others were taking advantage of the county's second annual Pro Bono/Law Day, getting free legal advice on about two dozen topics, including family, immigration, consumer, bankruptcy, foreclosure, motor vehicle, business and criminal law, said Assistant State's Attorney Michele Hansen, who helped organize the event.

Community Foundation of Washington County MD Inc. The Community Foundation of Washington County MD Inc. recently presented Michael G. Day with a Professional Advisor Award of Excellence. Day, president and principal of the law firm Michael G. Day and Associates, specializes in elder law, estate planning, asset protection, Medicaid, tax and estate administration issues. He has promoted the work of the Community Foundation through the creation of more than 15 individual funds resulting in $4 million in contributions.

Making a will can ensure wishes come true To the editor: Toss a coin in a fountain and make a wish. If you’re thinking about your future and what would happen should you die, you might say: “I wish that my brother, Tom, would handle my estate.” Or perhaps, “I wish Aunt Etta would take care of my daughter.” Or maybe, “I wish that any estate taxes would be kept to a minimum.” You might also say, “I wish...

Estate planning workshop BOONSBORO - Bonnie A. Winders will discuss estate planning and elder law at 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 10, at Boonsboro Library. The program will discuss wills and trusts, advance directives, how to apply for Medicaid for a spouse or parents. The program is free. Registration is requested. Call 301-432-5723. English as a Second Language FREDERICK, Md. - C. Burr Artz Library in Frederick hosts classes for adults who want to improve their English-speaking skills.

o Read more Paula Green Shupp columns at washingtoncountyliving.com Eighth-grade theater class performs this week The play "Alice in Wonderland" will be presented by the Springfield Middle School eighth-grade theater class Friday at 7 p.m. in the school auditorium. The play will also be presented Saturday at 3 p.m. as "The Mad Hatter's Tea Party. " Tea with snacks and "Unbirthday Cake" will be served at 2 p.m. Additional performances are planned for Thursday, April 30, and Friday, May 1, at 7 p.m. Tickets for Saturday's performance cost $7. All other tickets cost $5 in advance and $7 at the door.

It's never too early to make plans. And attorneys who handle a legal area known increasingly as "elder law" say the sooner people make arrangements for their later years, the better. As people approach retirement, they should "get their legal house in order," said Hagerstown attorney Catherine Drummond. Doing so can include estate planning and updating wills. They should also be setting retirement goals, determining how they want to live and what it will cost, she said.

On more than one occasion, you have read in this very spot my musings about keeping the farm alive and well here in our little corner of the world. Today, I want to address the farm families and how they address the transitioning of the farm. We sometimes hear that the next generation is not interested or they cannot afford to take over the operation. If the latter is the case, I hope you are not the cause, as Pogo once stated, "We have met the enemy and he is us. " Failure of transitioning the farm to the next generation usually is a case of a failure to plan.

WASHINGTON COUNTY - Kevin Miller decided to run for Register of Wills because he believes competition makes for a better solution. "I find it hard to believe offices are uncontested," said Miller, a Republican. John Bloyer, a Democrat who has held the position for 14 years, said that in the last two elections he ran unopposed. The Register of Wills serves a four-year term and earns $81,000 a year. The register's office opens more than 950 estates a year and takes in for safekeeping about 1,400 wills a year, according to Bloyer.

Preserving, protecting and passing on farm assets are major topics with horse farm landowners and other farm families when doing retirement and estate planning. The Baltimore County Office of the University of Maryland Cooperative Extension has designed a one-day seminar to help. This program will be given Thursday, Sept. 7, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn Hotel in White Marsh, Md. Intended for horse breeders, horse council members and wine growers, the program will discuss retirement, income sources, land preservation, insurance, risk management and the legal aspects of estate planning tools.