Steven M. Heinl - Attorney

07/11/2026

Are you looking for ways to avoid probate? Are you considering adding your adult child(ren) to a deed? While taking this action can avoid probate (assuming your children survive you), the unintended consequences can be significant. A child's legal troubles can become yours (i.e. creditors, divorce, etc.) and there will be a loss of the highly coveted stepped-up basis. Speak with an experienced estate planning attorney who will listen to your goals and help you understand appropriate options.

Steven serves as an at-large member on the Baltimore County Planning Board. He was appointed by the Baltimore County Executive in January of 2019. The Planning Board makes recommendations regarding the county budget and weighs-in on land use and zoning matters in Baltimore County, Maryland.

06/28/2026

I recently met with a prospective client to discuss her foundational estate planning documents.

“Who would you like to serve as your health care agent and/or financial power of attorney?”

Her response came immediately: “My eldest daughter. She’s the oldest.”

Naturally, I pushed back a bit based on her answer because choosing a fiduciary is not about birth order. It’s about trust and emotional capability.

When selecting someone for this type of role, two questions should be asked:

First, do you trust this person completely to honor your wishes, even if they personally disagree with them?

And second, can this person emotionally handle making those decisions and living with the repercussions?

Serving in a fiduciary role is not a reward.

It is not a title of honor for being the firstborn.

These are deeply emotional decisions, often made during moments of crisis, fear, and uncertainty.

And not everyone is equipped for that role, regardless of how much they love you.

After a long discussion, the client ultimately realized that her eldest daughter was not the right person for this particular responsibility.

The best fiduciary choices are not about fairness, tradition, or birth order.

They’re about selecting the person most capable of carrying the weight of the job when the moment comes.

03/17/2026

There’s nothing lucky about good estate planning. Happy St. Patrick’s Day! ☘️

02/16/2026

What is estate planning and why does it matter?

Estate planning involves outlining how you want your money, property, and possessions handled—and who will make important health care decisions for you—if you pass away or become unable to communicate. At its core, this process is about peace of mind, knowing your family won’t be overwhelmed with added stress and confusion during an already emotional time.

A typical estate plan includes:

À last will and testament directs how your property and assets should be distributed, but does not avoid probate.

A revocable trust allows you to direct how your assets are managed and distributed, both during your lifetime and after you pass away, allowing your assets to avoid probate.

A financial power of attorney authorizes someone you trust make financial and legal decisions on your behalf.

An advance medical directive spells out your medical preferences if you can’t communicate them yourself.

A solid estate plan makes it easier to pass your assets to your heirs and helps prevent costly disputes and court delays later on. Starting early gives you time to explore your options and make thoughtful decisions.

01/01/2026

Happy New Year! 🚨 This is a friendly reminder to review your beneficiary designations for accounts like retirement plans, life insurance, and bank accounts at least annually or after major life events (marriage, divorce, new child, death in family) to ensure assets go to your intended loved ones (or charitable organizations) and align with your estate plan, preventing potentially decades-old, outdated instructions from taking effect. These designations are legally binding and often bypass your will, making updates essential for a smooth transfer of assets to your family. If you are in need of a review and/or an update to your personal estate plan, contact me at [email protected] to schedule a consultation.

10/24/2025

Estate planning, when done correctly, can help to alleviate family disputes upon the incapacity and/or death of a loved one. The process of putting your estate planning documents together doesn’t have to be complicated, but it requires action. A competent attorney can prepare an estate plan that helps you and your family avoid costly mistakes.

Once the process is complete, many of my clients say it was easier than they anticipated. If you have minor children, a second marriage with a blended family, or just want to better understand options for probate avoidance, I’m happy to discuss all estate planning topics with you. Hyatt & Weber, P.A. has law offices in Annapolis, Baltimore, and Easton, Maryland.

10/09/2025

🤔💡One of the most common concepts my clients want to understand is the difference between a will and a revocable trust. I prepare a lot of both (and everyone should have a pour-over will even if they have a revocable trust). In Maryland, a will dictates asset distribution after death but requires probate, which is public. The provisions of a revocable trust direct how assets are to be held/used during the life, incapcity, and after death of its creator. A revocable trust allows for assets titled to the trust to bypass probate, which typically allows for quicker distribution to beneficiaries, if that is the intended outcome.

Steven serves as an at-large member on the Baltimore County Planning Board. He was appointed by the Baltimore County Executive in January of 2019. The Planning Board makes recommendations regarding the county budget and weighs-in on land use and zoning matters in Baltimore County, Maryland.

07/06/2025

Probate is the court-supervised process of validating a decedent’s will if they have one, gathering and valuing their assets, identifying and settling their debts, and, ultimately, distributing their estate to their chosen beneficiaries or heirs as determined by law. There are compelling reasons to implement an estate plan that allows assets to avoid probate. Probate can turn a deeply personal matter into a public proceeding during an already difficult and grief-filled time. The most common tools used by my clients are creation of a revocable trust, payable-on-death designations, and lifetime gifting. An estate plan is not a ‘one size fits all’ proposition. Each client has their own goals and family dynamics.

02/21/2025

Last night, I gathered with some of my colleagues in Annapolis to acknowledge that the year is off to a solid start.

HW attorneys were out in Annapolis celebrating recent wins for our clients.✌🏻is for victory!

12/11/2024

Life insurance is often used to ensure there is liquidity available to take care of your dependents upon your death. Designating your minor children as the direct beneficiaries of life insurance proceeds is a mistake that should be avoided. Consider naming your trust as the beneficiary of your life insurance policy. The trust can be a standalone instrument or created within your last will and testament. The trust has terms that designate a trustee who will handle the money for the benefit of the children until they come of age.