A Maryland Revocable Living Trust for Unmarried Couples is a legal arrangement designed to manage assets and property for couples who are not married. This trust allows unmarried partners to protect their interests and ensure that their wishes are carried out in the event of incapacity or death. A revocable living trust is a type of trust that can be altered or revoked by the granter(s), providing flexibility and control during their lifetime. This means that the unmarried couple can make changes to the trust as their circumstances change without needing court approval. Some key features of a Maryland Revocable Living Trust for Unmarried Couples include: 1. Asset Protection: The trust allows couples to protect their assets from potential creditors or anyone trying to make a claim against their estate. 2. Avoiding Probate: By transferring assets into the trust, couples can avoid probate, which is the court-supervised process of distributing assets after death. This helps save time, money, and ensures privacy. 3. Incapacity Planning: The trust includes provisions for managing assets if one or both partners become incapacitated. It appoints a successor trustee to handle financial affairs and healthcare decisions on their behalf. 4. Specific Distribution of Assets: The trust allows unmarried couples to specify how they want their assets to be distributed after their death. This ensures that their wishes are followed, and resources are distributed to their chosen beneficiaries. 5. Flexibility and Control: With a revocable living trust, the couple can make changes to the trust, add or remove assets, and even change beneficiaries as needed. In Maryland, there are no specific types of Revocable Living Trusts exclusively designed for unmarried couples. However, any competent attorney experienced in trust and estate planning can customize a trust to suit the unique needs and goals of the unmarried couple. They can also include additional provisions like pet care, special instructions, or charitable gifting within the trust agreement. Overall, a Maryland Revocable Living Trust for Unmarried Couples provides a comprehensive legal framework to protect assets, ensure privacy, and make sure the couple's wishes are honored during their lifetime and after their passing. Consulting with an experienced estate planning attorney is crucial to create a trust that aligns with individual circumstances and wishes.