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Author: Compass Advocacy

To Bequeath or Not to Bequeath: That is the question when it comes to vacation homes

Posted on by Compass Advocacy

For those who are lucky enough to own a vacation home, deciding what to do with that home after your death is often a quandary.  Do you leave it to your children, equally? Do you force its sale? Or do you leave it to a trust for the benefit of your descendants?

We, at Compass Law Partners, frequently have to advise on these issues so I will break down a few of the options, one at a time.

 

Leave Vacation Home Equally to your Children

This option, in my experience, is frequently where problems can arise.  After the inheritance, the children will expect equal contribution to the expense of the home but will frequently not utilize the home equally.  Perhaps one child lives in California and another is in Maryland.  If the vacation home is in Delaware, it is likely the child in Maryland will utilize the home much more. This could lead to resentment by the child in California who may still be expected to cover his/her share of the expenses.

A frequent attempt to settle this dispute is by having the Maryland child buy out the California child’s interest.  However, unless your Maryland child has the funding to do so, this is frequently not an option.  Instead, the only option may be to sell the property, which could then lead to resentment by the child in Maryland.  This potential to create resentment between/among your children is frequently why we typically recommend against this option.

 

Force the Sale of your Vacation Home

This is frequently the easiest option but may not be very popular with your children.  To avoid the potential for resentment between/among your children, requiring the sale of the vacation home after your death may be your best option, especially if the home is the most substantial part of your estate. Once the home is sold, the net proceeds from the sale can be divided equally among your children and, if desired, your child can use those proceeds to buy a vacation home of his/her own.

We frequently recommend this option for those clients who do not have other assets of significant value.

 

Leave the Vacation Home to a Trust for your Descendants

For clients who have significant assets other than their vacation home, we typically recommend the use of an irrevocable trust created after your death to hold the vacation home.  The home would held and maintained by a Trustee of your choosing (frequently an independent Trustee) and you would provide additional seed money to the trust to cover expenses for a period of years.  That way, your children and/or grandchildren are able to utilize the vacation home but do not have to contribute to its expenses for a period of time.

At the expiration of that period of time (or when the money runs out), the Trustee can decide whether to sell the property or to request money from the beneficiaries to maintain the property.  This option frequently creates the least amount of friction among children so clients, if they can provide additional funding to the trust, will frequently choose this option.  For clients with the ability fund a trust, we frequently recommend this option for their vacation home.

If you have a vacation home and are not sure how to leave it to your children, the attorneys at Compass Law Partners are here to help you.

 

Read More Here!

New Parent and Legal Documents: What You Need to Know

Posted on by Compass Advocacy
With Mother’s Day celebrations wrapping up and Father’s Day plans in the making, Compass Law has compiled a new parent checklist to assist new parents and remind current parents of the many forms you will want to have secured when your family expands.
Being a parent is tough – so let us help make it easier!
  • Will
    • Guardianship Document
  • Living Will (for those moms-to-be)
  • Trust
  • Advanced Medical Directive
  • Beneficiary change form
  • Changes to your IRA, 401k, life insurance
  • Life Insurance policy
  • Health insurance card
  • W4

 

Read More Here!

Local Budgets 2023

Posted on by Compass Advocacy

In recent weeks, counties in Maryland have unveiled local budget proposals for FY24. The $63 billion Maryland State Budget passed during Session on April 3, 2023 – allowing local jurisdictions to tackle their own operating and capital budgets before the start of the fiscal year. Here are a few highlights & important dates from some notable jurisdictions in Maryland.
Anne Arundel County

Proposed Budget
Approved by June 15, 2023

Baltimore City

Preliminary Budget
Approved no later than June 26, 2023

Baltimore County

Proposed Budget
Approved by June 1, 2023

Frederick County

Proposed Budget
Approved no later than May 31, 2023
Harford County

Proposed Budget
Approved by June 15, 2023

Howard County

Proposed Operating Budget
Proposed Capital Budget
Approved by June 1, 2023

Montgomery County

Recommended Budget
Adopted by May 31, 2023

Prince George’s County

Proposed Budget
Approved by June 1, 2023
Need help securing local government funding in the future?
Our team has the experience and the relationships to help!

Read More Here!

Maryland 2023 Legislative Session: Wrapped

Posted on by Compass Advocacy

 

Maryland had many big-ticket-items in the queue this 2023 Session and proved to be a long (or short depending on who you talk to) 90-day Session. Read more to see what bills and policies are in the headlines following adjournment. As bill signing dates are released, your Compass Government Relations team will keep you apprised of what is being signed into law and when!

Abortion

  • Approved constitutional amendment to go on ballot in November 2024 to enshrine the right to abortion in the Maryland Constitution
  • Passed legislation to protect patients/providers from criminal, civil, and administrative penalties relating to abortion bans or restrictions in other states
  • Passed a data-privacy bill to protect medical and insurance records on reproductive health
  • Universities in Maryland required to have a plan for student access to birth control methods near campuses

Cannabis

  • Medical dispensaries can acquire dual licenses to sell recreational cannabis
  • Tax will be 9%
  • Adults 21 and over allowed to possess up to 1.5 oz and two marijuana plants

Guns

  • Private property owners can control whether firearms can be brought onto their property, including commercial establishments
    • Defines sensitive places where firearms cannot be carried
  • Lawmakers removed the “good and substantial reason” from state law
  • Tightened gun storage laws

Budget

  • $62.5 billion budget for next fiscal year
  • $900 million to help pay costs in future years of Blueprint for Maryland’s Future

$15 Minimum Wage

  • Rate of increasing minimum wage quickened from January 1, 2025 to January 1, 2024

Paid Family Leave

  • Implement law passed last year
  • Require cost split evenly between worker and employer

Gender Affirming Treatment

  • State expanded procedures, revisions, and reversals covered under Medicaid

Clergy-Abuse Lawsuits

  • Lawmakers passed a measure to end the state’s statute of limitations for when civil lawsuits can be filed against public and private institutions related to child sexual abuse.

Offshore Wind

  • Maryland to generate 8.5 gigawatts of offshore wind by 2031
  • Upgrade energy grid for energy transmission from sea to land

April 2023 GR Navigator

Spruce Up Your Brand This Spring!

Posted on by Compass Advocacy

It’s that thyme of year! As the temperature gets warmer and flowers start to bloom, it’s hard to miss the energy of spring coming our way. The universe decided spring was the time to re-plant our most successful business practices and we can’t help but agree! It’s time to take stalk of your life! Spring can be the perfect time to update your business and personal branding materials. You should update your website, clean out any old or wilted social media posts, or even change your Facebook status (ok, bloomer).

Compass Public Relations can help you revisit your logo and branding materials to give them a bright new look once and floral. Our team members take pride in taking the time to understand your business market and can help target your brand identity to be competitive in your plot. Helping your business rose to the occasion is always our priority. Lettuce do our best so you don’t have to, even if these puns are getting unbeleafable. Happy Spring!

 

April 2023 PR Navigator

2023 Delaware Session Updates

Posted on by Compass Advocacy

On March 7th, both the Delaware House and Senate resumed their 2023 session after their February break.

Here’s what Delaware is tracking, and what’s coming up:

Cannabis

  • Across the entire country, states including Delaware and Maryland, are enacting legislation to legalize the recreational use of cannabis. Although unsuccessful last legislative session due to a veto by Governor Carney, the Delaware House is attempting once again to legalize the possession, sharing, use, and purchasing of up to one ounce of cannabis for those who are 21 or older. Emphasis is being placed on regulating the market and helping businesses adapt to this new measure.
    • Bills to Watch:
      • HB1: Removes all penalties for use or possession of a personal use quantity of marijuana. Those 21 or older may possess, use, display, purchase, or transport accessories and personal use quantities of marijuana without penalty
Voting
  • Voting is the core principal of America’s democracy but, historically, many barriers have been put in place to keep specific groups from voting. To this day, there is legislation in many states to restrict voting rights and make it more difficult. During this session, Delaware has a few bills that are focused on voting rights.
    • Bills to Watch:
      • HB43: Allows Delaware voters who are not affiliated with a political party to vote in a political party’s primary election. This bill will allow 170,000+ unaffiliated Delaware voters to have their voice represented in the primaries
      • SB57: This Act provides Delawareans with confidence that the votes they have cast will be honored when the Electoral College meets to decide the outcome of presidential elections
Sustainability
  • This session, Delaware has a couple of bills prioritizing actions to decrease the adverse effects of unsustainable and harmful practices. Earlier this year, the EPA awarded Delaware with a couple million dollars to upgrade infrastructure for the sake of public health and to protect essential waterways. Both Governor Carney and the Delaware legislature highly prioritize environmental policies.
    • Bills to Watch:
      • SB51: Prohibits single-use  plastics such as straws and coffee stirrers, and polystyrene foam containers in food establishments

 

March 2023 GR Navigator

Team Spotlight: Hannah Garagiola

Posted on by Compass Advocacy

Lobbyist Hannah Garagiola is the president of Compass Advocacy, a lobbying group she founded in 2018 that has offices in Annapolis, Rockville and Dover, Delaware. Her clients include the Maryland General Assembly, local governments throughout Maryland, Fortune 500 businesses, trade associations and more.

She is the former deputy chief of staff to the late Thomas V. Mike Miller, the former Maryland Senate president.

What is the most valuable habit you have developed?

The most valuable habit I’ve developed is definitely taking time for myself. It prevents burnout and allows you to better enjoy what you do. Early in my career, I hardly ever did that and now that I have more responsibility and two small children, I really have to take time to unwind. Whether it is to spend time with friends, date nights, working out, cook leisurely or get away, I am better and fresher when I can gain perspective from a mental break.

What is the biggest challenge facing government leaders in Maryland?

Government officials have to balance the various important priorities for the state. Whether it is great schools, a clean environment, less traffic, public safety or literally hundreds of other crucial issues, leaders in the state need to figure out how to manage those competing interests.

 

View the full list here.

2023 Maryland Session Updates

Posted on by Compass Advocacy

We are almost halfway through Maryland’s 90-Day Session. Here’s what Maryland is tracking, and what’s coming up:

Cannabis

  • Cannabis is a blazing topic this session after voters legalized recreational marijuana via referendum on November’s ballot. Starting July 1st, anyone over the age of 21 will be able to possess marijuana for personal use. The question before the legislature in this session is how to implement this throughout the state. Co-sponsors of the Cannabis Reform bill held a workgroup last Friday to discuss how much of the implementation would work. Highlights of the hearing included the prioritization of social equity throughout each implementation step.
Gun Control
  • After the Supreme Court ruling on New York v Bruen, key legislators in Maryland have decided to revisit gun control laws. The SCOTUS ruling changed the way courts evaluate the constitutionality of state gun control laws. The bills before the Maryland Legislature attempt to continue to restrict gun access and concealed carry permits while attempting to follow the new standard by the Supreme Court. A number of bills came before the Senate Committee for a contentious 11-hour hearing on February 7th. The next step is for the Senate committee to vote on bills.
Budget Process
  • The budget process is underway in Maryland with new excitement as the Legislature has more say in Budget negotiations. Previously under Republican Governor Larry Hogan, the party divide between the Governor’s office and state legislature meant that legislators had to fight for what they wanted in Hogan’s budget. Now, with new Democratic Governor Wes Moore, the legislator has an easier path to prioritizing their agendas in this year’s budget. Subcommittees that unpack the budget have already started meeting, but we are anticipating more discussions in the coming weeks.
Mental Health Funding
  • While all of these issues will continue to be debated throughout the coming months, we wanted to highlight the stand the Senate took regarding the first bill they passed. Senate Bill 003 also known as the 9-8-8 Trust Fund – Funding was passed on January 30th. The 988 Trust Fund was created by legislation passed last session with stipulations that it would receive around $5 million in funding. This bill, if passed by the House, will more than double the required funding to $12 million by 2025. This is an important message from the Senate about prioritizing mental health and could be an indicator of the success of other mental health bills coming before the body.

Political Strategy: Phone Campaigns

Posted on by Compass Advocacy

A critical  advocacy tool to influence public opinion is implementing targeted phone campaigns. At Compass Public Relations, we have the ability to design political campaign strategies that successfully  mobilize constituents to support or oppose policies heard before state, local, and federal governments.These efforts are tailored to ensure maximum impact, and they provide a powerful voice to constituents who might otherwise go unheard in the legislative process.

Through careful demographic research and data analysis, Compass Public Relations consultants ensure that each campaign is directed toward the right audience. We send targeted and tailored messages that resonate with the recipients, enhancing the likelihood of action.   Our live calls are persuasive and personal, allowing for real-time engagement and providing legislators with a clear sense of where their constituents stand on issues. 

In many cases, Compass PR consultants work with lobbyists to execute these efforts in a strategic and coordinated manner. Whether it’s at the state level in Delaware or Maryland or targeting local municipalities, our phone campaigns are designed to make a difference..

As public relations specialists, our consultants are highly experienced in framing messages that either support or oppose  critical legislation. Once the message is set, we then identify key legislators who may decide the outcome of such issues. 

From there, we generate dozens – or even hundreds – of live constituent phone calls into legislators’ offices. This type of constituent engagement has the power to sway decisions and influence outcomes, making phone campaigns a vital part of any political campaign strategy. To learn more about how political strategy phone campaigns can support your cause, contact Compass PR today!

Preparing for Vacation

Posted on by Compass Advocacy

 

As Spring (slowly) approaches, many families are starting to finalize their vacation plans. March and April are big months for winter-weary families to get away.

However, as families prepare for their vacations, one item is typically never found on their “To Do” list – estate planning. If you plan to travel with your family, you should really have your affairs in order in the event the unthinkable happens.  Whether it is death or disability, an estate plan will provide your heirs with the information they need to carry out your wishes.  Otherwise, you are at the mercy of State law and, potentially, a Judge who has no idea who you are.

The core documents in an estate plan are a Last Will and Testament, Financial Power of Attorney and an Advance Medical Directive.  While preparing an estate plan may seem like an onerous task, the attorneys at Compass Law Partners will walk you through the process and ensure your estate plan is completed in a timely manner.

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