Ritter Elder Law
& Estate Planning

The only constant in life is change. At Ritter Elder Law & Estate Planning, our attorneys and staff are experts in planning for and navigating the changes we experience as we age.

Focus Areas

Estate Planning & Probate

Wills, Revocable Trusts, Advanced Directives, and Powers of Attorney

Elder Law & Medicaid

Medicaid Planning, Asset Spend Down, Irrevocable Trusts, Medicaid Application

Special Needs Law

Supplemental Needs Trusts, Guardianship, Estate Planning for Special Needs Children

Business Planning

Business Formation, Succession Planning, and Business Document Preparation

Wrongful Death

Advocating for You When a Loved One Leaves Too Soon

Our Team

Brian W. Ritter, Jr.

Founder and Managing Partner

I formed Ritter Elder Law & Estate Planning to help people enjoy their golden years to the fullest. In over a decade of practice, I have assisted clients with a wide variety of estate planning and elder law matters, including estate planning for high net-worth clients, nearly all types of probate, guardianship and trust administration cases, and a vast array of long-term care and Medicaid issues.

An added benefit of my practice has been helping families navigate the difficult waters of nursing homes, assisted living facilities, asset protection planning, and ensuring children with disabilities are provided for after their parents pass away. I have recently expanded my areas of practice to include handling the tragic wrongful death cases that sometimes accompany probate matters.

“I have prepared estate plans for families with minimal assets to high net-worth individuals and those who fall anywhere in between. I am confident that my firm will be able to assist your family with all your estate planning, probate, Medicaid planning and crisis planning, and elder law needs.”

Brian Ritter

Education

University of South Carolina,
Columbia, SC

B.A. Political Science, Magna Cum Laude

University of Baltimore,
Baltimore, MD

J.D., Magna Cum Laude

Bar admissions

Court of Appeals of Maryland

December 2011

United States District Court for the District of Maryland

March 2012

District of Columbia Court of Appeals

November 2012

United States District Court for the District of Columbia

January 2013

Jason Tkaczuk

Of Counsel

When I graduated law school, I had never pictured myself getting into this kind of work, but I soon found that elder law and estate planning entails the three things I love to do professionally: practicing law, utilizing my business education, and helping others.

After graduating from the University of California, Berkeley, I completed the JD/MBA program at the University of California, Irvine. In business school, I graduated in the top 12% of my class, and in law school, I earned awards for my legal writing and pro bono work.

I have a keen understanding how business and the law intersect, and I love using that knowledge to help clients overcome business succession and planning challenges.

Education

University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA

B.A. Political Science

University of California, Irvine Merage School of Business, Irvine, CA

M.B.A.

University of California, Irvine School of Law, Irvine, CA

J.D.

Bar admissions

Supreme Court of California

December 2021

Court of Appeals of Maryland

June 2022

Reviews

We’re often asked about

What is an Ancillary Probate Estate?

An ancillary estate refers to a separate probate proceeding that may be required when a person passes away owning property in a state or country where they were not a resident. For example, if a person was a resident of Maryland but owned a vacation home in Florida, an ancillary estate proceeding may be necessary to transfer ownership of the Florida property to the beneficiaries or heirs named in the Decedent’s will or according to Florida law. The purpose of an ancillary estate is to ensure that the Decedent’s property is properly transferred according to the laws of the state or country where it is located.

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What is a Letter of Administration?

A letter of administration is a legal document issued by a court that gives a person or persons the authority to manage the estate of a deceased person who did not leave a valid will or did not appoint an executor. The person who is appointed by the court to manage the estate is known as the administrator.

The letter of administration gives the administrator the power to act on behalf of the deceased person’s estate, including:
Collecting and managing the deceased person’s assets.
Paying debts and taxes owed by the deceased person and the estate.
Distributing the remaining assets to the rightful beneficiaries according to the laws of the state.

In Maryland, if a person dies without a valid will or an appointed executor, the court will appoint an administrator to manage the estate. The administrator will need to obtain a letter of administration from the court before they can begin managing the estate.

To obtain a letter of administration, the administrator will need to file a petition with the probate court, provide proof of the deceased person’s death, and provide information about the deceased person’s heirs and assets. The court will then review the petition and issue the letter of administration if it is satisfied that the administrator is qualified to manage the estate.

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What is a Buy-Sell Agreement?

In Maryland, a buy-sell agreement is a legal contract between co-owners of a business or property that outlines the terms and conditions under which one owner may sell their share to the other owner(s).

Buy-sell agreements are often used to provide a framework for the transfer of ownership in the event of certain triggering events, such as the death, disability, retirement, or voluntary departure of one of the owners. The agreement can also include provisions for the sale of an owner’s share if they default on a loan or violate certain terms of the agreement.

The buy-sell agreement can specify the price at which the owner’s share will be sold, as well as the terms of payment and any other conditions that must be met before the sale can be completed. It can also address issues such as how the business will be valued, who will be responsible for managing the business, and how disputes will be resolved.

A buy-sell agreement can be an important tool for protecting the interests of all co-owners and ensuring that the business or property continues to operate smoothly in the event of unexpected events. It’s important to work with a qualified attorney to draft a buy-sell agreement that meets the specific needs of the co-owners and complies with Maryland law.

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Have more questions? See our FAQ page

Let’s talk

(443) 684-2028

[email protected]

30 Industry Lane, Prince Frederick, MD 20678

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