Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in Maryland
my husband was just given a life sentence in orison. Can I stil name him as beneficiary of my estate?
Asked on 2/20/13, 7:23 am
1 Answer from Attorneys
Cedulie Laumann
Arden Law Firm, LLC
Yes.
The ancient concepts of forfeiture of estate (where a convicted felon would automatically lose property rights) were abolished by Constitution and in most cases a conviction does not impact property rights.
Though it shouldn't apply in normal estate planning, in some cases a person convicted of a crime will lose rights to property (such as when the inheritance or other money results from their crime or the property was used in the commission of a crime).
Answered on 2/20/13, 7:06 pm