Altman & Associates in Baltimore: Estate Planning Law with Flat-Fee Packages

Altman & Associates is a mid-sized estate planning law firm in Baltimore that specializes in wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and related documents for individuals and families across Maryland. The practice operates on a flat-fee model for routine estate plans, making costs transparent and predictable compared to the hourly billing that dominates the local market.

What Altman & Associates does

The firm handles core estate planning documents: simple wills, revocable living trusts, durable financial powers of attorney, healthcare powers of attorney, and living wills. It also advises on beneficiary designations, deed transfers to trusts, and minor guardianship provisions. The practice does not handle probate litigation, complex business succession planning, or tax-heavy estates; clients with those needs are referred to specialized counsel. Most clients are Maryland residents planning for straightforward asset distribution and healthcare decision-making.

Service menu and flat-fee pricing

Altman & Associates offers three main packages. A basic will package runs approximately $400 to $500 and covers a single will with standard clauses and one beneficiary designation review. A revocable living trust package (the most common choice for clients wanting to avoid probate) costs roughly $1,000 to $1,500 and includes the trust document, pour-over will, durable financial power of attorney, and healthcare power of attorney. A comprehensive plan combining all four core documents without trust creation runs $600 to $800. All fees are quoted upfront; there is no hourly surprise at closing. Verify current pricing by phone, as fee structures occasionally shift. The firm does not charge for an initial 15-minute consultation to assess whether your estate fits the standard packages.

How Altman & Associates compares to other Baltimore-area options

Baltimore estate planning attorneys typically fall into two pricing categories: flat-fee firms and hourly practitioners. Hourly attorneys in the region charge $200 to $350 per hour; a simple will takes 2 to 3 hours, and a trust-based plan may run 5 to 8 hours, resulting in $400 to $2,800 in fees depending on complexity. Firms like Whiteford, Taylor & Preston (a full-service Baltimore firm with an estate planning practice) and smaller solo practitioners offer hourly work suitable for complex or contested estates. Online document services such as LegalZoom or Nolo charge $100 to $300 for self-guided wills but provide no legal review and no customization for Maryland law quirks. Altman & Associates' flat-fee model sits between DIY cost and full-service hourly billing, and it eliminates the risk that a moderately complex estate will balloon into an unexpectedly expensive bill. Choose Altman & Associates if you want a clear, fixed cost and moderate-complexity estate planning; choose an hourly attorney if your estate includes business assets, real property in multiple states, or family conflict requiring negotiation; choose DIY tools only if your assets are minimal and your beneficiaries agreed.

Who Altman & Associates suits and who it does not

The firm is a good fit for married couples or single individuals with combined assets under $2 million (the current federal estate tax exemption is much higher, but the firm's sweet spot is straightforward smaller estates), minor children, and no active business or partnership interest. It also suits clients who want to avoid probate through a living trust but do not need complex tax planning. Parents of special-needs children sometimes use the firm's trust packages to set up supplemental needs trusts within a revocable framework. The firm is not suitable for estates exceeding $2 million with federal tax exposure, families in active dispute, clients with assets in multiple states requiring coordinated planning, or anyone with a family business needing succession planning. The firm also does not handle spousal elective share disputes or capacity challenges to wills.

What the first visit involves

Schedule a phone consultation, which is free and typically lasts 15 minutes. Discuss your assets (rough total), beneficiaries, any minor children, and whether probate avoidance is a priority. The attorney will determine whether a flat-fee package fits or whether you should consult an hourly practitioner. If you proceed, you complete a one-page intake form listing beneficiaries, asset accounts, and healthcare decision-makers, and you schedule a document review appointment (usually 30 to 45 minutes in person or via Zoom). The attorney drafts documents, you review them, sign them (some documents require notarization), and the firm returns executed copies. The entire process typically takes 3 to 4 weeks from intake to final delivery. The firm will not file or record documents for you; that is your responsibility, though the firm can provide written instructions.

Hours, parking, and logistics

Altman & Associates operates by appointment Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with occasional evening slots available by request. The office is located in Baltimore and offers in-person consultation or Zoom appointments; most clients now choose the latter for speed and convenience. Street parking is available near the office; there is no dedicated lot. The firm accepts major credit cards, checks, and bank transfers; it does not accept payment plans for flat-fee packages. Confirm hours before you call, as seasonal adjustments occur infrequently.

Altman & Associates fills a practical gap in Baltimore's estate planning market for clients who want transparent, predictable costs and straightforward document assembly without hourly meter-running or low-cost DIY uncertainty.