Cohen & Hertz in Baltimore: Estate Planning Law with a Family-Business Perspective

Cohen & Hertz is a small estate planning practice in Baltimore that handles wills, revocable living trusts, powers of attorney, and beneficiary designations for individuals and families. The firm operates on a flat-fee model for straightforward plans, making it predictable for clients who want to know the total cost upfront rather than paying by the hour.

What Cohen & Hertz Actually Does

The firm focuses on the documents that form the foundation of an estate plan: wills that direct property distribution and name an executor, revocable living trusts that avoid probate and provide privacy, durable financial powers of attorney that authorize someone to manage your affairs if you become incapacitated, and healthcare powers of attorney that designate decision-making authority for medical matters. Cohen & Hertz also reviews existing beneficiary designations on retirement accounts and life insurance policies, a detail many people overlook but one that bypasses the will entirely. The practice is not equipped for probate litigation, contested wills, or tax-sophisticated structures like intentionally defective grantor trusts; those matters are referred elsewhere.

Services and Pricing

Cohen & Hertz charges flat fees for standard plans. A basic will runs approximately $500 to $800 depending on complexity. A revocable living trust package, which includes the trust document, a pour-over will, durable financial power of attorney, and healthcare power of attorney, typically falls in the $1,500 to $2,500 range. If you need only a power of attorney or update an existing will, expect $300 to $600. These figures cover the initial consultation, document drafting, and one round of revisions. Additional revisions or significant changes to the scope trigger additional fees. The flat-fee approach appeals to clients who dislike hourly billing uncertainty, though it assumes your situation is straightforward; if your assets span multiple states or your family structure is unusually complicated, hourly rates or a project fee may apply. Call to confirm current pricing, as fee schedules shift occasionally.

How Cohen & Hertz Compares to Other Baltimore Estate Planning Options

Baltimore's estate planning landscape includes both solo practitioners and larger firm sections. Whiteford, Taylor & Preston, a 180-person firm with an estate planning group, serves clients with substantial assets and complex tax planning; expect higher fees, often $3,000 to $5,000 for a full plan, but also access to trusts specialists and tax counsel. Miles & Stockbridge, another large Baltimore firm, operates similarly. For lower-cost alternatives, LegalZoom and Nolo offer online DIY will and trust templates at $100 to $300 total, but they provide no attorney review and no conversation about whether a trust actually makes sense for your situation. Cohen & Hertz fills the middle: attorney-backed, flat-fee, and accessible without the overhead of a 50-person section. Choose Cohen & Hertz if you have a modest to moderate estate, no blended family complications, and live in Maryland; choose Whiteford or Miles & Stockbridge if your estate exceeds $2 million or you own property in multiple states; choose a DIY service only if you are confident your situation matches the template exactly.

Who It Suits and Who It Does Not

Cohen & Hertz is well-suited for married couples and single adults with homes, savings, and clear wishes about who inherits. If you have minor children and want to name a guardian and a trustee to manage their inheritance until age 25 or 30, this firm handles that plainly. If you own rental property in Maryland or hold a small business stake, the firm can address basic succession. It is less suitable if you own real property in North Carolina, Florida, or another state (you may need a separate will or trust in that state, requiring coordination with an attorney there). It is also not the right choice if your estate exceeds $5 million and you are trying to minimize federal estate tax, if you are in a blended family with adult children from prior relationships and you want ironclad instructions about property division, or if you anticipate that your will might be contested. In those scenarios, the firm will refer you to a tax specialist or a larger practice.

What the First Visit Involves

You begin with a phone consultation to outline your situation: marital status, children, approximate asset total, and any unusual circumstances. If the firm determines you are within its wheelhouse, you schedule a 60 to 90 minute in-person meeting. You bring relevant documents (recent bank statements, deed, investment account summaries, beneficiary forms) or notes about what you own. The attorney asks who you want to inherit, who you want to handle the estate (your executor), who should make medical decisions if you cannot, and whether you want to avoid probate. You discuss whether a will, a trust, or both make sense. At that visit, you also cover incapacity planning and who holds power of attorney. The attorney then drafts documents, typically within two weeks, and you return to sign in front of a notary.

Hours, Parking, and Logistics

Cohen & Hertz maintains office hours Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The office is located on East Fayette Street in downtown Baltimore; street parking is available but sometimes limited, so arriving early or using a nearby commercial lot is advisable. Confirm current hours by phone before your visit, as holiday schedules and attorney vacations affect availability. There is no virtual signing process currently offered; documents must be signed in person before a notary.

Cohen & Hertz serves Baltimore clients who want an attorney-backed plan without large-firm costs and are willing to commit to one in-person visit to get a clear, legal foundation for their wishes.