Thomason & Hessmer in Baltimore: Estate Planning Law With a Real-Estate Anchor

Thomason & Hessmer is a mid-sized Baltimore law firm specializing in estate planning, trust administration, and probate. The practice distinguishes itself by pairing traditional estate planning work with an unusually deep real-estate law practice, a combination that matters because Baltimore estates frequently involve inherited property, title disputes, or the need to clear liens before assets can be distributed.

What the firm actually does

The core service is estate planning for individuals and small business owners. This covers wills, revocable living trusts, powers of attorney (financial and healthcare), and beneficiary designation reviews. The firm also handles trust administration after death, including asset inventory, creditor notification, tax filing, and distribution to heirs. Probate representation rounds out the offering: the firm manages the formal court process in Baltimore and surrounding counties when a will goes through probate, or steers clients toward non-probate alternatives if the estate size and structure allow it.

The real-estate component makes the firm a logical choice when an estate includes rental property, a family home with a disputed title, or a commercial building that must be sold to pay estate taxes and debts. Many estate-planning-only practices refer these situations to a separate real-estate counsel; at Thomason & Hessmer, one attorney can manage both the estate plan and the property issue in a single engagement.

Services and fee structure

Flat fees are the standard for routine estate plans. A basic will and power of attorney typically costs between $400 and $800 depending on complexity and the number of documents needed. A revocable living trust package, which includes the trust instrument, pour-over will, powers of attorney, and related documents, typically runs $1,200 to $2,200. These figures assume straightforward estates without significant real-estate complications or family dynamics that require narrative instructions or specialized provisions. Confirm current pricing directly, as flat-fee practices often adjust annually.

Trust administration work is usually billed hourly at rates that typically fall between $200 and $350 per hour for attorney time, depending on seniority and task. A simple trust distribution with no disputes might absorb 10 to 20 hours of work; contested trusts or estates with real-estate or tax complications can require two to three times that investment.

Probate representation in Baltimore Circuit Court varies by estate size and complexity, but probate counsel in the city generally charges between $2,000 and $8,000 for straightforward estates, with hourly rates applying if disputes arise or the process lengthens.

How it compares to other Baltimore options

The Baltimore estate-planning market includes solo practitioners, small general practices, and larger firms with dedicated estate teams. Spertus Landes, a general practice with an estate group, takes a similar flat-fee approach to routine documents but tends to specialize in more complex high-net-worth planning and charitable planning structures. For a basic will or trust, Spertus is often pricier; for a detailed plan involving business succession or charitable remainder trusts, the depth of their expertise may justify the cost.

Simon & Matz focuses primarily on probate and estate litigation, making it the right fit if an estate faces a will challenge, a beneficiary dispute, or an executor duty question. For straightforward planning and administration, Simon & Matz is over-specialized and correspondingly more expensive.

Thomason & Hessmer's competitive advantage lies in the real-estate overlay. If an estate includes a rental property, a deed dispute, or a sale required to satisfy estate debts, the same firm handles both the estate plan and the property clearance. That continuity saves time and prevents gaps in communication between separate counsel. For estate plans that involve no real property beyond a primary residence, the real-estate depth provides no advantage; a solo practitioner or smaller firm might be more economical.

Who this firm suits and who it does not

Thomason & Hessmer is well-matched to Baltimore property owners with modest to moderate estates (typically under $2 million liquid assets) who want straightforward planning documents and someone capable of handling a potential property transaction as part of the administration. The firm works well for small business owners who need a will, trust, and disability planning, especially if the business owns real estate.

The firm is not the right choice for complex tax planning involving multiple trusts, charitable remainder trusts, or sophisticated income-splitting arrangements. Baltimore-based firms with larger trusts and estates departments handle that tier of planning more routinely. It is also not a match for families already in active litigation over an estate or a will; litigation-forward practices such as Simon & Matz or an estate-litigation boutique are better equipped.

What the first visit involves

Initial consultations are typically one hour. The attorney will ask about the estate's composition (liquid assets, real property, business interests), family structure, and any existing documents. If property is involved, expect questions about ownership structure (joint, in one name, in trust), whether there are liens, and whether the property is likely to be sold or retained by heirs. The attorney will then outline which documents are needed and whether the estate's structure warrants a trust or can proceed by will and probate. A quote and engagement letter follow.

Hours, location, and logistics

The firm maintains offices in Canton. Appointment scheduling is by phone or email; specific hours and parking details vary by location and should be confirmed directly. Most estate-planning work at the firm is conducted through initial consultation, document drafting, and execution meetings; follow-up work during administration is often handled remotely or by mail.

Thomason & Hessmer fills a practical niche in Baltimore's legal market: it manages the overlap between estate planning and real-property ownership that affects many Baltimore families and small business owners, particularly in neighborhoods where multigenerational property holding and rental ownership are common.