Frame & Frame Attorneys at Law in Baltimore: Wills, Trusts, and Probate Work for Mid-Market Estates

Frame & Frame Attorneys at Law is a general-practice law firm in Baltimore focusing on estate planning, probate administration, and trust management for individuals and families seeking to avoid probate or simplify asset transfer after death.

What Frame & Frame actually is

Frame & Frame operates as a two-attorney firm with a narrow focus within the larger estate law landscape. Unlike solo practitioners who handle estate work as one service among many, or large firms where probate clients often get junior associates, Frame & Frame maintains probate and trust administration as a core practice area. The firm is based in Baltimore and serves primarily Baltimore County and Maryland clients, though they handle some out-of-state estate matters when a Maryland-based trustee or executor is involved.

Services and pricing

The firm offers three main services: will drafting, revocable living trust creation, and probate administration.

Will drafting (simple, no trust) costs $400 to $600 per person for an individual will with one or two beneficiaries and no contested assets. A spousal pair negotiating a joint estate structure may pay $800 to $1,200 combined. These prices include one revision round.

Revocable living trust creation, where assets transfer into a trust during life to bypass probate, ranges from $1,500 to $3,000 depending on the complexity of the asset list and whether the client needs a pour-over will (a document that catches assets not transferred to the trust during life and directs them into the trust at death). Trust pricing includes deed preparation for real property transfer into the trust, which Maryland requires.

Probate administration (court filing, asset inventory, creditor notification, final accounting, and distribution) is quoted case-by-case; the firm typically charges $2,500 to $5,000 for a straightforward probate where the will is unchallenged and the estate is under $300,000. More complex probates with multiple properties, tax returns, or contested claims cost considerably more. The firm does not charge contingency fees for probate; all work is billed hourly (typically $150 to $200 per hour for associate attorney time) or as a flat fee for the full probate process.

All fees should be confirmed directly, as rates adjust annually.

How Frame & Frame compares to other Baltimore wills and probate attorneys

Baltimore has three main tiers of estate planning and probate providers:

Solo practitioners and small two-attorney firms like Frame & Frame typically charge $400 to $900 for wills and $1,500 to $3,500 for trusts. Turnaround is usually 10 to 14 days after your final client meeting. These are best for straightforward estates under $500,000 with clear heirs and no family conflict.

Mid-size firms (five to fifteen attorneys) such as those with dedicated trusts-and-estates departments charge $800 to $1,500 for a simple will and $3,000 to $6,000 for a trust. They may require initial consultations at no cost and offer more sophisticated tax planning for high-net-worth clients. Probate administration may run $4,000 to $10,000. Choose these when you have multiple properties, significant tax exposure, or blended-family issues requiring detailed trust language.

Large Baltimore firms (Whiteford Taylor & Preston, Miles & Stockbridge) charge $1,500 and up for wills and $5,000 to $15,000-plus for trusts. They are appropriate for estates over $2 million, second marriages requiring intricate trust structures, or clients with business interests where succession planning is critical.

Frame & Frame's advantage lies in speed, lower cost, and direct attorney contact. The disadvantage is limited availability for tax planning, special needs trusts, or charitable giving strategies.

Who it suits and who it does not suit

Frame & Frame is appropriate for residents of Baltimore who have a spouse and minor children, own one to three properties, have straightforward assets (cash, retirement accounts, a vehicle or two), and want a will or trust completed without extensive meetings. It suits widows or widowers with modest estates who need probate administration.

It is not the right fit for business owners needing buy-sell agreements tied to a trust, clients with adult disabled beneficiaries requiring special needs trusts, families with contested wills or ongoing disputes, or high-net-worth individuals (estates over $1.5 million) seeking tax minimization strategies.

What the first visit involves

The initial consultation is typically 30 minutes to one hour, held in the firm's Baltimore office or by phone. The attorney asks about your family structure, the location and rough value of your assets, who you want to inherit, and whether you have existing documents. If you decide to proceed, you will receive a client intake form asking for the same information in writing, along with a fee estimate. Drafting begins after you sign the engagement letter. You will review a draft in writing (by email or in-office), request changes, and sign at a second appointment.

Hours, parking, and logistics

Frame & Frame maintains office hours Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The firm is located on a Baltimore street with on-street parking; confirm the exact address and whether paid or free parking is available when you call. Appointments can typically be scheduled within one to two weeks. The firm accepts phone and email communication for status updates and questions.

Frame & Frame earns its place in Baltimore's estate law landscape by offering fast, affordable will and trust work for clients with straightforward family situations and modest estates, without the overhead costs or wait times of larger firms.