Elville and Associates Blog

Webinar - Who Should Serve as Trustee? Making One of Estate Planning’s Most Important Choices
2026-02-27 10:00 - 11:15 (America/New_York)
Selecting a trustee is one of the most important—and often underestimated—decisions in the estate planning process. The individual or institution you choose will be responsible for carrying out your wishes, managing assets, navigating family dynamics, and exercising judgment during some of life’s most sensitive moments.
In this educational webinar, Stephen R. Elville, Managing Principal and Lead Attorney of Elville and Associates, guides attendees through the trustee selection process and explains why thoughtful planning in this area is essential to the long-term success of any estate plan.
This presentation is designed to help individuals, families, and professional advisors understand the real-world responsibilities of trustees, the risks associated with poor or outdated selections, and how proper trustee succession planning can prevent disruption, conflict, and unintended outcomes.
Topics of discussion will include:

What a trustee is and the legal and practical responsibilities the role entails

The different types of trustees—individual, professional, and corporate—and the advantages and limitations of each

Establishing realistic benchmarks for selecting the “right” trustee

Why trustee selection plays a critical role in effective estate and trust administration

Trustee succession planning and why it is often overlooked, yet vital

The role of trustees in both wills and trusts

When and why appointing a corporate trustee may be appropriate

Understanding and mitigating “successor trustee risk”

To RSVP for the webinar and receive your personal link to attend, please click here.
Should you have questions prior to the event, please contact Jeff Stauffer, Community Relations Director and webinar moderator, at jeff@elvilleassociates.com or 443-393-7696 x117. We look forward to hosting you.

Webinar - Before You Sell and Move: The Conversations No One Has — But Should
2026-03-13 10:00 - 11:15
Selling a home and moving are two of the most significant—and sometimes stressful—life transitions families face. Yet too often, critical information is missed, questions go unasked, and decisions are made without a full understanding of the legal, financial, and logistical consequences.

In this educational webinar, Elville and Associates brings together trusted professionals to discuss conversations most people don’t realize they need before listing a home or scheduling a move.

Victoria Hathaway, Director of The Silver Group of The Bob Lucido Team of Keller WilliamsLucido Agency, will share candid insights into what sellers should know—but are rarely told—about timing, pricing, preparation, disclosures, and common pitfalls that can create unnecessary stress, delays, or financial loss.

Charna Kinneberg, Senior Move Manager (SMM-C) and Executive Vice President of Moyer Move Management, will then demystify the moving industry, explaining the differences between movers and move managers, common mistakes families make, and what to consider when downsizing, coordinating a complex move, or navigating a transition driven by aging, health, or estate administration.

Moderated by Elville and Associates, the program will tie these perspectives together through the lens of intentional planning—highlighting how real estate decisions, moving logistics, and legal planning intersect, and why education and coordination can help avert a crisis.

This webinar is designed for homeowners, seniors, adult children, and caregivers seeking clear, practical guidance to make informed decisions and reduce stress during major life transitions.

To RSVP and receive your personal link to attend, please click here.

Questions? Please contact Jeff Stauffer at jeff@elvilleassociates.com, 443-393-7696 x117. We look forward to hosting you!

Webinar: The Elville Client Care Program - Structured Stewardship for Planning That Endures
2026-04-03 10:00 - 10:45
Estate planning is not a single moment in time. It is a long-term commitment to alignment, clarity, and stewardship.
While many families thoughtfully create estate planning documents, fewer implement a structured system to ensure those documents remain effective as life evolves. Over time, assets change, beneficiaries shift, trustees age, tax laws adjust, and family dynamics develop. Without intentional review and coordination, even well-drafted plans can drift out of alignment.
This presentation explores:

Why estate plans fail over time — and how to prevent it

The difference between ownership and stewardship in legacy planning

The importance of annual asset alignment and beneficiary coordination

How structured legal recalibration protects long-term outcomes

The value of education, advisor collaboration, and ongoing accountability

We will also discuss how the Elville Client Care Program provides a disciplined framework for maintaining planning continuity — helping ensure your estate plan works, time and time again.
This program is ideal for individuals and families who believe planning should be proactive, structured, and responsive to life’s changes.
To RSVP and receive your personal link to attend, please click here.
Questions ahead of time? Contact Jeff Stauffer at 443-393-7696 x117 or jeff@elvilleassociates.com.
#elvilleeducation
#elvillewebinarseries

Webinar - Guardianship and the Alternatives: Making Informed, Compassionate Decisions for Your Loved One
2026-04-17 10:00 - 11:15
Guardianship is often misunderstood.
Many families assume it is the natural next step when a loved one turns 18 with disabilities, or when cognitive decline begins later in life. In reality, guardianship is a court-supervised process that can remove significant legal rights and impose ongoing oversight.
It is a powerful tool — but also the most restrictive option available.
In this educational presentation, Stephen R. Elville, Managing Principal of Elville and Associates, explores:

What guardianship means under Maryland law

The differences between Guardian of the Person and Guardian of the Property

The legal and emotional implications of removing rights

Supported Decision Making (SDM) and Maryland’s 2022 legislation

Powers of Attorney and Advance Medical Directives

How families can determine whether guardianship is truly necessary

This webinar is ideal for:

Parents of young adults with special needs

Families facing Alzheimer’s or dementia

Individuals planning proactively for incapacity

Financial and healthcare professionals serving vulnerable clients

At Elville and Associates, we believe guardianship decisions should never be rushed or fear-based. They require education, careful analysis, and compassionate collaboration.
Register today to better understand your options and make informed decisions for your loved one. To receive your personal link to attend, please click here.

Webinar: Planning with Intention - The Estate Planning Process That Endures
2026-04-24 10:00 - 11:15
At Elville and Associates, we believe estate planning excellence is not accidental—it is intentional.
Many individuals want an estate plan that truly works: one that reflects their values, protects the people they love, transfers assets as intended, controls costs, adapts to change, and stands the test of time. They want clarity, confidence, and peace of mind—knowing their plan will function when it matters most.
Yet too often, estate planning is reduced to documents alone. Without a thoughtful process, ongoing guidance, and a clear understanding of risks, even well-intended plans can fail.
Achieving true excellence in estate planning requires more. It requires purpose, partnership, education, and a disciplined planning process—one that evolves as life unfolds. In short, it requires being extremely intentional.
In this cornerstone educational webinar, Stephen R. Elville, Managing Principal and Lead Attorney of Elville and Associates, will lead a meaningful discussion on Intentionalism in Estate Planning—the philosophy and process that guides the firm’s approach to protecting families and legacies.
Topics will include:

Why intentionality matters in estate planning—and what happens when it’s missing

Understanding the real risks that cause estate plans to fail

Clarifying goals, priorities, and values before documents are drafted

Why many estate plans do not work as intended, despite good intentions

The importance of maintenance, review, and updating over time

The critical role of partnership between client and estate planning attorney

This webinar is ideal for individuals and families who want more than documents—who want a plan that works, adapts, and endures.
To RSVP and receive your personal link to attend, please click here.
Should you have any questions prior to the webinar, please contact Jeff Stauffer, Community Relations Director, at jeff@elvilleassociates.com or 443-393-7696, x117
We look forward to hosting you!

Webinar: Protecting What Matters Most - Estate Planning and Elder Law Explained
2026-05-20 10:00 - 11:15
Presented by Elville and Associates’ Managing Principal and Lead Attorney, Stephen R. Elville, this in-depth educational webinar provides a comprehensive look at modern estate and elder law planning—and why thoughtful, proactive planning is essential to protecting both families and legacies.
Estate planning today is far more than drafting documents. It requires a coordinated process that addresses legal, financial, medical, tax, and long-term care considerations—while remaining flexible enough to adapt as laws, family dynamics, and personal circumstances change. In this webinar, Steve Elville will guide attendees through the critical elements of effective planning and explain how to avoid the common pitfalls that cause plans to fail when they are needed most.
Topics will include:

What a true estate plan is—and why a structured planning process matters as much as the documents themselves

Why many estate plans fail in practice, and how proper education, coordination, and maintenance can prevent costly mistakes

Wills versus trusts, and how probate and non-probate assets work together (or against each other) in real life

The critical role of financial powers of attorney, advance medical directives, and MOLST forms in protecting autonomy and decision-making

How elder law, taxation, asset protection, and long-term care planning intersect in today’s legal landscape

The risks of outdated or incomplete documents, and how they can create unintended consequences for families

Why flexibility is essential to successful planning—and how to design a plan that evolves while still preserving your legacy

How to get started, what to expect from a well-designed planning process, and the next steps toward confident, informed planning

This webinar is ideal for individuals and families who want clarity, control, and peace of mind—and who understand that great planning is not just about today, but about preparing wisely for the future.
To RSVP for the webinar and receive your personal link to attend, please click here.
Questions before the webinar?Please contact Community Relations Director Jeff Stauffer at jeff@elvilleassociates.com or 443-393-7696 x117.
We look forward to hosting you and supporting your planning journey!
#elvilleeducation
