Law Offices of Elsa W. Smith, LLC / Oficinas Legales de Elsa W. Smith, LLC

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Law Offices of Elsa W. Smith, LLC / Oficinas Legales de Elsa W. Smith, LLC Our team is dedicated to empowering women through estate planning. Learn more here: https://linktr.ee/elsawsmithlaw The Law Offices of Elsa W.

Smith LLC is dedicated to empowering women through estate planning.

10/16/2026

¿Está pensando en la planificación patrimonial, pero no sabe por dónde empezar? ¡Le guiamos paso a paso!

Así puede comenzar:

1. Programe una llamada gratuita de asesoramiento de 15 minutos con nuestra coordinadora de atención al cliente. Esta llamada inicial no es con la abogada. Es una oportunidad para conversar sobre sus necesidades y determinar si una consulta con la abogada es el siguiente paso adecuado.

2. Programe su consulta con la abogada para hablar sobre sus objetivos de planificación patrimonial y explorar las opciones que mejor se adapten a sus necesidades.

• Queremos que se sienta informada y preparada desde el principio.
Llame a nuestra oficina al 410-995-7719 o visite elsawsmithlaw.com para programar su llamada gratuita de asesoramiento de 15 minutos.

10/16/2026

Thinking about estate planning but not sure where to start? We’ll walk you through the process!

Here’s how to get started:

1. Schedule a complimentary 15-minute assessment call with our Client Success Coordinator. This initial call is not with the attorney. It’s an opportunity to discuss your needs and determine whether an attorney consultation is the right next step.

2. Book your attorney consultation to discuss your estate planning goals and explore the options that best fit your needs.

We want you to feel informed and prepared from the very beginning.
Call our office at 410-995-7719 or visit elsawsmithlaw.com to schedule your complimentary 15-minute assessment call. — link in bio.

10/14/2026

Episode 94 (Encore): Aquanetta Betts | Building a Legacy Through Strategic Charitable Giving

We’re bringing back one of our most inspiring conversations in this special encore presentation of Episode 86. In this episode, Attorney Elsa W. Smith sits down with philanthropy strategist and legacy advocate Aquanetta Betts to explore how charitable giving can become a meaningful part of a woman’s legacy.
As the founder and principal consultant of Johnson Betts, LLC, Aquanetta helps individuals and organizations develop intentional philanthropic strategies. She explains why giving isn't reserved for the ultra-wealthy and how women can align their resources, values, and life experiences with the causes that matter most.
Together, Elsa and Aquanetta discuss practical ways to incorporate charitable giving into an estate plan, use beneficiary designations to support charitable causes, and create a lasting impact that extends beyond a lifetime. They also explore how families can balance supporting loved ones with giving back, why reviewing charitable goals and beneficiary designations matters, and how even modest resources can help create meaningful change.
Whether you’re just beginning to consider charitable giving or looking for new ways to make your resources reflect your values, this encore episode is a reminder that building a legacy is about more than what you leave behind. It’s about the opportunities you create, the communities you strengthen, and the values you pass forward for generations to come.
What You’ll Learn:

✅Why philanthropy is not just for wealthy families
✅How charitable giving can become a meaningful part of your legacy
✅The importance of identifying specific causes instead of giving broadly
✅Practical ways to align charitable giving with your personal values and lived experiences
✅Why charitable giving often resonates deeply with professional women and communities of color
✅How charitable gifts can be incorporated into an estate plan
✅Ways beneficiary designations on life insurance policies and financial accounts can support charitable causes
✅How major life transitions often inspire people to think differently about legacy and giving

SUBSCRIBE
Follow this podcast and leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5-star review—it helps more women and families access this empowering information.
STAY CONNECTED WITH OUR GUEST
✔️ Connect with Aquanetta Betts on LinkedIn:
✔️ Learn more about her work and charitable giving initiatives: JohnsonBetts.com
STAY CONNECTED WITH THE HOST
✔️ Connect with Attorney Elsa W. Smith: https://linktr.ee/elsawsmithlaw
✔️ Visit us at elsawsmithlaw.com
✔️ Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube
✔️ Book a complimentary 15-minute assessment call for estate planning, probate, or business formation (MD & DC only)
DISCLAIMERS
Information in this podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship. Please do your own due diligence before hiring an attorney.
SPONSOR
This podcast is sponsored by the Law Offices of Elsa W. Smith, LLC—a wills, estate planning, and probate firm serving Maryland and the District of Columbia. Learn more at elsawsmithlaw.com.
© 2026 Law Offices of Elsa W. Smith, LLC. All rights reserved.

Test your knowledge with our Trust Concepts Crossword Challenge.Understanding trust concepts is an important step toward...
10/13/2026

Test your knowledge with our Trust Concepts Crossword Challenge.

Understanding trust concepts is an important step toward becoming more informed about your estate planning options.

Got all the trust concepts right? Swipe to reveal the answers!
--> Schedule your complimentary 15-minute assessment call — link in bio.

Probate can come with unfamiliar terms and processes.You don’t have to navigate them alone. We assist clients with Admin...
10/10/2026

Probate can come with unfamiliar terms and processes.
You don’t have to navigate them alone.

We assist clients with Administrative Estate matters and can help you understand what to expect throughout the process.

• Book a complimentary 15-minute assessment call for estate planning, probate, or business formation (MD & DC only) –Link in bio

10/09/2026

¿Está pensando en incluir a un descendiente en la escritura de su casa? Piénselo dos veces.

Incluir a un descendiente en la escritura puede parecer una forma sencilla de transferirle su casa, pero podría generar consecuencias fiscales inesperadas y afectar su control sobre la propiedad.

Antes de tomar esta decisión, explore sus opciones y encuentre una estrategia que se ajuste a sus objetivos de planificación patrimonial.

• ¿Necesita ayuda para comenzar? Programe una llamada gratuita de asesoramiento de 15 minutos, sin compromiso, con nuestro equipo. Haga clic en el enlace de nuestra biografía.

10/09/2026

Thinking about adding your child to your home’s deed? Think twice.

Adding a child to your deed may seem like a simple way to pass on your home, but it could create unexpected tax consequences and affect your control over the property.

Before making this decision, explore your options and find a strategy that aligns with your estate planning goals.
• Need help getting started? Book a complimentary 15-minute assessment call for estate planning, probate, or business formation (MD & DC only) –Link in bio

Today, Attorney Elsa W. Smith had the opportunity to share her estate planning perspective with colleagues across the Ma...
10/08/2026

Today, Attorney Elsa W. Smith had the opportunity to share her estate planning perspective with colleagues across the Maryland legal community.
Attorney Smith was invited to present to the Maryland State Bar Association’s Estate & Trust Law Section Study Group on:
“Will or Revocable Trust? How Do You Decide? A Practical Conversation About Choosing the Right Estate Planning Tool.”

Her presentation explored an important question in estate planning:
How do we determine which planning structure is right for a particular client?

One of the key themes she shared was simple but powerful:
Don’t start with the document. Start with the client.
The goals, assets, family circumstances, risks, and administrative realities should drive the recommendation—not a presumption that one document is automatically “better” than another.

And as a member of the Law Offices of Elsa W. Smith team, one thing we see firsthand is how much Attorney Smith values the opportunity to teach and learn at the same time.
Preparing to teach other attorneys challenges her to examine the reasoning behind her recommendations, sharpen her analysis, and make sure the focus remains where it belongs: on the client and the planning problem.

We’re grateful to the Estate & Trust Law Section Study Group for inviting Attorney Smith to be part of today’s session and for creating space for meaningful professional dialogue.
As Attorney Smith emphasized in her presentation:
“The document is important. But the judgment that leads us to the document is the real estate planning work.”

We’re proud to see Attorney Smith continuing to teach, learn, and elevate the practice of estate planning.

October is carrying two powerful messages this year, and both of them are pointing in the same direction. Breast Cancer ...
10/08/2026

October is carrying two powerful messages this year, and both of them are pointing in the same direction.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month reminds us to face uncertainty with courage and take action before we think we need to.

Estate Planning Awareness Month asks us to do the same thing — for our families, our legacies, and everyone who depends on us.

This month, we are honoring both. Because protecting your health and protecting your legacy are not separate acts of love. They are the same one.

Save this post. Share it with a woman in your life who needs to hear it this October.
• Ready to take a closer look at your estate plan? --> Book a complimentary 15-minute assessment call for estate planning, probate, or business formation (MD & DC only) –Link in bio

She worked her entire life for her family. But she didn't have an estate plan. And when she was gone, the family had to...
10/05/2026

She worked her entire life for her family. But she didn't have an estate plan. And when she was gone, the family had to navigate grief and legal confusion at the same time — because no one had ever sat down with her and made it simple.

This Hispanic Heritage Month, we honor the women who came before us by doing what they never had access to.

We plan. We protect. We make sure the next generation inherits clarity — not confusion.
This one is for your abuela. And for every woman in your family who deserves better than what the system gave them.

• Programe una llamada de asesoramiento gratuita de 15 minutos con nuestro equipo. (Residentes en MD o DC) El enlace está en la biografía.

Address

1125 West Street, Suite 200
Annapolis, MD
21401

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+14109957719

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