PRACTICE FOCUS
Lee Carpenter, a Principal attorney in the firm’s Estates and Trusts practice, has extensive experience with estate planning and probate, trust administration, and general business and corporate law. He strives to create a welcoming environment where clients of all backgrounds can feel comfortable discussing their legal needs. Lee’s mission is to be an active listener, an effective strategist, and a trusted adviser.
Lee prepares comprehensive estate plans using wills, powers of attorney, advance medical directives, real estate deeds, and other planning tools. He may also create trusts to help avoid probate, minimize estate taxes, provide for young children, or care for someone with special needs. When someone has died, Lee can help navigate the complexities of the probate process and trust administration, acting as either the attorney or personal representative/trustee. For couples considering marriage, Lee explains the legal benefits of tying the knot, and the potential drawbacks. He can also suggest steps to take in connection with getting married, such as preparing a prenuptial agreement.
Lee’s practice includes a special emphasis on the unique needs of same-sex couples and other members of the LGBTQ community. As an active member of the community himself, he has testified before the Maryland General Assembly in favor of pro-LGBTQ legislation. Lee is also a board member and pro bono attorney at FreeState Justice, a Maryland nonprofit that advocates on behalf of the state’s LGBTQ residents.
For several years, Lee has taught Estates & Trusts at the University of Maryland Carey School of Law as an adjunct professor. He is a frequent author and lecturer on topics related to estate planning and LGBTQ law.
RECOGNITIONS
- Accredited Estate Planner® (AEP®) designation from the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils
- The Baltimore Community Foundation’s Professional Advisors Recognition Society
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
- “State of the LGBTQ+ Community,” panel discussion hosted by the Baltimore Banner, August 2022
- “Working with Members of the LGBTQ Community,” MSBA 2021 Legal Summit, June 2021
- “Advantageous to All: Simple Strategies for Giving at Year’s End,” Baltimore Symphony Orchestra panel discussion, October 2020
- “Estate Planning for the LGBTQ Community,” MSBA Estates & Trusts Study Group, January 2020
- “Working with the LGBTQ Community,” lunch-and-learn series in Baltimore, Chicago, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, Boston, Miami, and Washington, 2019–2020
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