Episode 91 – Wills, Women & Wealth Podcast Protecting Your Home: What Every Homeowner Should Know About Estate Planning In this practical and empowering episode, “Protecting Your Home: What Every Homeowner Should Know About Estate Planning,” Attorney Elsa W. Smith explores an issue many homeowners overlook: owning a home is only part of the equation. How that home is titled, who owns it, and how ownership fits into your estate plan can have significant consequences for you and your family. For many women, a home represents years of saving, sacrifice, hard work, and financial progress. But buying a home and protecting it are two different things. Elsa explains why homeowners should think beyond the closing table and consider how their property will be managed during incapacity, what could happen when they die, and whether their current ownership structure actually supports their wishes. In this episode, Elsa addresses a common strategy parents use when they want to make things easier for their adult children: adding a child to the deed. While it may seem like a simple way to transfer a home or avoid probate, it can create unintended consequences involving control of the property, creditors, divorce, taxes, and future family disputes. She also discusses what happens when a homeowner later wants to remove someone from the deed—and why changing ownership is not as simple as crossing out a name. Once someone becomes a legal owner, they have rights in the property, which can make an ownership change far more complicated than expected. In this episode, you'll learn: Why buying a home should be followed by thoughtful estate planning Why your deed and estate plan need to work together The potential risks of adding an adult child to your deed How creditors, lawsuits, divorce, and taxes can affect jointly owned property Why removing someone from a deed may be more complicated than expected What questions to ask before changing how your property is owned Why ownership decisions should support your larger estate planning goals Most importantly, this episode reminds us that building wealth matters, but protecting what you've built helps create a lasting legacy. Your home is more than a piece of property—it may represent decades of work, sacrifice, and financial progress. Making intentional decisions about ownership can help ensure that your property supports, rather than undermines, the legacy you're creating. Whether you're a new homeowner, considering adding a child to your deed, trying to change an existing ownership arrangement, or simply wondering whether your current deed still makes sense, this episode offers practical education to help you pause, ask the right questions, and make informed decisions about one of your most valuable assets. Portions of this episode were originally recorded as educational videos and have been adapted for this podcast episode. SUBSCRIBEFollow the podcast and leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5-star review—it helps more women and professionals access this empowering information. STAY CONNECTED ✔️ Connect with Attorney Elsa W. Smith: Linktree – Elsa W. Smith Law ✔️ Visit us at @elsawsmithlaw ✔️ Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube ✔️ Book a complimentary 15-minute assessment call for estate planning, probate, or business formation (MD & DC only) DISCLAIMERSInformation 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 Law Offices of Elsa W. Smith, LLC—a wills, estate planning, and probate firm serving Maryland and the District of Columbia. © 2026 Law Offices of Elsa W. Smith, LLC. All rights reserved.
