Todd Bornstein sees himself as part teacher, part technician in helping his Estate Planning clients through the increasingly complex process of designing a plan that fits their needs–and puts them at ease. He educates them as to the available options and places a premium on making sure they absolutely understand both the immediate and long-term benefits of what he is recommending. It requires them to trust both Todd’s personal integrity and his professional skills; his loyal and ever-expanding client list is a testament to that trust.
Following in his father’s footsteps as both a lawyer and an accountant, Todd began his career as a CPA before pursuing a legal career. That dual dimension background has served him well in his Estate Planning, Estate & Trust Administration work, preparing Estate & Gift tax returns, prenuptial agreements and representing clients in Estate & Trust litigation. He has also handled numerous estate tax IRS audits, some of which involved large multimillion dollar matters of considerable complexity.
In fulfilling his instructional instincts, Todd teaches estate planning, estate tax, and trust and estate income tax Continuing Education courses for accounting firms. Todd regularly teaches advanced estate planning courses to other estate planning attorneys through the continuing education program of the Maryland State Bar Association (“MSBA”). Todd has taught estate planning and Medicaid planning seminars and webinars to many organizations, including the Department of Justice and the AICPA National Tax Conference.
He believes strongly in giving back to the legal profession, and community, having served as co-chair of the Maryland State Bar Association’s (MSBA) Pro Bono Committee. Since 2005, Todd has also been active in the Wills for Heroes program, serving as an instructor/reviewer teaching estate planning to volunteer attorneys who prepare wills and powers of attorney for police officers, firefighters, military officers and other first responders.
After graduating with a J.D. (with honors) from the University of Maryland School Of Law, Todd completed a judicial clerkship at the Circuit Court of Baltimore City. He is currently a member of the MSBA’s Estates and Trusts Section Council, serving on a legislation committee tasked to draft legislation to improve the laws governing statutory powers of attorney. Todd also serves as the Council’s liaison with the MSBA’s Elder Law Section Council. Todd served as a member for many years, and ultimately became the chair of, the MSBA’s Taxation Section Council. Todd was also past co-chair of the Maryland State Bar Association & Maryland Association of Certified Public Accountants Advanced Tax Institute. He is admitted to practice in Maryland, the District of Columbia and the U.S. District Court’s District of Maryland.
Articles and Publications
- “Shielding Your Children’s Inheritance in the Event of a Divorce,” Bethesda Magazine, October 18, 2024; SelzerGurvitch.com, October 25, 2024
- “Maryland Has a New Statutory Form Personal Financial Power of Attorney,” Bethesda Magazine, December 18, 2023; SelzerGurvitch.com, January 16, 2024
- Contributing Author, MSBA’s Treatise – Using & Drafting Trusts in Estate Planning – 2023 Revised Edition
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