Todd J. Bornstein

Partner
Phone: (301) 634-3104
Fax: (301) 986-1301

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.

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  • PRACTICE AREAS
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    • Estate Planning/Trust & Estate Administration
    • Estates & Trusts Litigation
    • Tax Planning
    • Corporate/Business
    • Marital Agreements/Domestic Relations/Family Law
    • Medicaid Planning
  • EDUCATION
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    • University of Maryland School of Law, Baltimore, Maryland, 1999
      J.D. With Honors
    • Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, 1992
      B.B.A., Accounting
      With High Distinction
  • ADMISSIONS & CERTIFICATIONS
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    • District of Columbia, 2011
    • Maryland, 1999
    • U.S. District Court District of Maryland, 2000
    • Certified Public Accountant, State of Maryland, 1993
  • OTHER
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      Judicial Clerkships:

    • Circuit Court of Baltimore City, 1999-2000
      Professional Associations and Memberships:

    • The Maryland State Bar Association; Estates and Trusts Section: Council Member, 2019-Present; Member, 2000-Present
    • The Maryland State Bar Association
      Taxation Section: Council, Chair, 2011-2012; Chair Elect, 2010-2011; Secretary/Treasurer, 2009-2010; Member, 2005-Present
    • The Maryland State Bar Association; Advanced Tax Institute, Co-Chair, 2004-2018
    • The Maryland State Bar Association, Elder Law Section Member, 2010-Present
      Classes/Seminars Taught:

    • “Estate Planning – Overview of Probate, Private Avoidance, Estate & Gift Taxes, & Trusts” Maryland State Bar Association – Estate Planning Series, August 26. 2021 
    • “Trusts Used in Estate Planning” Maryland Association of Certified Public Accountants-Anne Arundel County Chapter, June 7, 2021
    • “How to Protect Assets When Trying to Qualify for Medicaid”. Councilor, Buchanan & Mitchell, P.C., February 23, 2021
    • “Benefits of Trusts In Your Estate Plan”, BECO Management, January 26, 2021
    • “Estate & Gift Tax, Trusts & Estate Planning Techniques”, Lanigan, Ryan, Malcolm & Doyle, P.C., October 28, 2020
    • “Estate Tax, Asset Protection, Marital Planning & Medicaid Planning” , Penan and Scott, P.C., Continuing Education for Accountants, February 12, 2019
    • “Elder Law & Medicaid Planning: Tax Considerations”, Penan and Scott, P.C., March 13, 2018
    • “Estate Planning For Certified Public Accountants”, Penan and Scott, P.C., February 28, 2018
    • “Estate & Income Tax Strategies With Trusts”, Santos, Postal & Company, P.C., August 15, 2017
    • “Trimming Down Income Taxation of Trusts & Estates”, National Business Institute, June 22, 2017
    • “Estate & Income Tax Planning With Trusts” Alliance Bernstein, May 22, 2017
    • “Estate & Income Tax Planning With Trusts”, Lanigan, Ryan, Malcolm & Doyle, P.C., January 17, 2017
    • “Tax Considerations-What Estate Planning Attorneys Need to Know in Order to Choose the Right Plan”, National Business Institute, June 7, 2016
    • “Estate & Income Tax Strategies With Trusts”, Penan and Scott, P.C., June 6, 2016
    • “Trusts – What Accountants Need to Know”, Berlin Ramos & Company, P.A., November 7, 2013
    • “Trusts Used In Estate Planning”, Lanigan, Ryan, Malcolm & Doyle, P.C., November 16, 2012
    • “The ABCs of Estate Planning,”, HSBC Bank USA, November 14, 2010
    • “Status of Estate Planning-Minimizing Estate Tax”, Alpha Omega International Dental Fraternity, April 2, 2008
    • “Basic Estate Planning”, Department of Justice, April 2, 2008
    • “Pre- and Post-Mortem Planning for Non-Probate Assets”, MICPEL, 2003
    • “I.R.C. 645 Election During Estate Administration”, AICPA National Conference, 2001  
      Honors and Awards:

    • Edward H. Curlander Prize, Best Work in Estate Planning
      University of Maryland Law School, 1999
    • Judge Morton Fisher Memorial Prize, Best Work in Federal Income Tax
      University of Maryland Law School, 1998
    • Alumni Association Course Award, Best Work in Business Associations
      University of Maryland Law School, 1997
    • Judge Morton Fisher Memorial Prize, Best Work in Estate and Gift Tax
      University of Maryland Law School, 1997
      Pro Bono Activities:

    • The Maryland State Bar Association, 2005-Present
    • Taxation Section, Council Member
      Co-Chair of Pro Bono Committee (2006)
    • Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service
      Income Tax Preparation Clinic, 1999-2009
    • Wills For Heroes, Instructor/Volunteer, 2005-Present
      Contributing Author:

    • MSBA’s Treatise – Using & Drafting Trusts in Estate Planning – 2023 Revised Edition