I need to know just a few specific things about the law in Maryland and who I can leave things to in my will. I want to know - the big thing: Can you leave your house, deeded in my name only, purchased 16 years prior to marriage and paid off, to anyone that I want to? I want to have my house sold when I die, and the proceeds split up between some friends and my family - leaving out my husband and his family? Can I rest easy knowing that can be done after I am gone?

You probably can but you need to verify your plans, with a good attorney.

Generally, inheritance laws deal with an estate where there is no will. If you have a will, the provisions will generally be followed. But if you plan on not leaving anything to your spouse, you really should have a lawyer create the will for you to make sure it will stand up.

In Maryland a husband must be left at least 1/3 of the estate, things that you owned before the marriage may be able to be excluded, however the community property portion of the home 1/2 of the increase in value from date of marriage to date of death or divorce could be his.