My fiance and I are 1st-time homebuyers, and I originally went to Mr. Valkenet for advice on a real property/title question about the process for changing my fiance’s last name on the deed after the wedding.

Mr. Valkenet’s response was both timely and comprehensive, but more importantly, he went a step further and explained that from his perspective the real issue we should consider was the different types of joint-ownership recognized in Maryland. He then provided a detailed description of each of the 3 types and how our eligibility for Tenancy by the Entireties would change when our marital status changed.

His thoroughness demonstrated his full command of the applicable legal concepts, and a real value in Mr. Valkenet’s service was his ability to explain the different types of joint-ownership in such a way that a non-legal person could understand them. He provided “real-life examples” that illustrated how the 3 different types of ownership would change the result of a given situation.

He also gave some information about the process of executing a quitclaim deed and made himself available for any additional questions we may have.

While an answer to my original question would have been great in and of itself, Mr. Valkenet went the extra mile to explain an issue he perceived to be more relevant for us–an issue we may have never really recognized on our own. Mr. Valkenet provided a great combination of technical expertise and customer service.