James D. Walsh - a Columbia, United States Estates and Trusts Lawyer

Columbia Estates and Trusts Lawyer

Updated: 02/28/2026

Areas of Practice

Estates and Trusts
Taxation
Wealth Preservation
Estate and Trust Administration
Elder Law
Guardianships
Special Needs Planning
Business Succession Planning

Attorney Information

Overview

James D. Walsh has been practicing law in Maryland for 35 years in the fields of estate planning, estate and trust administration, wills and probate, tax law, and business law. Jim is also a former certified public accountant for over 30 years, a background that allows him to bring a unique, tax-driven perspective to all his estate planning work. He frequently represents clients in tax controversies with IRS and state tax authorities in precedent-setting cases, such as Pfeufer v. Cyphers (Court of Appeals of Maryland 2007).

James D. Walsh has an AV Preeminent* rating under Martindale Hubbell’s peer review rating processTM, the highest possible rating that an attorney can receive from his or her peers. He is frequently in demand as a speaker on estate and tax issues for professional, legal, and accounting organizations, as well as community groups, and has served as an expert witness in both the Orphans’ and Circuit Courts.

He has also used his legal experience in the community by serving on the Howard County Board of Appeals, which is an appointed five-member citizen panel that hears appeals from the decisions of various Howard County government agencies. He is currently serving his second five-year term on the board, and has been elected chairperson three times by his fellow members of the panel. In 2011, he was a member of the Howard County Charter Review Commission, which is a 15-member citizen panel that reviews the Howard County Charter and makes recommendations for changes to the County Council.

Jim earned his B.S. and B.A. from John Carroll University in 1978 and his J.D. cum laude and Order of the Coif honors from University of Toledo College of Law in 1983. He was admitted to the Maryland State Bar in 1983 and the U.S. Tax Court Bar in 1984. Jim has spoken at several different events, including the Maryland Institute for Continuing Professional Education of Lawyers, Maryland State Bar Association, Maryland Association of Certified Public Accountants, National Business Institute, and the Association of Practicing Accountants. He is a member of several professional associations, including the Baltimore Estate Planning Council, Howard County Bar Association, Martindale-Hubbell Legal Directory, and Bar Foundation for Howard County. He has also chaired or co-chaired the Maryland State Bar Association, Maryland Certified Public Accountants, and the Howard County Board of Appeals.

Education

Legal Education
- University of Toledo College of Law, Toledo, Ohio, 1983
  J.D.
  Honors: cum laude
Non Legal Education
- John Carroll University, Cleveland, Ohio, 1978
  B.S.B.A
  Honors: Order of the Coif

Current Employment Position(s)

```
Attorney
```

Classes and Seminars

Speaker, Maryland Institute for Continuing Professional Education of Lawyers (MICPEL)
Speaker, Maryland State Bar Association
Speaker, Maryland Association of Certified Public Accountants (MACPA)
Speaker, National Business Institute
Speaker, Association of Practicing Accountants

Representative Cases

Pfeufer v. Cyphers, 397 Md. 643, 919 A.2d 641 (Court of Appeals of Maryland 2007)

Bar Admissions

Maryland, 1983
U.S. Tax Court, 1984

Other Affiliations

Baltimore Estate Planning Council, 1998 - Present (Member)
Maryland State Bar Association, Inc., Sections on Estate and Trust Law, 1984 - Present (Member, past Co-Chair)
American Bar Association, Sections on Probate and Trust Law, Taxation, Real Property, 1984 - Present (Member)
Howard County Bar Association, Sections on Estate/Trust and Elder Law, 1997 - Present (Member)
Maryland Certified Public Accountants, 1984 - Present (Member, past Chair)
Martindale-Hubbell Legal Directory
Bar Foundation for Howard County, 2012 - Present

Be the first to write a review!

There are currently no reviews for James D. Walsh. Be the first to share your experience.

Write a Review

Contact

Columbia, MD

5840 Banneker Road
Suite 100
Columbia, MD 21044

Directions

Phone: 410-746-0113

Fax: 443-542-0476

Email: Send a message

Websites:

Credit Cards Accepted
Free Consultations

Disclaimer

Your Profile? Update Now

When viewing a listing, consider the state advertising restrictions to which lawyers and law firms must adhere, as well as our FindLaw.com Legal Directory disclaimer. Some lawyers publish comparative information regarding the services that they provide which may be subject to specific comparative communications restrictions.

How do I choose a lawyer?

Consider the following:

Comfort Level – Are you comfortable telling the lawyer personal information? Does the lawyer seem interested in solving your problem?
Credentials – How long has the lawyer been in practice? Has the lawyer worked on other cases similar to yours?
Cost – How are the lawyer's fees structured — hourly or flat fee? Can the lawyer estimate the cost of your case?
City – Is the lawyer's office conveniently located?

Not sure what questions to ask a lawyer?

Here are a few to get you started:

How long have you been in practice?
How many cases like mine have you handled?
How often do you settle cases out of court?
What are your fees and costs?
What are the next steps?

Want to check lawyer discipline?

It is always a good idea to research your lawyer prior to hiring. Every state has a disciplinary organization that monitors attorneys, their licenses, and consumer complaints. By researching lawyer discipline you can:

Ensure the attorney is currently licensed to practice in your state
Gain an understanding of his or her historical disciplinary record, if any.
Determine the seriousness of complaints/issues which could range from late bar fees to more serious issues requiring disciplinary action.

James D. Walsh - Columbia, MD