MATTHEW PENATER

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Principal

The Penater Law Firm

Matthew Penater specializes exclusively in estates & trusts and related fields, including tax and business succession. He serves clients with high net worth and complex family situations, creating effective estate plans. His expertise encompasses asset protection, blended families, estate tax planning, special needs arrangements, business succession planning and probate avoidance.

Complementing his estate planning practice, Penater administers estates and trusts involving complex issues. His administration services include traditional probate matters and preparation of fiduciary income tax returns and estate tax returns (Maryland and Federal) when necessary.

This comprehensive experience enables Penater to provide complete estates & trusts representation. Additionally, he serves as an Independent Professional Trustee, ensuring trust assets are managed and distributed according to trust agreements and applicable law.

What’s the most important thing you do in your job?

The most important thing I do in my job is ensuring our clients receive the attention and quality of legal work they expect. Attention to detail is the name of the game in complex estate planning and administration.

What is one aspect of your profession you would like to change?

There is a perception that estate planning is simple. That could not be further from the truth and I would like that perception to change. Good estate planning takes all aspects of a person’s personal, financial and familial situation into consideration.

As unconventional relationships/family situations become more common, such as domestic partnerships, the planning becomes even more complex.

If you weren’t in this industry, what would you be doing?

I would love to be a stay-at-home dad.

Honoree profiles were written using an artificial intelligence program and supported by information provided by the honoree. Each profile was reviewed, fact–checked and edited for accuracy by The Daily Record editorial staff.

This profile is part of The Daily Record's Estate & Trust Law Power List for 2025. Information used in this profile was sourced from the honoree. See the full list at thedailyrecord.com.