Hello, I’m Kendra Riley, Esq.
I help adults in Maryland and DC create plans that make their wishes known by putting it in writing.
How Did I Get Here?
In 2011 my mother died without a plan, and my sister and I were suddenly thrust into the probate system with no experience, learning fast while also grieving.
That experience taught me a hard truth: when someone dies intestate, state law—not family—sets the rules. This led me to shift my focus to estate planning and probate.
I keep my guidance straightforward, while always remembering a law school professor who taught me that estate planning is about building a relationship, not just a transaction and filing paperwork.
Prior to attending law school, I spent six years teaching elementary school in Prince George’s County, MD. It was my love for teaching and a desire to help ensure equity in education for my special needs students that lead me to go to law school.
After graduating from law school in 2004, I worked in civil rights enforcement, specifically enforcing laws against race-based, gender-based and disability-based discrimination in education. The death of my mother in 2011, forced me into a crash course on estate planning and probate. Having personally experienced the probate process, I learned the importance of estate/legacy planning. Since 2021, my legal focus has shifted to the area of estate planning.
In 2023, I became a member of the National Network of Estate Planning Attorneys ™. Through the Network, I have gained substantive legal training in estate planning and developed relationships with leading authorities in the estate planning field.
If you are ready to plan for those you love, schedule a consultation. I look forward to working with you.
I’m a native Marylander who graduated from La Reine High School. I earned a B.A. in history and an M.A. in elementary education at Catholic University and I taught in Prince George’s County for six years; that classroom experience still shapes how I work—explain the why, make the next step obvious.
Law school led me to civil-rights enforcement, where I focused on discrimination in education.
I still think like a teacher. In the classroom I learned that clarity and order aren’t nice-to-haves—they’re how people move forward. That’s how I practice law: explain the why, set a structure, and make the next step obvious.
Civil-rights enforcement taught me something else: process and fairness matter. Files need to be clean, deadlines met, and decisions documented so they stand up. I carry that discipline into every plan and every probate file.
As your life changes, so should your estate plan – Kendra Riley, Esq.
Most clients come to me because they want to avoid probate, protect the people they choose—including partners and minor children, and avoid estate tax. I’ll always tell you what you need, and what you don’t.
Outside the office, I’m a student of taekwondo, a quilter, and a professional chauffeur for my daughter. Discipline, patience, and preparation are also essential here.
If you’re ready to put your decisions in writing, book your Truth Talk. If you’re here because a loved one has died and an estate needs to be settled, schedule a probate consult. You lead with your choices; I’ll handle the legal aspects and paperwork.
Most of my work comes through referrals, so if you know someone who could use my services, passing my name along means the world.
