Organizational Authorized Legal Representatives

Frequently asked questions

What is an ALR?

An Authorized Legal Representative (ALR) is someone who is allowed under state and federal law to make decisions for the Maryland ABLE account beneficiary. There can be only one ALR per account, but regardless of who opens the account, the beneficiary is the sole owner of all the funds.

Does the ALR own the account with the beneficiary?

No. Regardless of who opens the account, the beneficiary is the sole owner of all the funds.

Can there be more than one ALR?

No. There can be only one ALR per account, but you can change an ALR by filling out a Change of Authorized Legal Representative Form.

As an ALR, can I open and/or manage more than one Maryland ABLE account?

Yes. As long as you meet the ALR qualifications, you can open and manage multiple Maryland ABLE accounts for beneficiaries as their ALR. Remember that each Maryland ABLE account can be connected to one or more bank accounts, and each beneficiary can have only one account at a time.

As an ALR, how do I add another Maryland ABLE account?

Start by logging in to your existing account. In the upper right corner of your screen, or in the navigation on your mobile device, find the icon next to your name that looks like a profile picture. Click on the arrow to enable a drop-down menu. Find the link that says, “Add account.” Click and follow the steps to create a new Maryland ABLE account.

Can an ALR and beneficiary both have an ABLE Visa® Card?

If you’re the ALR for someone, you can order a card for yourself to make purchases for the beneficiary, a card for the beneficiary, or both. Each card has its own balance and spending controls, so you decide how funds will be used. The beneficiary will not have access to all of the funds in the Maryland ABLE account. Beneficiaries can access only what has been loaded onto their ABLE Visa® Card.