Estate planning, elder law, family transitions, business planning – the legal issues that affect your family are always evolving. Jennifer writes regularly to keep you informed, educated, and empowered. Browse the latest articles below, or search by topic to find what you’re looking for.
The world of estate planning can be complex. If you have just started your research or are in the process of setting up your estate plan, you’ve likely encountered discussions of wills and trusts. While most people have a very basic understanding of a last will and testament, trusts are often foreign concepts. Two of the most common types of trusts used in...
When a person dies with a Will in place, a Personal Representative or Executor is named as the responsible individual for winding down the decedent's affairs. In situations in which a Will has not been prepared, the probate court will appoint someone to that role. Whether you have been named or appointed, the role comes with certain responsibilities...
Today, blended families have become increasingly common, and many individuals have stepchildren. In situations where stepchildren have not been legally adopted, however, they do not have a legal right to an inheritance from a stepparent. For those who wish to leave stepchildren part of their estate, it is necessary to include them in an estate plan. There...
In spite of the vast amount of financial information that is currently available in the media and via the internet, many people either do not understand estate planning or underestimate its importance. Here's a look at the top five estate planning mistakes that need to be avoided. Not Having an Estate Plan The most common mistake is not having an estate...
Life insurance can be an integral part of an estate plan. Policies can be set up to be paid directly to the beneficiary, without the need to pass through the estate. Having a life insurance policy ensures that some assets will be liquid, so that debts and expenses can be paid quickly and easily without the need to dispose of assets. Beneficiaries can be...
This question presents a fairly common issue posed to estate planning attorneys. The solution is also pretty easy to address in your will, trust and other estate planning documents, including any guardianship appointment for your minor children. First, it is important to note that you should not delay establishing an estate plan pending the birth of a new...
When it comes to estate planning, many individuals believe that dividing assets equally among adult children is the best choice. However, there are situations in which leaving each child the same amount might not be practical. For this reason, it is important to know the difference between an equal inheritance and an equitable inheritance, in which each...
Timeshares are a popular piece of property for people who enjoy vacationing. But timeshares can create complications when it comes to estate planning. If you have a timeshare you need to consider how it will be handled in the event of your death. You may have some options in how to handle the transfer. It is important to investigate what documents the...
Properly drafted estate planning documents are integral to the success of your legacy and end-of-life wishes. Iron-clad estate planning documents, written by a knowledgeable attorney can make the difference between the success and failure of having your wishes carried out. However, there’s more to estate planning than paperwork. For your wishes to have the...
Imagine if writing a last will and testament were a pre-requisite to graduating from high school. The graduate walks across the stage, hands the completed will to the principal, and gets the diploma in return. Now that might seem a little extreme, but the truth of the matter is all adults should complete some basic estate planning. Think you don’t need an...
So, you have a will, but is it valid? A will can be contested for a multitude of reasons after it is presented to a probate court. It is in your best interest to have an attorney draft the will to prevent any ambiguity in the provisions of the document that others could dispute later. A will may be targeted on grounds of fraud, mental incapacity,...
A durable power of attorney is an important part of an estate plan. With a power of attorney a preselected agent can be granted power over the financial affairs of the individual signing the document. This power can be limited to specific decisions, like handling the closing of a real estate sale, or it can be much broader in scope to allow the agent power...