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Issue 32.15 Throughout my twenty years as an estate planning attorney, I have experienced the effects of the above question. Too often, the problem has been that estate planning has not been discussed. I always advise my clients to let their family members know that they have done estate planning and where the documents are […] Issue 27.15 The situation is common. A client has a will or trust prepared by legal counsel. Sometime later the client wishes to make changes to the estate plan. The question is, how should those changes be made? First, one should never hand write or type changes to the face of an existing will or […] Issue 22.15 You or someone you know may own unmarketable assets as a result of the death of a previous owner. The asset may be real estate, stock in a corporation or some other asset. The title is unmarketable because the property is in the name of the deceased individual. Many times when someone dies […] Issue 17.15 Serving clients as an estate planning attorney for almost 20 years, I have helped many widows and widowers with marriages later in life. For the most part, these have been good experiences for the couple, but sometimes a bit challenging for the families. Often, older couples have to cope with adult children who […] Issue 7.15 Whether your spouse has just passed away or you have lost your mom or dad, the emotional trauma of losing a loved one often comes with a bewildering array of financial and legal issues demanding attention. It is difficult enough for family members to handle the emotional trauma of a death, let alone […] Issue 2.15 Many people have pets that they are devoted and attached to. Perhaps you are concerned about what would happen to your pets if you were no longer able to take care of them. Below are answers to the most commonly asked questions. Can I provide for my pets if I am unable to […] Issue 47.14 Costly mistakes can be made when doing estate planning. In most cases, mistakes are made by well-intentioned people who failed to take advantage of opportunities to accumulate wealth, shelter assets from estate tax, and protect estates for future generations. Some common estate-planning mistakes are listed here. By exercising care now, you can save […] Issue 42.14 Many people are familiar with Trusts. In recent years, a Trust has become a popular Will substitute. Many people have decided to use a Trust as opposed to a Will in doing their Estate Planning. The primary purpose is to avoid probate and maintain privacy at the time of one’s death. However, many […] Issue 37.14 You created a trust to avoid probate and facilitate the administration of your estate. This is a good decision. However, it is critical to know that trusts only avoid probate if your assets are transferred into the trust. This process of transferring assets to the trust is called funding the trust. The type […] Issue 32 & 33.14 Second marriages later in life can be wonderful experiences and often should be encouraged, but they are not without some special considerations. Often, older couples have to cope with adult children who cannot understand why mom or dad wants to remarry. By updating one’s estate plan, many concerns related to […] |
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