Estate Planning

For some people, their dog, cat, bird, horse, or other animal is more than a pet, it is a family member. Because of this, they may worry about who will care for their pet if they die before the animal does. This is especially true if their pet requires specialized care because it has medical issues or other specific needs. If you have pets, there are many ways you can include provisions for your furry friends in your estate plans. There are several different estate planning tools that can help […]

If you have been asked by a friend or a loved one to be the executor of his or her estate, you might be tempted to simply say yes immediately. After all, you have a close relationship with that person, and it is the right thing to do, is it not? However, the full scope of your responsibilities might not become clear until the time comes for you to fulfill your role, whether you are ready or not. In my practice as an estate planning and administration attorney, I have […]

If you are being honest with yourself, you most likely realize that it would be best for you to have some type of estate plan in place. At the very least, you should have a last will and testament. Most of us understand that it is generally better to make our own decisions regarding our assets than to allow the state to make decisions about them when we die. To be blunt, we cannot take our money and property with us, which means that there should be some sort of […]

According to estimates from the federal government, an overwhelming majority of American adults support the idea of organ donation. In fact, the concept has the support of 95 percent of the U.S. adult population. With this in mind, it is a bit perplexing to realize that only 58 percent are actually registered organ donors! In my practice as an estate planning attorney, I am often approached by clients who have questions about organ donation and how to include their wishes regarding the matter in their estate plans. Fortunately for those […]

The period immediately following the death of a close loved one is nearly always challenging, even if the death was the result of a long illness or health problems dating back many years. In the midst of your grief, it can be very troubling to discover that the will your loved one created was recently updated in a manner that seems to be suspicious. This is especially true if the recent changes seem to benefit one beneficiary in particular. If you have any reason to suspect that the heir in […]

While the internet has been around in some form since the late 1960s, its expansion in the last three decades has literally changed the world. Today, almost every part of our lives is or can be connected to the internet, including our education systems and even our household appliances. In my practice as an attorney, I have also witnessed how the internet affects people’s approach to various areas of the law, including their concerns regarding estate planning. Currently, hundreds—and possibly thousands—of websites purport to offer advice on estate planning as […]

As an experienced estate planning attorney, I frequently remind clients of the many advantages to creating an estate plan. Although a shocking number of Americans do not have estate plans in place, drafting a will, trust, or or other estate planning document can greatly benefit you as well as your loved ones your loved ones. Not only does estate planning put you in charge of your healthcare, property, and finances, having estate plans also saves your family burdensome decision-making responsibilities. Complications with estate plans can arise, however, when an individual […]

In my numerous years as an estate planning attorney, I have helped many people achieve their personal and financial goals through a personalized estate plan. Whether it is drafting a will, trust, guardianship, or other estate planning document, having a comprehensive estate plan puts you in control of personal decisions instead of leaving these important decisions up to loved ones or the state. When a person with a will passes away, that will must go through a formal court process called probate. There are many reasons that people wish to […]

According to the law, a person cannot enter into a legally binding contract such as a will or trust if they cannot fully understand what they are agreeing to. Many wills have been contested by family members who had concerns about their deceased loved one’s testamentary capacity, or cognitive wellness. In my experience as an estate planning lawyer, I have helped clients who worried that their loved one’s will did not accurately reflect their loved one’s final wishes. Lack of testamentary capacity is one of the most common reasons wills […]

When the “Queen of Soul” Aretha Franklin died last year, there was a great deal written about how she died without a will or any other type of estate plan in place. In fact, I even discussed that very topic in a post on this blog around the time of her death. In recent months, however, reports have surfaced indicating that several handwritten wills were found in the singer’s home. The wills were reportedly signed and dated, but they were neither notarized nor witnessed, so there are still many questions […]