I was talking to another estate planning recently and discussing how much of our work involves assisting clients who have blended families. Blended families generally refers to clients who are married but at least one of the spouses has a child from a previous relationship. In comparing stories and ways that we can assist clients, […]
Sometimes probate can be a simple process. Sometimes it can be a royal nightmare… and sometimes it can be an expensive royal nightmare. I’m not sure if it is a sign of the times or just a coincidence, but our office has had numerous estates where the probate has not been very easy. To give […]
In most states, when a person is named as an executor in the Will, the executor has an affirmative duty to defend the Will from Will contests. For example, if mom dies testate leaving her entire estate to child one, cutting out child number two, and child number two sues to say the Will is […]
In the spirit of the great film, Brewster’s Millions, Fox TV has come out with a new comedy called The Goodwin Games. You can see the first episode on Hulu if you want. I’m always a sucker for wacky Will scenarios, and this seems to fit right in. It appears to be about a father who […]
Unfortunately I have been given another reminder of how important it is to select appropriate executors for your Will, trustees for your trusts and agents in your financial powers of attorney. No matter how good an attorney does in drafting your estate planning documents, if there is a person in charge of the money who […]
Sometimes there is no preventing an estate litigation. When a family member steals items from the estate, or when the Will is poorly drafting making it confusing, litigation is sure to follow. However, most good estate attorneys will tell you, one of the biggest reasons that unnecessary litigation results is due to family members not […]