Common Law Marriage: The Intersection Between Family and Probate Law
Our director of legal services, Katherine Flores, gave a presentation covering common law marriage and the intersection between family law and probate law. The presentation explored challenges that arise while proving a common law marriage and underscored the critical importance of establishing the elements of a common law marriage in probate cases. View / Download […]
Estate Planning: What is it?
Nearly Everyone Has An Estate Your estate is simply everything you own – your car, home, bank accounts, life insurance, personal possessions, etc. Some estates are large, some are small, but just about everybody has one. What do they all have in common? You can’t take it with you when you die. Only two things […]
Considerations When Naming an Executor in your Will
One important consideration in your will is naming an executor. This is the person designated to bear the task of carrying out the terms of your will. The executor of an estate is a fiduciary. This means that they owe fiduciary duties to the beneficiaries of your will when performing their responsibilities during the probate […]
Special Needs Trust: What to Know About Estate Planning with Special Needs Children
When you begin the estate planning process, it is important to consider any special circumstances in your life that may need to be factored into your estate planning. One of the most common special circumstances arises when you have child with special needs. If you have a child with special needs, you may need to […]
Naming an Executor: What You Should Know
When having a will drafted, one of the important things to consider is naming an executor. This is the person designated to bear the task of carrying out the terms of the will. The executor of an estate is a fiduciary. They owe fiduciary duties to the beneficiaries when performing their responsibilities during the probate […]
Why You Should Never DIY Estate Planning
Please, we beg of you: Don’t go the do-it-yourself route. There are many internet sites, television and radio ads telling us how easy it is to write your own Will. You may have even heard a family member talk about a hand-written Will, but they don’t tell you about the dangers. There are several things […]
Top Ten Questions to Ask When Estate Planning
Now That You Have Decided to Create Your Estate Plan, You Want to Be Sure You Cover All Your Bases and Leave Nothing Out. An experienced Estate Planning attorney will help you go over various scenarios and be certain you have everything covered in all the right documents. While not a comprehensive list, here are […]
A Brief Guide to Estate Planning
Nearly Everyone Has an Estate To many, Estate Planning sounds like something only the wealthy must worry about. When we hear the word “estate,” mental pictures of large homes and massive acreage come to mind. Perhaps we even imagine generation after generation inheriting old money and old properties. For these reasons, many have no idea […]
What is the Difference Between a Will and a Living Trust, and Which One Do I Need?
What Is Probate? Probate is the court process that takes place after someone dies. During probate, the decedent’s Will is proven valid, then his or her property gets identified, inventoried, appraised, and distributed after any payments to debts and/or taxes. Probate typically involves paperwork and court appearances by attorneys. The estate property pays legal and […]
Same-Sex Couples & Estate Planning
Your estate is everything you own – your car, home, bank accounts, life insurance, personal possessions, etc. Some estates are large, some are small, but just about everybody has one. What do all estates have in common? You can’t take it with you when you die. In honor of pride month, we are focusing on […]