Will Your Child Become Little Orphan Annie?
Be Prepared! Although I was never a Boy Scout, their motto rings true for all of us. I remember my early days of being a first-time mom and the effort and skill it took to pack the diaper bag. I never knew what to expect so I planned for every contingency… diapers, wipes, toys, extra […]
Estate Planning, From Google
Many people are now drafting special portions of their estate plans to incorporate their digital assets. A recent article discusses how Google has now incorporated digital estate planning into its long list of offerings in order to make it easier for users to plan for their digital afterlife. Google has recently announced its “Inactive Account […]
Financial Steps to Protect Your Family
No one wants to face the reality of an unexpected death. However, more often than not, death comes before we are ready. A recent article discusses several steps a person can take to ensure that his or her family is cared in the event of the unexpected. Purchase a Term Life Insurance Policy A life […]
Five Things to Look for in a Guardian for your Children
If a parent dies without a will and there is no surviving parent to care for the child, the court will determine who will care for the child. The court may not choose the person you would want to raise your child, so the best thing you can do is name one yourself. Before naming […]
Important Estate Planning Step: The Personal Inventory
Even for those who have a valid estate plan in place, certain crisis situations may render the estate plan impractical when family members or loved ones are forced to quickly step in and take the reins of your life. A recent article suggests taking a personal inventory in order to address this issue. A good […]
Tend to Your Estate Plan with a Green Thumb
Gardens are a form of autobiography. ~Sydney Eddison, Horticulture magazine, August/September 1993 Spring is a wonderful time to start planting flower and vegetable gardens. It is fun to create your space and determine where each plant will grow. You have to prepare the ground of course: sometimes fertilize, rake, bring in some new top soil. […]
Vidal Sassoon Disinherited Son
2012 marked the death of British hairdresser and shampoo mogul, Vidal Sassoon. According to a recent article, Sassoon had disinherited his adopted son shortly before his death. Moreover, his will also blocked his three ex-wives from receiving any part of his approximately $150 million estate. Sassoon did not approve of his adopted son’s lifestyle, and […]
Are You Playing Russian Roulette With Your Family? Why Estate Planning Is Urgent
Attorneys love to ask questions. So here are two to start. Will you live forever? Do you know when and how you will die? If you answered no to both of these questions (and you should have) estate planning should be one of your highest priorities. Why? Because families are most vulnerable when they […]
Do You Have An “Empty” Trust?
A Revocable Living Trust is the single most effective estate and disability planning tool. About 20% of Americans have invested in creating this valuable planning document and yet many of those do not follow through with the next important step and “fund” their trust. A trust is like an impenetrable vault. It can be fire […]
Take Caution When Designating Beneficiaries
People can name the person they would like to be beneficiary on a variety of accounts and financial devices. This is advantageous because the assets that have a named beneficiary transfer outside of probate, saving heirs time and money. However, many people forget that a beneficiary designation on many documents will override their will. A […]