Can I Make Handwritten Changes to My Will
Becky Cholewka: A question I get a lot is, “Becky, can I make a handwritten change to one of my legal documents?” Handwritten changes very rarely work. A lot of it will depend on the rules of the state that you execute that document in, what the rules of valid execution are. For example, there […]
How Often Should You Review Your Estate Plan?
Becky Cholewka: I always like assigning homework to my clients. It’s fun for me, because it’s something that somebody else has to do instead of me. One of the things of homework that I always assign is to make sure that my clients pick an important date, some date that they will remember, an anniversary, […]
The difference between simple and typical documents
Becky Cholewka: One of the things I hear all the time, probably about 3-4 times a week in my office is “Becky, you know what, I’m simple. I just need simple documents.” What I really think people are trying to tell me is that they are “typical”. Maybe they have a checking account, and a […]
How Often Should You Review Your Estate Plan?
Becky Cholewka: I always like assigning homework to my clients. It’s fun for me, because it’s something that somebody else has to do instead of me. One of the things of homework that I always assign is to make sure that my clients pick an important date, some date that they will remember, an anniversary, […]
Living Wills for Pets
In the same way that many people have difficulty thinking of and planning for their own mortality, they struggle when considering a pet’s mortality. We love our furry friends; planning for the day we lose them is something most people prefer to avoid. However, putting your wishes in writing is an important step to […]
Recognizing the Importance of Living Wills
A living will is a type of advance directive delineating your preferences for end-of-life care in the event you become incapable of making your wishes known. Age does not dictate these crises; they can happen at any time. For anyone over the age of 18, advance directives ensure you receive the level of care […]
Three Ways To Make Life Easier For Your Family
1. Create an Estate Plan An estate plan can include a last will and testament, powers of attorney, as well as other important documents which can make life easier for your family, not only when you die, but also while you are still alive! None of us wants to think about our own mortality but […]
Don’t Hope For An Inheritance, Ask For It
A Massachusetts court has ruled that simply rendering help or services to someone in the hope that it will result in a payment from that person’s estate is not enough to guarantee payment. In this case, reported on elderlawanswers.com, Suzanne Cheney performed many services for her stepfather, Anthony Turco, and expected to receive a share […]
Even More Estate Planning Pitfalls
Estate planning is one of the most important things that an individual will do in his or her lifetime. Every individual needs an estate plan, regardless of his or her age or circumstances. Because the need for an estate plan is so universal, there are many examples of estate planning gone wrong for others to […]
Charitable Estate Planning
After one spouse dies, the surviving spouse often chooses to leave the entirety of his or her estate to his or her surviving children. Although this is the most common arrangement, it is certainly not the only option for post-death distribution of assets. In drafting an estate plan, a person can leave his or her […]
