by Christine | Oct 23, 2015 | Litigation Probate, Will Contest, Wills |
If the bitter feud between the estranged wife of baseball legend Ernie Banks and his estate wasn’t bad enough, the latest development in this odd case is likely to leave everyone involved empty-handed. An estate planning attorney can help you make a more...
by Christine | Oct 22, 2015 | Probate, Wills |
Probate records are part of the public record and can be seen by anyone. But judges do have the ability to seal probate records if they deem it necessary or appropriate. One case in Oklahoma shows how unusual it is for this to happen. Those who wish to keep their...
by Christine | Oct 21, 2015 | Litigation Probate, Wills |
It’s hard to imagine legendary guitarist Jimi Hendrix preparing a will; only 27 when he died, he likely did not have a great deal of assets. However, his estate grew after his death, and his not having a will, combined with a lopsided will of his father, led to years...
by Christine | Oct 20, 2015 | Probate |
What happens when someone renting an apartment or a home passes away? While the distribution of assets does not include rental property, the estate includes a liability – the lease that secured the apartment for its occupant An elderly woman wrote to The New...
by Christine | Oct 19, 2015 | Estate Planning, Estates |
When it comes to battles over personal possessions in estate matters, it is rarely because those involved intend to liquidate the items for revenue. Usually, the fight is rooted in an emotional struggle and centers on long-standing hurts and resentments. That’s likely...
by Christine | Oct 16, 2015 | Estate Tax |
The estate tax, enacted 100 years ago on September 8, 1915, when revenue was needed to fight a war, is a polarizing tax with enemies and friends on both sides of a big divide. One would think that any tax or law that makes it to the hundred year mark must be a good...
by Christine | Oct 15, 2015 | Wills |
The European Union has put into effect new rules on inheritance laws that allow people to select which country’s laws they want to have applied to their wills. Americans who own property in the EU that they wish to pass on through their estate need to prepare for this...
by Christine | Oct 14, 2015 | Uncategorized |
The brochures look more like travel adventure materials than information for long term care facilities for frail and cognitively impaired seniors. Scenic mountain views and adobe style mansions with gourmet chefs and a schedule of daily activities is not what most of...
by Christine | Oct 13, 2015 | Dementia, Estate Planning |
When a loved one has Alzheimer’s, advanced planning for legal and financial matters becomes even more important than in day-to-day estate planning. Ideally, planning well in advance, before the disease has taken a toll on the person’s cognitive abilities, may give...
by Christine | Oct 13, 2015 | Elder Law, Estate Planning, Medi-Cal, Medi-Cal Long Term Care |
Let’s clarify the difference between estate planning and elder law. Estate planning focuses mainly on transferring assets after death, and elder law addresses issues about caring for someone who needs, or may need, long term care. In many circumstances, these two...
