by Christine | Nov 25, 2013 | Beneficiary Designation, Estate Planning, Probate, Wills |
A will may say to divide an estate equally among three children. But if a particular account is titled to pass to just one, only that beneficiary will get the account. Your Last Will and Testament is the legal document to put your wishes in writing and get it all...
by Christine | Oct 28, 2013 | Debt, Estate Law, Estate Planning, Probate |
Can a bank collect a credit card debt owed by your deceased parent or spouse? The answer depends on a range of factors, from whether it was a joint account to where the deceased person lived. Although probate can put some undo stress on an already stressful...
by Christine | Aug 5, 2013 | Beneficiary, Estates, Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA), Probate, Wills |
The only time your Will would control who gets your IRA is if your estate is the beneficiary. Generally, it’s not a good idea to name your estate as the beneficiary of your IRA. Even though you made sure to prepare your Last Will and Testament, it is not always the...
by Christine | Jul 30, 2013 | Estate Law, Estate Planning, Probate |
When James Gandolfini, one of the most recognizable actors of the last decade, died of a heart attack while on vacation last month, the response was as intense as you might have expected for the man who was Tony Soprano. But then something odd happened: a few weeks...
by Christine | Jun 13, 2013 | Estate Planning, Probate |
To avoid probate, the spouses should establish revocable trusts and transfer their property to the trusts during their lifetime. Estate planning may seem easy between spouses, but beware of the pitfalls of probate. The law tends to put a number of things on...
by Christine | May 13, 2013 | Estate Law, Estate Planning, Marriage, Probate |
If a conflict of interest arises in fact between the spouses, their estate planning attorney should withdraw and advise the spouses to retain separate counsel. Having represented both of the spouses, the attorney may not thereafter represent one of them against...