Estate Planning Blogs - Law Blogs, Legal Blogs Directory & Search Engine

Law Office of Donald D. Vanarelli…

Law Office of Donald D. Vanarelli Blog

Covers New Jersey elder law and estate planning.

http://www.dvanarelli.com/blog

Jun 18
Ownership Of Joint And Payable-On-Death (“POD”) Accounts, Before And After Death: Who Owns What?

Ownership Of Joint And Payable-On-Death (“POD”) Accounts, Before And After Death: Who Owns What?

THE MULTIPLE-PARTY DEPOSIT ACCOUNT ACT Bank accounts are often established in the name of more than one party. Questions may arise regarding the rights of ownership of these accounts, during the lifetime of the owners or after an…
Jun 10
Court Finds Medicaid Applicant Who Paid Disabled Daughter’s Rent For Many Years Subject to Penalty Period

Court Finds Medicaid Applicant Who Paid Disabled Daughter’s Rent For Many Years Subject to Penalty Period

A Medicaid applicant who made payments to her daughter for more than four years and claimed those payments were made to cover the cost of monthly payments for her mentally ill daughter’s rent could not prove the payments were made for a…
Jun 7
NJ Federal Judge Finds Annuity Purchased By Spouse Of Medicaid Applicant With Couple’s Excess Resources Is An Exempt Asset

NJ Federal Judge Finds Annuity Purchased By Spouse Of Medicaid Applicant With Couple’s Excess Resources Is An Exempt Asset

A federal district court in New Jersey holds that an annuity purchased by the spouse of a Medicaid applicant with the couple’s countable resources which exceeded the resource limit under Medicaid is not a transfer for less than fair…

Rank this Week: 1313

Texas Wills and Trusts Law Online

Covers issues relating to wills, trusts, estate planning, and probate in Texas. By Rania Combs.

http://www.texaswillsandtrustslaw.com

Jun 17
Wacky Wednesday: Wills That Make You Go “Hmmm…” – Solomon Sanborn

Wacky Wednesday: Wills That Make You Go “Hmmm…” – Solomon Sanborn

NB: This post is part of a series highlighting wills that contain some interesting, and sometimes bizarre, bequests and stipulations. You can see all these posts here. Solomon Sanborn of Medford, Massachusetts was a patriot, and was…
Jun 5
Talking With Your Parents About Their Financial Affair

Talking With Your Parents About Their Financial Affair

Many elderly parents are uncomfortable sharing their finances with their children. An article I read recently suggested several reasons they may be wary. Some parents worry that their kids will lose motivation to work if they thought they…
May 29
Will The State Get All My Assets If I Die Without A Will?

Will The State Get All My Assets If I Die Without A Will?

The law gives you the freedom to decide how and to whom your assets are distributed when you die by making a Will. If you die without a Will, your assets will be distributed to your heirs according to a statutory formula. You can learn more…

Rank this Week: 1303

Long Island Estate Planning…

Long Island Estate Planning Questions & Answers

Covers estate planning, probate, wills, trusts, and guardianships. By Albert Gurevich.

http://longislandestatesattorney.com/faqs/

Jun 13
Long Island Estate Planning for Digital Asset

Long Island Estate Planning for Digital Asset

Effective estate planning should also include the protection of your digital assets, such as files stored on your website and other sites, your photos on Facebook, documents on your flash drive, your ecommerce accounts such as PayPal, e-bay,…
Jun 4
Selling Long Island Estate Property

Selling Long Island Estate Property

During the course of an estate administration, the decedent’s family home or other real estate may be sold. In most cases, the executor or administrator of the estate has the power to sell the property. Only property held in the held in…
May 29
Using a Trust is Better then Trusting Siblings to Do the Right Thing

Using a Trust is Better then Trusting Siblings to Do the Right Thing

I’ve had people ask me to draft a will where they would leave out a child in order to protect that child from creditors or spouse, or to keep government benefits. So they would leave the inheritance to other children, and have them…

Rank this Week: 1304

Elder Counsel Blog

Provides education and tools for Elder Law and Special Needs Attorneys.

http://www.eldercounselblog.com

Jun 13
Recent Happenings in the VA Pension Area

Recent Happenings in the VA Pension Area

Senate Hearing Yesterday the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs held a hearing on S. 748, the pending bill before the Senate that would impose, among other things, a penalty period for transfers made by veterans or surviving spouses…
Jun 4
Per Stirpes—The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Per Stirpes—The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

“Per stirpes,” “by representation,” and “per capita at each generation” are all descriptors that tell the reader how to allocate a gift among a person’s descendants. They are not shorthand for…
May 28
Cheers to the practice of Elder Law!

Cheers to the practice of Elder Law!

Cheers to the practice of Elder Law! Cheers to the brave and caring souls who help all those in need of exactly that. There is good reason to “toast” our industry. There is also precedence for such optimism. Living in Denver…

Rank this Week: 1310

Edwards Elder Law, P.A. Blog

Covers assisted living, elder law, estate planning, and long term care.

http://www.edwardselderlaw.com/blog/

Jun 11
Is a Simple Will Really the Answer?

Is a Simple Will Really the Answer?

I have had many people tell me they only need a simple will. They feel that they don’t own very much and when they die, they just want what they own to go to their spouse and/or their children. It … Continue reading…
Jun 4
Florida Probate Basics: Avoiding Probate Is Not Always the Right Answer

Florida Probate Basics: Avoiding Probate Is Not Always the Right Answer

Many times people will come into my office and tell me that they heard that they need to have a trust because they have to avoid probate. Probate has gotten a bad reputation, but going through probate is not always … Continue reading…
May 29
Aid and Attendance May Help Wartime Veterans and Their Surviving Spouses Cope With the Cost of Long-Term Care

Aid and Attendance May Help Wartime Veterans and Their Surviving Spouses Cope With the Cost of Long-Term Care

As we celebrate Memorial Day, it is a good time to once again let all wartime veterans and their surviving spouses know that a benefit is available through the Veterans Administration to help them with the costs of their long-term ……

Rank this Week: 1317

Your Minnesota Family Lawyer Blog

Covers family law, estate planning, and probate in Minnesota. By Jennifer R. Lewis Kannegieter.

http://www.yourminnesotafamilylawyerblog.com/

May 30
Estate Planning for Young Adults – the Documents that Every One Must Have

Estate Planning for Young Adults – the Documents that Every One Must Have

There are two big misconceptions when it comes to estate planning: 1. Only the rich need to worry about estate planning 2. Only people with kids need to worry about estate planning. When it comes to estate planning, young adults with…
May 23
5 Questions to Ask Before Hiring an Attorney

5 Questions to Ask Before Hiring an Attorney

1. What areas of law do you practice? Does the attorney limit their practice to one or two areas, or do they take the “Jack of all trades” approach? There are many different areas of law; if an attorney practices a little bit of…
May 16
5 Things Couples Need to Know Before Buying Real Estate

5 Things Couples Need to Know Before Buying Real Estate

Buying a house can be an exciting, and overwhelming, time. For couples purchasing real estate there are some legal consequences they should be aware of. All too often these consequences are not considered until the relationship…

Rank this Week: 1306

Future of the Federal Estate Tax

Covers estate tax reform. By Hani Sarji.

http://mhs.typepad.com/threepointfive-45/

Jul 4
[EOC]Let Freedom Ring With Gift Of Firearm

[EOC]Let Freedom Ring With Gift Of Firearm

My previous post highlights how Americans are generous, despite a challenging economy. An earlier post mentioned that donating firearms could help the donor, the donor’s family, the charitable organization, and all Americans who get a…
Jul 4
[EOC]Americans Are Generous, Despite Economy

[EOC]Americans Are Generous, Despite Economy

A recent report highlights the generosity of Americans. Giving USA 2011: The Annual Report on Philanthropy for the Year 2010 finds that Americans contributed about 2 percent of disposable income in 2010. The executive summary of the report…
Jul 4
[EOC]The Most Important Historical Gun In History Of United State

[EOC]The Most Important Historical Gun In History Of United State

I have been researching estate planning for firearms, and I came across a video that is worth sharing today, a day on which we celebrate the United States and reflect on its history. The video is about the Girandoni air rifle, which is on…

Rank this Week: 1311

Kansas & Missouri Estate Planning

Covers estate planning, elder law, asset protection, charitable giving, and business law. By Kyle E. Krull.

http://blog.kylekrull.com/kansas-missouri-estate-planning/

Jun 19
Pointers For Managing Finances For Senior Parents In Overland Park, KS

Pointers For Managing Finances For Senior Parents In Overland Park, KS

Families are dynamic, never static in Overland Park and elsewhere. We start out as children, but may live long enough to parent to our parents. It is a fact of life, especially when it comes to finances.
Jun 18
Warning – Your Ex-Spouse May Inherit Your Life Insurance In Overland Park, KS!

Warning – Your Ex-Spouse May Inherit Your Life Insurance In Overland Park, KS!

Few means of planning for the distribution of your assets are quite as useful, or quite as disastrous, as the simple beneficiary form. There is nothing simple about it, whether you are in Overland Park or elsewhere.
Jun 17
Estate Planning For Your Digital Assets In Overland Park, KS

Estate Planning For Your Digital Assets In Overland Park, KS

Back in the day, there were checkbooks, stock and bond certificates and hardcopy statements showing your dividends and interest. Then again, there were only a handful of television viewing options, a test pattern at the end of the broadcast…

Rank this Week: 1352

Duffy Law Office

Covers estate planning and elder law in Iowa.

http://www.duffylawoffice.com/blog/

Jun 18
Choose Solid Health Care Decision Maker

Choose Solid Health Care Decision Maker

Health care decisions may become necessary when you reach an advanced age, and you may not be able to communicate your own choices. For this reason it is important to choose a decision-maker in advance when you are planning your estate. This…
Jun 13
Planning, Prying & Probate

Planning, Prying & Probate

When you find out the details about the process of probate you may decide that you would like to employ probate avoidance strategies. If you state your wishes regarding the distribution of property that is in your personal possession at the…
Jun 11
Multimillionaire Blum Died Without a Will

Multimillionaire Blum Died Without a Will

Statistics indicate that the majority of American adults do not have a comprehensive estate plan in place. This is rather irresponsible because death is one of the certainties of life, and estate planning involves serious financial matters…

Rank this Week: 1340

Florida Probate Litigation Lawyer…

Florida Probate Litigation Lawyer Blog

Cover Florida probate litigation. By Chepenik & Trushin LLP.

http://www.floridaprobatelitigationlawyer.com/

Jun 13
With Low Interest Rates for June, Now is the Time to Think About Establishing a Charitable Lead Trust

With Low Interest Rates for June, Now is the Time to Think About Establishing a Charitable Lead Trust

The IRS released a 1.2% interest rate under IRC § 7520 for June, which determines the present value of an annuity, an interest for life or term of years, or a remainder or reversionary interest. Rev. Rul. 2013-12 tbl. 5. With interests…
Jun 7
Michael Jackson’s estate sued by former star defense witness Wade Robson nearly four years after Jackson’s Death: How the suit would be handled under Florida law, Part 2

Michael Jackson’s estate sued by former star defense witness Wade Robson nearly four years after Jackson’s Death: How the suit would be handled under Florida law, Part 2

In addition to Florida’s strict two-year rule discussed last week in Part 1 of this blog post, there may also be shorter time periods to bring a claim depending on the type of creditor and the nature of the claim. Whereas Section…
Jun 3
Michael Jackson’s estate sued by former star defense witness Wade Robson nearly four years after Jackson’s Death: How the suit would be handled under Florida law, Part 1

Michael Jackson’s estate sued by former star defense witness Wade Robson nearly four years after Jackson’s Death: How the suit would be handled under Florida law, Part 1

June 25, 2013 will mark the four-year anniversary of the untimely demise of the man affectionately referred to by the masses as the King of Pop: Michael Joseph Jackson. Despite suffering from an infirmity that has ended the professional…

Rank this Week: 1344

Anderson, Dorn & Rader, Ltd. Blog

Covers estate planning, probate and living trusts in Nevada.

http://www.wealth-counselors.com/blog/

Jun 19
Estate Planning: Taxes Are Only Part of the Equation

Estate Planning: Taxes Are Only Part of the Equation

People that have assets that exceed the exclusion amount ($5.25 million in 2013) most certainly need to discuss tax efficiency strategies with a licensed estate planning attorney who places an emphasis on wealth preservation. However, there…
Jun 13
Think Twice Before Choosing Joint Ownership

Think Twice Before Choosing Joint Ownership

There are DIY legal document sites on the Internet that sell generic fill-in-the-blanks legal documents including last wills. Another type of do-it-yourself estate planning involves the use of joint ownership. It is possible to add a…
Jun 12
Life Insurance: Answers to Tax Question

Life Insurance: Answers to Tax Question

The role of Life insurance is extremely important when considering your estate plan. We would like to highlight three commonly asked questions about the tax implications, and provide the answers to them here. I have been made aware of…

Rank this Week: 1367

PrivateCounsel Blog

Covers estate planning and business law. By David Hiersekorn.

http://privatecounsel.com

Jun 13
What Does the Best Chicago Divorce Lawyer Have to Do With PrivateCounsel?

What Does the Best Chicago Divorce Lawyer Have to Do With PrivateCounsel?

Absolutely nothing. I know, you’re probably sitting there thinking “huh?” What? Has this guy lost his mind? Well, I decided to take a look at lawyer websites and see whether they were any good. I went looking for the best…
May 19
Website Relaunch

Website Relaunch

Allright, so this is a huge undertaking. But, it’s worth it. We are completely redoing our entire website from the ground up. Over the past several months, we’ve noticed the old site slowing down significantly. Often, it would…
May 1
How to Get a Copy of a Trust When the Trustee Won’t Hand It Over

How to Get a Copy of a Trust When the Trustee Won’t Hand It Over

While browsing Avvo.com, a legal help website, I saw a question posted asking how a person would go about getting a copy of a trust when they believe they are entitled to a distribution from that trust. This person had already asked the…

Rank this Week: 1371

The Probate Lawyer Family Feud…

The Probate Lawyer Family Feud Blog

Covers celebrity and true case stories on probate litigation. By Andrew Mayoras.

http://www.probatelawyerblog.com/

Jun 19
Anna Nicole Smith's Case Makes A Comeback

Anna Nicole Smith's Case Makes A Comeback

It’s now, officially, the Estate Fight That Refuses To Die! The quest for money started by Anna Nicole Smith — the former Playboy Playmate, stripper, TV reality star, and the true love of 89-year old Texas oil tycoon, J. Howard…
May 14
No Happy Mothers Day: Kobe Bryant Disputes Mother In Lawsuit

No Happy Mothers Day: Kobe Bryant Disputes Mother In Lawsuit

Kobe Bryant, long-time Los Angeles Laker and future Hall-of-Famer, is in a bitter feud with his own mother over ownership of memorabilia worth more than $1.5 million. He’s locked in a he-said, she-said dispute about whether he gave the…
May 9
Amanda Bynes' Comeback Could Begin With A Guardianship

Amanda Bynes' Comeback Could Begin With A Guardianship

Amanda Bynes came into the public eye as one of Nickelodeon’s sweethearts. Now friends and colleagues are so worried about her recent erratic behavior that they have been begging for police intervention. Her former publicist, Jonathan…

Rank this Week: 1388

John Rogers Burk

Covers estate planning and elder law in California.

http://www.roseville-estate-planning.com/blog/

Jun 12
Charitable Gifting and IRA’s Under the New Deal

Charitable Gifting and IRA’s Under the New Deal

If you are an older American who owns and IRA and is charitably inclined, there is a provision in the new “fiscal cliff” deal aimed right at you. You must, however, act fast if the provision applies to you. In short, you may still…
Jun 12
Driving during Your Golden Years – How to Stay Safe

Driving during Your Golden Years – How to Stay Safe

Often referred to as “the greying of America,” estimates tell us that over 20 percent of the American population will be over the age of 65 by 2030. Among other things, this tells us that there will be many more older drivers…
Jun 12
Blended Family Estate Planning – Getting Ready for the Consultation

Blended Family Estate Planning – Getting Ready for the Consultation

With over half of all first marriages resulting in divorce in the United States, you are hardly alone if you are planning to embark on a second marriage that will create a blended family. Along with the myriad of other considerations that…

Rank this Week: 1402

Florida Probate Litigation…

Florida Probate Litigation Attorney Blog

Covers contested wills, estate planning, and trusts. By Robert C. Adamski.

http://www.floridaprobatelitigationlawyers.com/

Jun 19
Florida a favorite for seniors, many with multiple propertie

Florida a favorite for seniors, many with multiple propertie

When someone says that Florida is a seniors' place, it isn't an unfair stereotype given to The Sunshine State. In fact, Florida actually boasts the largest senior population in the enitre country. The most recent U.S. Census shows that…
Jun 17
Can a doctor diagnose undue influence?

Can a doctor diagnose undue influence?

Disputes involving a will in Florida most often include allegations of undue influence. A party who receives less in the estate plan than they would have under a prior will or than they believe that they should have may claim...
Jun 14
Probate court continues to sort out Belcher case

Probate court continues to sort out Belcher case

Readers of our Florida Estate Planning Blog don't have to be big sports fans to have heard about the tragic case of the Kansas City Chiefs player, Jovan Belcher and his family. Last year, the football player shot his girlfriend...

Rank this Week: 1439

The Virtual Attorney Blog

Covers estate planning and business law. By Michael Brennan.

http://thevirtualattorney.com/blog

Jun 12
Simplified Probate in Wisconsin

Simplified Probate in Wisconsin

Last week I shared a few basics about possible simplified probate procedures available in Illinois and Minnesota and today we’ll wrap up our Midwestern exploration with a look at some simplified probate procedures that may be…
Jun 7
Simplified Probate in Minnesota

Simplified Probate in Minnesota

Yesterday, I shared a few basics about possible simplified probate procedures available in Illinois and today we’ll look at some simplified probate procedures that may be potentially available for anyone subject to the Minnesota probate…
Jun 5
Simplified Probate in Illinoi

Simplified Probate in Illinoi

As I pointed out in the last post, What the Heck is Probate?, typical probate procedures can often times be burdensome to the personal representative, costly to the estate, and time consuming for beneficiaries that may need funds distributed.…

Rank this Week: 1422

Kellen Bryant's Law Blog

Covers Florida estate planning, probate, and construction law issues.

http://kellenbryantlaw.wordpress.com

Jul 3
How to Start Estate Planning Conversations with Your Aging Parent

How to Start Estate Planning Conversations with Your Aging Parent

There are several aspects of estate planning in Florida that are less than fun, and that means that a lot of people choose to put the process off indefinitely. There’s the need to gather a lot of documentation together, pay for an estate…
May 29
10 Costly Application Mistakes that Delay VA Improved Pension with Aid and Attendance Approval

10 Costly Application Mistakes that Delay VA Improved Pension with Aid and Attendance Approval

As easy as it may appear on first sight through their online portal, applying for VA Aid and Attendance is not easy as sending the online form. Here are mistakes that will cost you when completing your application. Costly…
Apr 25
37 Types of Trusts Used to Protect Assets from Creditors, the Government, and other Predator

37 Types of Trusts Used to Protect Assets from Creditors, the Government, and other Predator

Used in estate planning, elder care planning, and other forms of financial management, trusts can provide protection from taxation as well as clear control of the dispensation of assets after someone dies. With a wide variety of protections…

Rank this Week: 1472

Liberty Law Estate Planning Blog

Covers estate planning, estate taxes, probate and trusts. By Liberty Law.

http://reddingestateplanningblog.com

Jun 13
Even young adults should plan their Estate

Even young adults should plan their Estate

Good summary article here on why its important for young adults to think about getting some basic documents in place. Tweet
Mar 15
THANK YOU!!

THANK YOU!!

Shawn McCammon (Liberty Law, A.P.C.) was just named Best Attorney in the annual “Best of” Tehama County, which is voted on by the readers of the Daily News. We would like to thank our friends, family, and clients for all their support! We…
Feb 15
Re-thinking a classic tale!

Re-thinking a classic tale!

Here is a nice article from Ahmed Shaikh, a certified estate planning specialist, on the classic tale of Cinderella! An Estate Plan for Cinderella’s Parents http://www.estateplanning.com/An-Estate-Plan-for-Cinderellas-Parents/ Tweet

Rank this Week: 1508

Los Angeles Estate, Probate And…

Los Angeles Estate, Probate And Tax Law Blog

Covers estate planning, tax and probate law. Published by Moravecs, a Professional Law Corporation.

http://losangelesestateprobatelawyer.blogspot.com/

Jun 6
Can I Represent Myself in Probate Court?

Can I Represent Myself in Probate Court?

One common question that we often hear is the following:"do I have to hire a lawyer in Probate Court?"I would note that this question also comes up during Probate Court hearings on a regular basis, because on a typical day, out of about 50 or…
May 9
Probate and Trust Administration Top Post

Probate and Trust Administration Top Post

The other day I was looking through all the stats on the blog, to see the most popular posts. In first place is What happens when someone dies without a will? with 1550 views. If you liked that one, check the …
Apr 18
What Happens when a Person Dies with an Ambiguous Will?

What Happens when a Person Dies with an Ambiguous Will?

I have been posting lately on the various issue and challenges raised by probate and trust litigation. Now, just to be clear, "litigation" means an actual filing in a Court of law. But what of something that rises to the…

Rank this Week: 1574

epilawg

Provides insight for planning the resolution of your own story through thoughtful estate planning.

http://epilawg.com/

Jun 19
Summary of changes to the MN Statutory Short Form Power of Attorney

Summary of changes to the MN Statutory Short Form Power of Attorney

Minnesota’s legislators have been busy working up new and exciting changes to Minnesota’s estate planning landscape. Perhaps less controversial and less exciting, (and, some would argue, more concrete) than the new Minnesota Gift…
Jun 17
TED Talks: Prepare For A Good End Of Life

TED Talks: Prepare For A Good End Of Life

I recently came across this TED Talk by Judy MacDonald Johnston and thought she did such a great job starting the discussion on end-of-life planning that I had to share it with our readers. The video [...]TED Talks: Prepare For A Good…
Jun 15
Ella Fitzgerald

Ella Fitzgerald

April 25, 1917 – June 15, 1996 Ella Fitzgerald was a great American singer, who got her start when she entered an amateur contest at the Apollo Theater in 1934. Ms. Fitzgerald’s career spanned decades [...]Ella Fitzgerald is a…

Rank this Week: 1657

Your Texas Estate Plan

Covers tax and estate planning. By Jacob Pelley.

http://www.yourtexasestateplan.com/

Jun 6
Thoughts on the recent IRS me

Thoughts on the recent IRS me

No one likes the IRS, and they are under the gun right now. But why? Is it really any different than it has been historically, or could we just be paying more attention in this digital media age?Let's break down the "scandals". 1.…
May 29
What happens in a probate hearing

What happens in a probate hearing

We have talked about the P-Word before, but I still have clients that are scared of it. The root of that fear is often THE HEARING. IN COURT. Let's dispel some myths. If you're the executor or executrix of a will, or the…
May 9
For the Mom

For the Mom

Mother's day is coming up. All of us, whether we know them or not, have one. If they are in your life, wonderful. If not, I'm sure you either know of a mom out there somewhere who could use a nice word of encouragement, or just an…

Rank this Week: 1689

Estate Planning and Tax Lawyer…

Estate Planning and Tax Lawyer Blog

Published by Wood, Atter & Wolf, P.A.

http://www.estateplanningandtaxlawyer.com/

Jun 11
Estate Planning is an Ongoing Proce

Estate Planning is an Ongoing Proce

Estate plans are just like any other plans we make in business or in life: they change. Here are some things to remember to ensure your estate plan is always relevant: • Update your estate plan with each life-changing event – divorce,…
Jun 5
Things to think about before you retire

Things to think about before you retire
Jun 1
Florida Estate Planning for Health Decision

Florida Estate Planning for Health Decision

The primary healthcare document in Florida for your Estate Plan is a Health Care Surrogate, also known as an Advanced Health Care Directive or Health Care Power of Attorney. It is in this document that you record your wishes and instructions…

Rank this Week: 1684

The Law Office of Alexis B. Levitt…

The Law Office of Alexis B. Levitt Blog

Covers caregiver issues, estate planning, living at home and special needs trusts.

http://www.alexislevitt.com/blog/

Jun 18
Rental Wheelchair Vans Available from VERC

Rental Wheelchair Vans Available from VERC

First I’ve ever heard of this concept. What a great idea for people who’ve given up their cars but still occasionally want to get out with family or friends. Love it! Check out VERC’s website for more info.
Jun 12
Shred Day in Stoughton Saturday 6/15 @ South Shore Bank

Shred Day in Stoughton Saturday 6/15 @ South Shore Bank

Get rid of those old financial docs. More info here.
May 28
MOLST – Getting Your End-of-Life Wishes into Your Doctor’s Order

MOLST – Getting Your End-of-Life Wishes into Your Doctor’s Order

Massachusetts has recently enacted the MOLST program – that’s Medical Orders on Life-Sustaining Treatment. This is a solution to a question that a lot of clients ask: “How do I make sure my kids do what I want with…

Rank this Week: 1747

Illinois Estate Planning &…

Illinois Estate Planning & Elder Law Blog

Covers Illinois estate planning, real estate and trusts. By Wilson & Wilson.

http://www.illinoisestateplanningandelderlawblog.com/

Jun 14
Illinois Estate Planning and Trust Funding

Illinois Estate Planning and Trust Funding

In her article, Practical Tips and Tricks on What You Should Do With Your Estate Plan, Julie Garber advises completely funding your revocable living trust so that all of your assets can be managed by the trustee. Ms. Garber states, " Many…
Jun 8
Steps for Illinois Heir

Steps for Illinois Heir

The first three steps which should be taken after the death of a loved one are to make the funeral arrangements, secure the house and find the important papers. In her article in The Wall Street Journal titled "Steps for Heirs to Take After…
Jun 1
Asset Protection for Illinois Homestead and Life Insurance

Asset Protection for Illinois Homestead and Life Insurance

Two Illinois laws provide protection from creditors for homes and for life insurance policies. The protection provided to homes, whether it is a house, a condominium or other form of residence, is $15,000 per individual. The protection…

Rank this Week: 1767

Western New York Elder Law Blog

Covers New York estate planning, probate, elder law and health care issues. By Dutcher & Zatkowsky.

http://www.dutcher-zatkowsky.com

Jun 19
A Traditional IRA: The Basic

A Traditional IRA: The Basic

Individual Retirement Accounts, or IRAs, have been a staple of retirement planning for the past 40 years. As a recent article reports, they are still a great way for individuals or couples to save for retirement. Currently, Americans have…
Jun 12
More Seniors Working into Retirement

More Seniors Working into Retirement

When most younger Americans picture their retirement, they see themselves relaxing and enjoying warm weather on a golf course or perhaps behind the wheel of an RV. Unfortunately, the reality for most Americans of retirement age is just the…
Jun 5
Does Medicare Cover Nursing Home Stays?

Does Medicare Cover Nursing Home Stays?

Many Americans believe that, once they reach age 65, Medicare will provide financially for all of their health care needs. Accordingly, a recent article explains that most elderly Americans are surprised to discover that, in general, Medicare…

Rank this Week: 1823

Covers topics such as sales and payroll tax problems, offers in compromise, tax audits, tax debt, tax disputes, tax fraud, tax litigation and tax controversy, and tax preparer penalties. By Los Angeles, California attorneys, Brager Tax Law Group.

http://www.taxproblemattorneyblog.com/

May 2
87 Year Old Hawaiian Auto Mogul Acquitted of all Tax Fraud and Conspiracy Charges after District Court for District of Hawaii Finds Lack of Intent and Willfulne

87 Year Old Hawaiian Auto Mogul Acquitted of all Tax Fraud and Conspiracy Charges after District Court for District of Hawaii Finds Lack of Intent and Willfulne

The U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii recently acquitted an 87-year-old auto dealership mogul of all tax fraud and conspiracy charges that the U.S. Government had brought against him. James Pflueger, who was facing multiple…
Apr 11
Tax Preparers Beware! 6th Circuit Court of Appeals Affirms Dismissal of Tax Refund Suit Due to Inability to Prove Timely Filing of Amended Return

Tax Preparers Beware! 6th Circuit Court of Appeals Affirms Dismissal of Tax Refund Suit Due to Inability to Prove Timely Filing of Amended Return

The 6th Circuit recently taught an expensive lesson to a Michigan couple about carefully following procedure when dealing with IRS Tax Problems. In Stocker v. United States (6th Cir. 2013), the 6th Circuit affirmed the dismissal of Robert…
Mar 20
Prominent Tax Attorney Found Liable for Civil Tax Fraud Penalties Due to Finding of "Willful Blindness" to Underreporting of Income

Prominent Tax Attorney Found Liable for Civil Tax Fraud Penalties Due to Finding of "Willful Blindness" to Underreporting of Income

After being convicted of criminal tax fraud and serving 18 months in federal prison, a prominent former California tax attorney recently found himself again the subject of an IRS investigation into his alleged tax fraud. After a criminal tax…

Rank this Week: 1797

California Tax Attorney Blog

Covers tax controversies involving the IRS and California Franchise Tax Board, as well as California probate, estate planning matters and business transactions. By Mitchell A. Port.

http://www.californiataxattorneyblog.com/

Dec 29
Gifts Made By Personal Check

Gifts Made By Personal Check

A check written in 2012 that does not clear until 2013 is at risk of being a 2013 gift, not a 2012 gift, since the donor could have stopped payment in 2013 before it cleared. The issue with using checks to make gifts is that until the check…
Nov 22
Tax Humor

Tax Humor

A tax loophole is "something that benefits the other guy. If it benefits you, it is tax reform.'' — Russell B. Long, U.S. Senator “People who complain about taxes can be divided into two classes: men and women.” — Unknown "Like…
Nov 20
How Good Is Your Attorney?

How Good Is Your Attorney?

Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings just came out with it's rating of me. I have been honored with an "AV Preeminent" rating which is a significant rating accomplishment- a testament to the fact that a lawyer's peers rank him or her at the…

Rank this Week: 1779

Deborah Sexton Law Office, P. A.…

Deborah Sexton Law Office, P. A. Blog

Covers estate planning and elder law.

http://www.arkansas-estateplanning.com/blog/

Jun 19
Your Estate Planning “Bucket List”

Your Estate Planning “Bucket List”

Did you see the movie “Bucket List”? The concept is basically that you have a list of things to accomplish before you kick the proverbial bucket. One of the best things you can do for your heirs is to complete…
Jun 17
Michael Crichton Didn’t Update His Estate Plans, Leaving His Wife and Baby Empty-Handed

Michael Crichton Didn’t Update His Estate Plans, Leaving His Wife and Baby Empty-Handed

Forgetting to amend your Will or Living Trust when your marital status changes, or if there is a new addition to the family, or in other major life circumstances, could leave someone that you love empty-handed. The name “Last Will…
Jun 17
All Guardians Are Not Created Equal — Actions Should Be Judged On Case-By-Case Basi

All Guardians Are Not Created Equal — Actions Should Be Judged On Case-By-Case Basi

Any person appointed as a guardian in an estate context will be under close scrutiny to act in the estate’s best interest. But a recent Arkansas Supreme Court case makes clear that the definition of “best interest” is…

Rank this Week: 1834

South Florida Estate Planning Law

Covers South Florida estate planning, probate and tax law issues. By David Shulman.

http://www.sofloridaestateplanning.com/

Jun 3
I’ve been named a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers magazine

I’ve been named a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers magazine

I’m pleased to announce that I’ve been named a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers magazine in the area of Estate Planning & Probate. http://digital.superlawyers.com/superlawyers/flslrs13#pg101
May 1
My Interview on the Shalom Show

My Interview on the Shalom Show

Below is my interview with the Shalom Show, a Jewish public affairs cable show that is on tv nationwide.
Apr 30
Man dies with $40 million, no will, and no heir

Man dies with $40 million, no will, and no heir

Today’s crazy estate planning story comes form the New York Times, He Left a Fortune, to No One. Roman Blum died in New York last year at 97 years old. He was a Holocaust survivor and a successful real estate developer worth over $40…

Rank this Week: 1838

Estate Street

Covers probate and estate and tax planning. By Craig Hughes.

http://estatestreet.blogspot.com/

Jun 6
When Is A Power of Appointment Used?

When Is A Power of Appointment Used?

Generally a power of apointment is used in estate planning. For example, a donor may want to give authority to a fiduciary/donee to apoint assets in the fiduciary/donee's discretion to an incapacitated beneficiary. A power of appointment…
Jun 5
Power of Appointment Type

Power of Appointment Type

There are two types of powers of appointment: a general power of appointment and a limited (special) power of appointment. Each of these types of powers carries different and significant tax implications.General Power of Appointment:
Jun 4
Power of Appointment

Power of Appointment

Parties involved with a power of appointment are:"Donor" is the person who creates a power of appointment. The donor is usually the owner of rights, assets, or items being ultimately appointed by the donee."Donee" or "holder" refers to the…

Rank this Week: 1846

California Trust, Estate & Probate…

California Trust, Estate & Probate Litigation

Covers estate planning, probate, trusts and wills. By Albertson & Davidson LLP.

http://www.californiatrustestateandprobatelitigation.com

Jun 13
A Family Affair: How the law complicates your family's Trust and Will dispute

A Family Affair: How the law complicates your family's Trust and Will dispute

Trust and will disputes are confusing because the way you see your family and their assets can be very different from how the law sees it. You may see your family as one group of people related by blood. If one of your siblings is…
Jun 13
Resolving Mediations in California Trust and Will Lawsuit

Resolving Mediations in California Trust and Will Lawsuit

In this video, Keith Davidson discusses the how mediations work and what value they have to your case. For our email subscribers: click on the title link to view this video on our website.
Jun 3
How Long Will Your Lawsuit Last?

How Long Will Your Lawsuit Last?

Keith Davidson discusses the probable length of your Trust and Will lawsuit. For our email subscribers: click on the title link to view this video on our website.

Rank this Week: 1900

Musings of a Massachusetts Estate…

Musings of a Massachusetts Estate Lawyer

Focuses on estate planning, probate and corporation law in Massachusetts. By David E. Peterson.

http://blog.deplawfirm.com/

Jun 10
Asset Protection: LLCs vs. Irrevocable Trust

Asset Protection: LLCs vs. Irrevocable Trust

We live in an economically volatile and litigious society. An unexpected lawsuit, or decline in business, can put people’s life savings at risk. Therefore, asset protection planning is of the utmost importance. According to…
Apr 30
Choosing Fiduciaries: Two Schools of Thought

Choosing Fiduciaries: Two Schools of Thought

By its very nature, much of the administration of an estate plan takes place upon the creator’s death or incapacity. For that reason, selecting the proper persons to serve as fiduciaries is arguably the most important decision that one…
Mar 11
Law Office of David E. Peterson Major Website Redesign Launched

Law Office of David E. Peterson Major Website Redesign Launched

I’m proud to announce that I’ve just launched a major redesign of the official website of the Law Office of David E. Peterson. The website is the product of countless hours of work. I’d especially like to thank my wife, Dan…

Rank this Week: 1937

Sanders Law Firm Blog

Covers North Carolina law.

http://www.kirksanderslaw.com/blog

Jun 6
Trademarks: Trying to protect a surname used in a business name

Trademarks: Trying to protect a surname used in a business name

Thinking of using your name (eg. surname) as part of your business name? You may want to reconsider because the protectibility of a business name that includes a surname is extremely limited in North Carolina. As a rule, a trademark cannot be…
Jun 4
Build-A-Bandit absconds with car owners deposit

Build-A-Bandit absconds with car owners deposit

Build-A-Bandit owner, Robert Allen McElreath, took over $2,000,000 in deposits from car owners then didn’t work on their cars. He’s believed to have fled the state. read more
May 29
751 West Fourth Street Construction

751 West Fourth Street Construction

read more

Rank this Week: 1938

Davidov Law Group

Covers new York elder law and estate planning.

http://www.davidovlaw.com/blog/

May 28
Long Term Care and Assisted Living Costs: Are You Ready?

Long Term Care and Assisted Living Costs: Are You Ready?

Intelligent retirement planning is going to include anticipating the expenses that you may incur during your twilight years. It is not uncommon for people to require living assistance late in their lives, and this can be quite expensive. So…
May 24
Everything You Need to Know About Probate

Everything You Need to Know About Probate

People sometimes envision a hypothetical scenario. After a funeral family members gather in private and someone very close to the deceased somberly reads the last will. This person will distribute inheritances and everything is settled. The…
May 23
A Look at Disputed Estate of Sherman Hemsley

A Look at Disputed Estate of Sherman Hemsley

It is important to be completely honest with your attorney and share all relevant details with the possibility of an estate challenge in mind. If you have any reason to believe that someone could step forward to challenge your wishes after…

Rank this Week: 1898

Estate of Confusion

Covers developments in estate planning and wealth transfer taxes. By Hani Sarji.

http://blogs.forbes.com/hanisarji/

Jan 5
More Estate Tax Changes Could Follow Fiscal Cliff Deal

More Estate Tax Changes Could Follow Fiscal Cliff Deal

News bites might leave you hungry for details about the estate tax and the other wealth transfer taxes. This post aims to answer your questions and serve as a useful resource.
Jun 30
California Joins Majority Of States In Recognizing Tort — Intentional Interference With Expected Inheritance

California Joins Majority Of States In Recognizing Tort — Intentional Interference With Expected Inheritance

In Beckwith v. Dahl (May 3, 2012), the California Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District, joined the majority of states in recognizing the tort of intentional interference with expected inheritance (IIEI). “[I]t is time to officially…
Jun 30
Tennessee Woos Wealthy Retirees By Repealing Inheritance And Gift Taxe

Tennessee Woos Wealthy Retirees By Repealing Inheritance And Gift Taxe

States are competing for wealthy retirees and are enticing them with tax breaks. Last month, Tennessee lawmakers cut taxes to keep wealthy retirees in the state and to woo others. In separate bills, Tennessee lawmakers made significant…

Rank this Week: 1927

New Jersey Estate Planning Center…

New Jersey Estate Planning Center Blog

Covers New Jersey estate planning. By Media Law Group.

http://www.jerseyestateplanning.com/blog/

Jun 19
Millenials And Their Milestone

Millenials And Their Milestone

I am decidedly old school. I full well admit that some of the concepts on the new generation are lost on me. A few years ago, I attended a meeting for an organization dealing with human resources. They discussed how … Continue reading…
Jun 18
How to Survive Retirement

How to Survive Retirement

The concept of retiring is a strange one. Many people work their entire lives and are ready to stop working. However, there’s always a question about: What happens next? Over the weekend, I read two articles on retirement that I…
Jun 13
Tax-Saving Schemes for Your Estate Plan

Tax-Saving Schemes for Your Estate Plan

A common estate planning goal is to reduce taxes and thereby pass more money along to the beneficiaries of the estate. A recent article discusses several different estate planning devices that may help you to save taxes on your estate.…

Rank this Week: 2043

The Thorpe Law Firm, P.A.

Covers Florida real estate law, foreclosure defense, bankruptcy, estate planning and family law.

http://www.thorpelawfirm.com/blog/

Jun 17
Common Bankruptcy Myth

Common Bankruptcy Myth

With the deep recession America has been in in recent years, the term bankruptcy has been thrown around by the media a lot; high profile celebrities and athletes filing for Chapter 7 even though they make hundreds of thousands dollars a year.…
Jun 4
The Bankruptcy Reform Act of 2005

The Bankruptcy Reform Act of 2005

The Bankruptcy Reform Act of 2005, or the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005, became law on April 20, 2005. The intent of the law was to discourage bankruptcy filings under the Bankruptcy Code. The reform…
May 28
The Warren Sapp Bankruptcy

The Warren Sapp Bankruptcy

Warren Carlos Sapp, born December 19, 1972 was a Hall of Fame Defensive Tackle who played thirteen seasons in the National Football League. In March of 2012, Warren Sapp, who assets added up to 6.45 million dollars, filed for Chapter 7…

Rank this Week: 2008

Cramer Law Center

Covers estate planning, probate, guardianship and elder law issues.

http://cramerlawcenter.com/blog/

Jun 13
LLC Owners, Be Aware and Be Prepared!

LLC Owners, Be Aware and Be Prepared!

On May 3, 2013, the Florida legislature passed the new Florida Revised Limited Liability Company (“LLC”) Act. This new LLC act will be effective for every LLC formed in Florida on or after July 1, 2014 and will apply on a…
Jun 6
Homesteads: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Homesteads: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

We recently had to address a question regarding what happens to someone’s homestead in probate when it does not qualify for exemption. When an estate goes through…
May 17
WASTED WEALTH: $40 MILLION AND NO WILL

WASTED WEALTH: $40 MILLION AND NO WILL

Roman Blum died last year in New York at the age of 97 with $40 million worth of assets. At first glance, that sounds like a wonderful way to leave the world. However, Mr. Blum passed away without a will or any other…

Rank this Week: 2015

Los Angeles Probate Litigation…

Los Angeles Probate Litigation Attorney Blog

Covers wills & trusts, probate and conservatorships. By Ginzburg & Bronshteyn LLP.

http://www.losangelesprobatelitigationattorneyblog.com/

Jun 12
Conservators and guardians: personal rights of conservatees.

Conservators and guardians: personal rights of conservatees.

Just recently the Assembly approved Bob Wieckowski Bills concerning the personal rights of conservatees. On May 16, 2013, the California State Assembly approved three bills and a resolution authored by Assemblymember Bob Wieckowski, a…
Apr 26
Conservatorship of Zsa Zsa Gabor

Conservatorship of Zsa Zsa Gabor

Update to a post from 2012 concerning the Conservatorship of Zsa Zsa Gabor. Previously, Gabor's only child, 64-year-old Constance Francesca Hilton, asked a California court to establish a conservatorship to mange her mother's care and…
Apr 11
Lunch with The Probate Judges ~ Trust & Estates Section

Lunch with The Probate Judges ~ Trust & Estates Section

Firm partner, Yasha Bronshteyn was in attendance at The Beverly Hills Bar Association sponsored Lunch with the Probate Judges on March 19, 2013, at Lawry's in Beverly Hills. Supervising Judge Mitchell L. Beckloff, Judge Reva G. Goetz, Judge…

Rank this Week: 2057

Palo Alto Estate Planning Blog

Covers tax planning, estate planning, trusts, wills and charitable giving. By Finch Montgomery Wright LLP.

http://www.paloaltoestateplanninglawyerblog.com/

Jun 6
Going on Vacation? Leave a Parental Medical Release Form for your Caretaker

Going on Vacation? Leave a Parental Medical Release Form for your Caretaker

It's summer time! I'm off for a two week vacation, and taking the kids (for better or worse). But, if you are planning to go away and leave the kids behind (because you are smarter than I am), please remember to leave a Parental Medical…
May 12
Lessons From Literature: War and Peace and Outdated Will

Lessons From Literature: War and Peace and Outdated Will

I can't help myself, I see estate planning angles everywhere. Welcome to a new, recurrent, feature of this blog: Lessons from Literature. Whenever I read a good book with an estate planning angle, I'll share it with you here. Recently, as…
May 12
Mother's Day Thought: Create Durable Powers of Attorney for Your College Kid

Mother's Day Thought: Create Durable Powers of Attorney for Your College Kid

It's mother's day and I'm thinking about the fact that my daughter goes to college soon. She also turns eighteen years old in November, and, in addition to the new camera she thinks that she wants for a present, I'm going to surprise her…

Rank this Week: 2081

Thoughts on Wills & Estate…

Thoughts on Wills & Estate Planning

Covers estate planning in Virginia and Maryland. By Scott R. Zucker.

http://estateplanninginfoblog.com

Jan 4
Federal Estate and Gift Tax Rules for 2013, Including Example

Federal Estate and Gift Tax Rules for 2013, Including Example

By passing the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (“ATRA”), President Obama and Congress have agreed on a first step towards solving our fiscal cliff problem. While neither Democrats or Republicans seem overly…
Dec 2
My 21 Favorite Estate Planning Insults and Comeback

My 21 Favorite Estate Planning Insults and Comeback

When you achieve a certain level of success in estate planning law, complaining about the billboards, the yachts, the keys to the cities, the authorized (and unauthorized) documentaries about your life, etc. seems a bit petty. Then again, the…
Nov 30
The Fiscal Cliff and Your Estate Planning (Part III): The Impact on You

The Fiscal Cliff and Your Estate Planning (Part III): The Impact on You

In the first post of this series, we discussed the fiscal cliff and its impact on our economy. In the previous post, we covered the proposals most likely to be considered by Congress in the coming weeks. In this final post of the…

Rank this Week: 2103

Nash Nash Bean & Ford, LLP Blog

Covers elder law and estate planning.

http://www.nashbeanford.com/blog/

Jun 19
Tips for Talking to Your Parents about Estate Planning

Tips for Talking to Your Parents about Estate Planning

When it comes to talking about financial matters with their parents most people don’t know where to begin. Death is an even harder subject to broach with your parents. It comes as no surprise then that bringing up the subject of estate…
Jun 17
Assigning an Inheritance to Someone Else

Assigning an Inheritance to Someone Else

Although it may seem counter-intuitive, there are times when assigning an inheritance to someone else or disclaiming an inheritance is a good idea. When there is a reason to do so, it can be done; however, there are specific legal procedures…
Jun 14
Fiduciary Roles in Your Estate Plan – Your Executor

Fiduciary Roles in Your Estate Plan – Your Executor

Although each estate plan is as unique as the person who creates the plan, all estate plans contain at least one fiduciary role — that of executor. Other fiduciary roles, such as trustee, agent, or guardian, are certainly important;…

Rank this Week: 2165

New York Estate Planning Lawyer…

New York Estate Planning Lawyer Blog

Covers estate planning, estate administration and estate taxes. By Ettinger Law Firm.

http://www.newyorkestateplanninglawyerblog.com/

Jun 18
Same-Sex Marriage Rulings Coming Soon - May Cause More Complication

Same-Sex Marriage Rulings Coming Soon - May Cause More Complication

Anticipation is building among marriage equality supporters (and opponents), as decisions from the U.S. Supreme Court on two major same-sex marriage related cases are set to be released either this week or next. As we have previously…
Jun 13
U.S. Senate Report on Proposed Tax Changes May Affect Retirement Planning

U.S. Senate Report on Proposed Tax Changes May Affect Retirement Planning

It is notoriously foolish to take Congressional reports, proposed legislation, and similar matters as anything more than mere possibilities which may change federal law. For every piece of legislation that actually makes it into law, there…
Jun 10
Luxury Services for the Afterlife

Luxury Services for the Afterlife

The Sun Sentinel recently published an interesting story on the growth of luxury services for those making funeral and burial decisions. While it may seem strange to some for such focus on high-end items in the afterlife, those familiar with…

Rank this Week: 2136

Philadelphia Estate and Tax…

Philadelphia Estate and Tax Attorney Blog

Focuses on income, estate and gift tax matters, estate planning and probate administration. By Steven J. Fromm.

http://frommtaxes.wordpress.com/

Jun 9
Playing Games With Employees: IRS Temporary Tax Break Ends June 30, 2013

Playing Games With Employees: IRS Temporary Tax Break Ends June 30, 2013

Employers illegally treating employees as independent contractors can come clean through a program called the Voluntary Classification Settlement Program (VCSP). To explore in more detail the merits of this VCSP program and how it…
Jun 9
Playing Games With Employees: IRS Temporary Tax Break Ends June 30, 2013

Playing Games With Employees: IRS Temporary Tax Break Ends June 30, 2013

Employers illegally treating employees as independent contractors can come clean through a program called the Voluntary Classification Settlement Program (VCSP). To explore in more detail the merits of this VCSP program and how it…
Jan 21
Estate Planning 2013: Now What? A Must Read For Everyone

Estate Planning 2013: Now What? A Must Read For Everyone

We now know what the federal estate tax laws will be this year and in the future. Our federal government has stated that these estate tax rules are now permanent after a decade of uncertainty. (A cynic may say that these…

Rank this Week: 2130

Iowa Estate Plan

Covers information and news on estate planning and probate from Iowa attorney Matthew Gardner.

http://www.iowaestateplan.com/

May 22
Top Ten Questions About Iowa Probate

Top Ten Questions About Iowa Probate

The masses have demanded it, so finally, the top ten questions about the probate process in Iowa (hold your applause until the end):Can an out-of-state person be an executor? Yes, despite what many attorneys tell their clients. However,…
Mar 12
What is this "Probate Process" That You Speak of, Mr. Attorney?

What is this "Probate Process" That You Speak of, Mr. Attorney?

A popular blog post that I had on a different site in my pre-solo days dealt with an overview of the probate process in Iowa. As it has been a few years since that post, and I'd like to have this post under this blog "roof", I'm going…
Feb 28
Gardner Law Firm, P.C. - It's own webpage!

Gardner Law Firm, P.C. - It's own webpage!

Gardner Law Firm, P.C. has its fully completed website up and operational at this point. Want to know more about me? Now you can find out. Thanks to LawPromo for their good work!

Rank this Week: 2144

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