A lot of people know that they should take action to put an estate plan in place, but they procrastinate for one reason or another. It stays on the back burner for years, and the years turn into decades. In far too many instances, these individuals pass away without ever getting around to it. When this happens, the condition of intestacy is the result. Under these circumstances, there is a government mechanism in place to respond, and we will look at the process here. Intestate Estate … [Read more...] about Don’t Let the State Plan Your Estate
Intestacy
Develop an Estate Plan While You Can
When entities conduct research into the estate planning preparedness of American adults, the numbers are hard to understand. Caring.com has taken on the task over the last few years, and they have seen a steady decline in the number of respondents with estate plans in place. In the 2020 survey, less than half of individuals that were 55 years of age and older had wills or trusts. The number was less than 30 percent for people between the ages of 34 and 55. Estate planning procrastination … [Read more...] about Develop an Estate Plan While You Can
Top Five Estate Planning Mistakes
When we post on this blog, we usually share information about what you should do when you are planning your estate. On this day, we are going to go in a different direction that is just as useful if not more. We are going to look at five common estate planning mistakes that should definitely be avoided. Intestacy Let’s face it, passing away is at the very bottom of everyone’s to-do list. For many, it is a subject to be avoided, and this can yield negative consequences. If you keep … [Read more...] about Top Five Estate Planning Mistakes
Top Five Estate Planning Mistakes
When we post on this blog, we usually share information about what you should do when you are planning your estate. On this day, we are going to go in a different direction that is just as useful if not more. We are going to look at five common estate planning mistakes that should definitely be avoided. Intestacy Let’s face it, passing away is not on anyone’s to-do list. For many, death is a taboo subject, and while it may be understandable, this perspective can yield negative … [Read more...] about Top Five Estate Planning Mistakes
Planning for the Unexpected
It’s important to have a plan. If you don’t have a plan, your state law dictates who gets your property and makes decisions for you. Read on to learn more about the prevalence of unexpected deaths and an example of what can happen without planning. Planning for the Unexpected … [Read more...] about Planning for the Unexpected
Make Your Own Plan
Planning is important. If you don’t plan, your assets go pursuant to the state’s default plan, which may be very different from what you want. If you plan, you can be sure your assets go exactly to whom you want and in a manner that can benefit them the most. Make Your Own Plan … [Read more...] about Make Your Own Plan
Estate Planning Survey: Americans Are Woefully Unprepared
While it is true that passing away is at the bottom of everyone’s to do list, it is an inevitability that we should all face head on. It is important to take the right steps to make sure that your legacy is passed along in accordance with your wishes after you are gone. Unfortunately, a very surprising majority of Americans have no estate planning documents at all. Eye Opening Survey Results A legal website engaged Harris Interactive to conduct an in-depth survey a while back that was intended … [Read more...] about Estate Planning Survey: Americans Are Woefully Unprepared
Avoid Intestacy to Prevent Future Problems
As estate planning attorneys, we sometimes hear from a client that wants us to provide damage control. The individual does not know where to turn, because their last surviving parent passed away without any estate planning documents in place. There are things that we can do in many cases to mitigate the damage, but this is a tough situation that could have been avoided. They say that the only two certainties of life are death and taxes. With this in mind, everyone is prepared to file their … [Read more...] about Avoid Intestacy to Prevent Future Problems
What Are the Responsibilities of the Probate Court?
As estate planning and elder law attorneys, we are intimately connected to the probate court. One of the major functions of the court is to provide supervision when an estate is being administered. If you use a last will to express your final wishes, you would name an executor in the document. This estate representative would take care of the hands-on tasks, and the probate court would provide oversight. During probate, creditors must be notified, and they are given a certain amount of time … [Read more...] about What Are the Responsibilities of the Probate Court?
Aretha Franklin Died Intestate: What Does It Mean for Her Family?
Aretha Franklin died intestate. Intestacy has definite drawbacks. Read on to see what this means for her family, financially and in other ways. Aretha was the Queen of Soul, but her lack of planning caused consequences she did not consider. Aretha Franklin Died Intestate: What Does It Mean for Her Family? … [Read more...] about Aretha Franklin Died Intestate: What Does It Mean for Her Family?
