Recent Blog Posts
Will Estate Plans Cross State Lines?
Moving can be a stressful and time-consuming endeavor, especially when state lines are crossed. Making sure that everyone stays safe and that all your possessions survive intact can take all your energy. One thing that is likely to slip through the cracks is the updating of your estate planning. While it is possible that… Read More »
Family Is Important, But Not the Ultimate Deciding Factor
Estate planning can force you to make some tough decisions. Having to split beloved, sentimentally-important property between multiple family members can be extremely hard. It is fair to say that no one enjoys facing the prospect of their own death, even if the benefits of doing so VASTLY outweigh the costs. One thing that… Read More »
Estate Planning Donations to Charity On the Rise
In years past, estate planning used to be simpler. There were fewer different types of possessions and investments, fewer retirement accounts and stock options, fewer rules and regulations, and there was less variety in family units. Nowadays, estate planning is more complex, but it also leaves more choice in the hands of the estate… Read More »
Dealing With Digital Assets
In a previous post, we mentioned how digital assets are often times handled differently than physical assets, and how their recent advent is liable to change certain aspects of estate planning laws. As recent as even 15 years ago, digital assets weren’t a cause for concern. The switch to online purchasing and banking hadn’t… Read More »
How to Incorporate Pets into Your Estate Planning
The pet industry in the United States is a multi-billion dollar one. From places that specialize in breeding pets, to pet food companies, to pet health insurance, millions of dollars are spent every single day taking care of our furry little friends. It makes sense, then, that pets should be included in estate planning…. Read More »
Do Digital Assets Matter in Estate Planning?
The entire world is becoming more and more digital. Bookstores are closing and libraries going fairly unused thanks to ebooks, CDs are being replaced by MP3s sold online, digital photography has all but replaced traditional film for 99% of people, etc. While this in and of itself generally brings a lot of conveniences, the… Read More »
Don’t Be Afraid to Discuss Estate Plans With Heirs
Estate planning and the very notion of wills and trusts can be extremely loaded issues. In many cases, when facing the prospects of a loved one dying and divvying up their belongings between friends and family members, grudges and grievances can turn into legitimate fights and wedges. There are many ways to help prevent… Read More »
Mick Jagger’s Long-Time Partner Leaves Him Estate Planning Mess
The love affair between Mick Jagger and L’Wren Scott was quite chaotic, and it can to a very abrupt, very sad end recently, when L’Wren Scott took her own like on March 17th. Scott, who had been a designer and former model, had filed her last will and testament in Manhattan’s Surrogate Court a… Read More »
Are We Finally Returning to a Normal Real Estate Market?
In case you haven’t been paying attention, the real estate market in recent years has been tumultuous at best. Market downturns, foreclosure spikes, short-sale increases, builders unable to return to work, brief housing market boosts and declines, etc. It has been a rollercoaster of uncertainty, but there is good news on the horizon. The… Read More »
Philip Seymour Hoffman’s $12 Million Estate Planning Mistake
Earlier this month, the entertainment industry was stunned by the news of the tragic and untimely passing of actor, Philip Seymour Hoffman. Famous for his on-screen acting roles, as well as his successful theater and directing abilities, he will also be known by those close to him for one unfortunate, and avoidable, reason: his… Read More »