Must I go to probate? Maybe not. Not all property in which the decedent has an interest requires probate. Assuming no probate estate is opened and there is no plan to open a probate estate, there are types of property which can pass to a new owner on death without going through the probate process. [...]
After signing of an estate plan, including a Will, Trust, Powers of Attorney, and Patient Advocate Designation (Living Will), it is important to remember to review your estate plan regularly. The estate plan should not collect dust in the closet. A properly drafted estate plan will be effective from the date of signing through death. However, [...]
The death of a spouse is one of the most devastating events of a person's life. As a recent widow or widower, you will face many personal and financial challenges. Here are some tips. Grieve. One of the most important new findings has shown that for most of us, grief is a severe — but self-limiting — [...]
Recently, I had the opportunity to review the Michigan statistics regarding birth and death rates (year 2010). The data is fascinating to me. Amazingly, in Michigan there are 314 live births each day. Each one is a miracle. Of those 314 births, 6 sets of twins come into this world and 27 enter with low [...]
HARRY STAMPS OBITUARY On March 9th, Harry Stamps died in Long Beach, Mississippi. I never met Harry Stamps. I did not know his family. I did not handle his probate estate. However today, I feel as if I knew him. I read what may be the best obituary ever written... In my line of work [...]
Regularly, my office gets asked the same question. What do I do if I need to serve a defendant that has died? This scenario occurs most often in auto related cases where the at-fault driver dies. However, it can occur in any context. Of course, this is not what is meant by a grave [...]
Digital assets? After the death of a loved one, I regularly discuss with family members how to probate an estate and what to do with important issues like credit card accounts, debt, and personal belongings. Until recently, I never discussed what to do with online accounts such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. The issue just [...]
