Want to avoid probate? Consider a Small Probate Estate and the Decedent Successor in Interest Affidavit. There's a small bank account that belongs to an individual who has passed away. You plan to get the money withdrawn, but you want to avoid any time-consuming hassle. Therefore, the logical question one would have is: how do [...]
News broke earlier this week that the late Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, had wills written out that were found between her couch cushions. What these wills represent are something called holographic wills. A holographic will is a will, but it ignores some of the formalities that go into putting together a will. Such formalities [...]
The Probate ProSM attorneys provide high quality legal services. Supporting them is a team of paralegals, who keep everything related to a case on track. This also includes making sure the attorneys and clients are kept on track of what’s going on as well. Their work is important in our commitment to providing high quality [...]
We all have a busy schedule in our lives. Meetings to go to, kids to pick up and of course, our jobs. Caught up in the whirlwind of life, we don’t always have time to prepare for meetings, let alone know how to prepare for meetings that are unfamiliar. If by chance, you are in [...]
Why should an estate plan be top-of-mind for millennials? The truth is, we cannot predict the future. We don’t know when our time will come. Terrible accidents happen all the time. What we do know is what a mess you could potentially be leaving behind if you do not have a will. As millennials begin [...]
Family Disputes Over Estates Happen Too Often Feuding over the estate of a loved one is a surefire way to cause separation within a family. Even within my own family there have been many arguments concerning assets that belonged to my grandfather. Not having a will or an estate plan can leave things messy, and [...]
An electronic will was accepted as valid, but at what cost to the heirs? A Michigan man passes away and leaves behind, in lieu of a properly drafted will, a handwritten note that directs to a will that he wrote out on his cellphone. The man left his mother out of the will that he [...]
Don’t let your investments end up being considered just “personal property.” After your death, all of the things in your home or office are considered “personal property” and depending on how you’ve planned, may become subject to the determination of the person appointed as your personal representative. The personal representative can decide to sell them, [...]
Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain’s Tragic Suicides Can Teach us about Estate Planning Earlier this month, famous fashion designer Kate Spade and celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain were victims of apparent suicide. Their tragic deaths were unexpected by fans all over the world, even close family and friends. The topics of mental illness, depression, and suicide [...]
Probate costs can far exceed the cost of personally crafted estate plan. Everyone’s situation is different, and therefore, everyone has a different need for an estate plan. An estate plan is personalized and created custom to fit your needs. You could say that getting a skillfully drafted estate plan is one of the best investments [...]
