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 [...]
August is National Make-A-Will Month! Having a will not only ensures that your wishes are carried out after your passing, but it also protects your loved ones from potentially lengthy and expensive court proceedings. Common misconceptions about making a will are you think you’re too young, you think creating one is too expensive, and you [...]
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 [...]
Celebrity deaths can often trigger public estate battles George Michael’s will is being contested in England by two of his former partners, Kenny Goss, who he was with for 15 years, and Fadi Fawaz his partner of 5 years. George died back in December 2016, unfortunately. It is not uncommon for it to take years [...]
Well it’s not a big deal if you have a will. In Saginaw, Michigan a case arose that will define an aspect of estate law. The case has made it to the Michigan Supreme Court; arguments were heard last month on the matter. James Erwin Sr. and his wife, Maggie Erwin, were married in 1968 [...]
Fictional Scenario: Our client who we prepared an estate plan for had just passed away. She had named her oldest daughter as the sole successor Trustee and divvied up her remaining assets among all four of her adult children. Three of her four children had given her grandchildren. The youngest daughter decided that she and [...]
Some personalities are just too strong to die. In life, they’ve made it their mission to have a reputation – the one who could make anyone laugh until they cried, the over-bearing mother who “always knew best” for her kids, or the sarcastic father who took nothing seriously, even his last Will and Testament. Willing [...]
