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 [...]
How do I probate? A loved one has recently passed away and I'm left without much of an idea as to what should happen next. Please help! When a loved one dies, there are many things to consider. When it comes to probate it can be intimidating, difficult and frustrating. What do you need to [...]
While at a recent party with friends and family, I discovered how many people had misconceptions about the probate process and what a probate attorney can do. Many of the people I spoke with had preconceived notions about what would actually happen to their estate after they pass, such as only needing a piece of [...]
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, [...]
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 [...]
When would I encounter a Guardian ad Litem? Let’s say you’re in court as the Personal Representative of your loved one’s estate and you have everything ready to go. You have your letters of authority, an inventory in hand, and you are about to petition the court to get approval to sell some real property. [...]
Remember when you were a kid, and consistently tried to negotiate everything? Lesser punishments, later bedtimes, the top bunk bed, more junk food, and anything else you could cook up an argument for? Well, I never really grew out of that phase, so I had to make a career out of it. I often blog [...]
For Fastest Growing Law Firms in the United States Over the past three years, our team at The Darren Findling Law Firm has been dedicated to providing excellence in customer service resulting in trusting relationships with our clients. In doing so, our commitment and focus has taken us on an exciting journey of growth – [...]
It’s a sad reality that, at some point in all of our lifetimes, a situation may arise in which we are unable able to take care of ourselves or make our own medical decisions. When this happens, we refer to the person as an incapacitated individual. If an incapacitated individual has a healthcare power of [...]
The Why So, why do you need a trust? Well, the answer is like the answer to many legal questions: “It depends!” In order to determine whether you need a trust, you must consider your specific estate planning needs or, in other words, which arrangement provides you the most favorable cost-to-benefit ratio. Recall that a [...]
