Posted by Nina Whitehurst | Aug 12, 2019 |
Legendary singer Aretha Franklin was thought to have died without a will, but the recent discovery of handwritten documents in her home is calling that into question. A representative of her estate has asked a Michigan probate court to determine if any of the documents could be considered a val...
Posted by Nina Whitehurst | Aug 09, 2019 |
Movies, television, and books like to present wills in dramatic ways--handwritten notes, videos, deathbed utterances--but what actually makes a will valid? The law varies depending on what state you live in, but there are some basic rules.
The legal requirements for a will are fairly simple. ...
Posted by Nina Whitehurst | Jun 05, 2019 |
The main purpose of a will is to direct where your assets will go after you die, but it can also be used to instruct your heirs how to pay your debts. While generally heirs cannot inherit debt, debt can reduce what they receive. Spelling out how debt should be paid can help your heirs.
Posted by Nina Whitehurst | Apr 04, 2019 |
A periodic review will also give you an idea of any changes that are necessary.
A will is certainly something that should be completed. However, it isn't a document to put on the shelf and forgotten because as your life and government laws change, so should your will, according to The Item in...
Posted by Nina Whitehurst | Feb 28, 2019 |
If the legal documents aren't signed and notarized properly, there is a good chance that problems will arise.
A properly prepared will could have avoided many of the problems faced by a woman who thought she was protected, according to News 2 in “The power of a will and trouble without one.” Ms....
Posted by Nina Whitehurst | Feb 15, 2019 |
How many people over the age of 45 do not have a prepared will? Two out of Five!
Many people seem to have a difficulty getting started with an estate plan. However, it really doesn't take much to do the planning necessary to help family members who survive you, according to the Lebanon Democ...
Posted by Nina Whitehurst | Feb 08, 2019 |
Life is full of surprises, so perhaps it is best to be as prepared as possible.
Do you know you need a Power of Attorney and an estate plan? Getting organized to create a will is a good place to start, according to the Toronto Sun in the article “Where there's a will, there's a way.”
Posted by Nina Whitehurst | Oct 04, 2018 |
Celebrities including Marlon Brando, Prince and Florence Griffith-Joyner should have had up-to-date estate plans.
It is not just celebrities who make big mistakes, when it comes to failing to keep an estate plan up to date, according to Kiplinger...
Posted by Nina Whitehurst | Oct 02, 2018 |
An estate plan can leave you a legacy, as well as protect your heirs from having to make difficult decisions in difficult times.
Once again, an entertainer with considerable assets has passed away without an estate plan.
Posted by Nina Whitehurst | Aug 06, 2018 |
Knowing the difference between a will and a trust is crucial, as well as how they will work for you as estate planning tools.
Estate planning is unique to the particular circumstances of the individual or family. However, the two different tools that often come to the forefront are wills an...
Posted by Nina Whitehurst | Jul 20, 2018 |
Your estate plan can run into difficulties if your assets are not handled correctly.
Your will does not necessarily have the final say on all assets. It is important how particular assets are handled. This can make a difference because houses, cars, retirement accounts and bank accounts can ...
Posted by Nina Whitehurst | Apr 26, 2018 |
There are many false impressions out there about creating an estate plan. However, it actually does not have to be challenging.
Estate planning does not have to be difficult to accomplish, according to The New York Times in "What It Was Like To Finally Write My Will."
Posted by Nina Whitehurst | Apr 17, 2018 |
A will written years ago may not fit with the current laws of your state, if changes have been made.
Whether an estate plan is a good one depends on state laws that may be changed, so it is a good idea to take a fresh look at your plan, according to the Dunwoody Crier...
Posted by Nina Whitehurst | Apr 16, 2018 |
There are many, many reasons why people need an estate plan.
There are so many reasons why people need a will, that in all likelihood everyone needs one, according to The Bellingham Herald in "Here are seven reasons you want to protect your family with a last will and testament."
Posted by Nina Whitehurst | Mar 30, 2018 |
While many digital legal documents have already been created, it seems that wills create a real challenge.
Despite the recent move to create digital legal documents, wills, which by the very nature of the deceased being unable to verify the document in court, have remained on the back bu...
Posted by Nina Whitehurst | Mar 22, 2018 |
Wills and trust often go hand-in-hand, when it comes to estate planning.
Should you decide to use an online service instead of going to an estate planning attorney, you may find yourself with a trust but then learn you also need a will, according to the Lake County News in "The difference...
Posted by Nina Whitehurst | Feb 28, 2018 |
Some simple documents will go a long way in protecting you as retirement age approaches.
While many people are concerned an estate plan has to be complicated, you often only need a few simple documents prepared by an estate planning attorney, according to the Brooklyn Daily Eagle in "Five legal documents...
Posted by Nina Whitehurst | Jan 29, 2018 |
Without guidelines, the responsibilities of maintaining property by a life tenant can grow into big problems. Giving a person life tenant rights can be a good way to avoid some family conflicts and make sure that property stays in the family. However, it can also create different conflicts,...
Posted by Nina Whitehurst | Jan 08, 2018 |
If you have assets in more than one nation, you need to be sure of the laws for a solid estate plan.
There are people who might need more than one will, if they have assets in more than one country and are a citizen of both countries, according to the Financial Review.
Posted by Nina Whitehurst | Jan 05, 2018 |
David Cassidy leaves small estate of $150,000. David Cassidy, who starred on the TV show “The Partridge Family” chose to cut his daughter out of his will, so she will not receive an inheritance from him, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Posted by Nina Whitehurst | Dec 28, 2017 |
Male primogeniture is the rule in England. There may be a way around the rule of male primogeniture in England, according to the Daily Mail in "New gender laws could let my girls inherit title," says Earl.
Posted by Nina Whitehurst | Dec 13, 2017 |
The will of the Duke of Windsor will be opened for copyright determination.
A court in the U.K. has ruled that the will of the Duke of Windsor, who passed away in 1972, will now be unsealed for for limited purposes.
Posted by Nina Whitehurst | Nov 27, 2017 |
Family members may have grievances with each other, but an executor can't just even things out.
An executor does not have the authority to make things even between family members, unless it is strictly within the law.