NC and SC Estate Planning and Elder Law Firm

When we teach our kids about bullies, we tell them that bullies are actually weak. They pick on people because they want to feel better about themselves, so they target the lonely, the weak, and the disheartened.

It turns out we should be listening to our own advice. As our parents and grandparents become older, and we become their caretakers, we must be prepared to look out for bullies. Because that’s what people who abuse our elders are — bullies.

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It’s been months since Hurricane Florence made landfall, but in many ways we are all still recovering from the storm. We have helped numerous clients find and replace lost paperwork, and helped estate administrators manage repairs on properties they are responsible for but don’t live in. We have also counseled families who are trying to figure out how to fix or replace broken gravestones, and discussed what to do when a loved one’s grave has been disturbed by rising waters.  

No Longer Resting In Peace

We all like to think that our loved ones are resting in peace in a sacred space where no one and nothing can do them harm. Unfortunately, cemeteries are often impacted by natural disasters, or suffer at the hands of vandals.
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It sneaks up on you like a thief in the night. It takes without hesitation, not caring what it destroys. It does not matter if you are young or old, rich or poor, urban or rural, it will get you if it can. Opioid addiction is ravishing our nation. 

It is something families can no longer ignore when
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In most relationships there is one spouse that handles the couple’s finances. It’s a natural division of labor because it is redundant to have both spouses sign every check to the utility company. But it puts the spouse who is not the financial guru at a real disadvantage if they outlive their partner. 

We have heard way too many horror stories about a new widow or widower who is blindsided by debt or taken advantage of by someone who steps in to “help them sort out their finances” after their loved one’s death. This post covers a few key actions couples should take, from a legal point of view, to prepare for a future where only one of them is living.
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Shortly after the news broke that legendary actor Burt Reynolds had passed away, sources began whispering that he had also disinherited his only child, Quinton Anderson Reynolds. While it is true that Quinton is intentionally omitted from his father’s will, he was not disinherited.

The Language That Got People Talking 

The language that got tongues wagging after Burt Reynolds passed away is this: “At the time that I execute this, my Last Will and Testament, I am not married, and I have one (1) child, QUINTON A.
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4.9 million acres. That’s how much land the South Carolina Department of Agriculture says is farmed in the Palmetto state.
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On August 16 we lost an icon. Aretha Franklin was not just a phenomenal singer, she was the undisputed Queen of Soul (and Gospel and Rock and R&B). She was a vanguard of the Civil Rights Movement and her recording of Respect was the unofficial anthem of the women’s rights movement.

We will all miss her, but in the same way, we miss other celebrities who pass on. We will feel a twinge of grief the next time one of her songs comes on the radio, but we will move on with our lives.
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The opioid epidemic is ravishing the nation and North and South Carolina are being hit particularly hard. In response, more and more families in our area are drafting estate plans with trusts that prevent loved ones who have substance abuse issues from fueling their addiction with inherited funds.

A good example of how this is done can actually found in Hugh Hefner’s estate plan.
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Estate Planning For New Parents

It may not be the top thing on your to-do list when you find out you are expecting, but crafting an estate plan is something all new parents should do. It is not one of the fun and exciting parts of parenting, but it is critically important.

Decide on a Guardian & Trustee

A lot of people are under the impression that the people they name as Godparents will become their child’s guardians should the unthinkable happen. This is not true. Naming someone a Godparent is a religious or cultural gesture, it is not a legally binding action.

In order to designate a legal guardian, it is necessary to execute a will. In a will you can name anyone you want as your child’s potential guardian. You can also change your mind and name someone different in a new document in the future.

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When former President Benjamin Harrison died in 1901, his two oldest children inherited nothing. Harrison specified that his second wife, Mary Scott Lord Dimmock Harrison, was to inherit everything. Harrison two older children were already married with children of their own, so it wasn’t like he was leaving them destitute, but it did get people talking once again about the former president’s love life.

You see, Mary was Benjamin’s late wife’s niece. She had lived at the White House during Harrison’s presidency along with her mother and grandfather, and served as a sort of social secretary to the First Lady, her beloved aunt Caroline. In 1892, Caroline died and Benjamin lost his bid for re-election. A few years later, in 1896, Benjamin and Mary wed. He was in his mid-60s and she was in her late 30s. A year later, the couple had a daughter, Elizabeth.

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We all like to think that if one of our loved ones was being abused, we would realize it right away and quickly step in to help. We also imagine that if we were being abused, we would get help or that someone would recognize the signs of abuse and step in on our behalf. It’s scary to think otherwise. Unfortunately, our years of experience have taught us that elder abuse can be tricky to spot and difficult to stop. A very public example of this is playing out right now as comic book legend Stan Lee’s family, lawyers, and business associates fight each other over control of his future.

Stan Lee is the mastermind of the Marvel comic book universe. He created or co-created some of the world’s most well-known superheroes, including Spider-Man, the Hulk, and the X-Men, but right now it seems he could use a hero of his own.

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