Estate Planning

Have you ever sent an email that you hope your spouse never reads? If the answer is yes, you better make sure your estate plan includes instructions about who gets access to your digital assets when you die.

This is a hot topic in the estate planning world right now Read more . . .

We live in a society that has become obsessed with celebrity. We’ve gone from a time where everyone was concerned with keeping up with the Joneses, to a period where it is impossible to avoid Keeping Up With the Kardashians. Is it any surprise then, that we also are interested in knowing what sort of estate planning our favorite celebs have done?

Although it indicates good planning on their part, it is a bit disappointing to find out there is no news about what a celeb’s last wishes were.
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Paul Simon sang to us about the “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover” while Train told us there are “50 Ways to Say Goodbye.” Based on all the big life changes that are happening in these songs, the next “50 Ways” song should probably be “50 Ways to Destroy an Old Will.” For that task, we’ve got some suggestions.
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Back in the day, it was possible to pay for college by working over the summer and holding down a part-time job during the semester. Today, no kid is going to be able to put themselves through school this way. Tuition has increased at more than twice the rate of inflation over the past 40 years, making it difficult for all but the richest families to pay for college.

Many grandparents are chipping in to help out with educational expenses. In addition to being a lovely thing to do, it can also be a great way to Read more . . .

Slate’s advice columnist, “Prudence,” recently answered a question from someone who was dealing with a bunch of relatives who were upset about the decision to sell off a “family” property. Prudie’s answer is a good one from a moral perspective, but will it hold up in court?

The Question

The person writing in was dealing with family strife over a vacation property.
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If you have a few family heirlooms that you want to pass on to the next generation, you will probably remember to mention these items and your wishes regarding them to your estate planning attorney. These treasured objects tell the story of your family, and provide a tangible link to the past.

But you probably own other items of historical significance that you haven’t thought much about, and are not likely to mention in your estate plan.
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The “I do” to-do list seems like it is never-ending. There are flowers to pick out, venues to book, dresses and suits to find and get fitted, and a million other things that the bride and groom must attend to before walking down that aisle. One to-do a lot of couples skip, and later regret, is a visit with an estate planning attorney.
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How can I ensure my estate plan includes my digital assets?

In the past decade, banking and finances have moved to the digital realm.  Most companies offer you the option of electronic statements, online bill pay, and electronic auto payments.  These methods are more environmentally friendly and potentially time-saving, but moving all of your assets and accounts online can lead to challenges in estate planning.  Our Read more . . .

Sinatra crooned that love and marriage go together like a horse and carriage, but Old Blue Eyes might be singing a different tune if he were alive today. Many couples do indeed have one without the other, particularly if their current love is not their first. Couples in such a relationship may not want to formalize their relationship in a public ceremony, but they should consider talking with an estate planning attorney to make sure their end of life wishes are not ignored because they chose not to tie the knot.
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