I had a really interesting fact pattern today that I wanted to share. I got the perspective client’s permission to share but, of course, names are changed for privacy. Sadly Gina’s mom, Molly, died in December of 2015 and her dad, Donald, died in December of 2016. A crappy 12 months for Gina we can […]

I have posted a few times on the importance of funding your trust. I have also posted about my inclination toward consolidation of assets. As stated you have to consider FDIC insurance, other insurance, taxes, etc… but in general I am a big proponent of consolidation. I also have mentioned that I feel holding stocks […]

After over 20 years as an estate planning attorney I feel pretty well qualified in giving people advice on estate planning matters. I have helped plan for death and I have helped clean up after death; hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of times. Also, this year, I have dealt with the clean up after my […]

As you likely know, in the email world, to use ALL CAPS means that you are “yelling.”  Or, should I say, “YELLING!?”  So the title to this post could be construed as my YELLING and I am ok with that. For the entirety of my career I have encouraged clients to consolidate assets, put individual […]

It’s only been three weeks, to the day, since my mom died and I have a few thoughts on what I have learned in regard to her estate planning matters. Some things done right and things not done right. VICTORY: My mom named me as co-trustee on her trust almost 10 years ago when she […]

We have all lost a loved one… or will eventually lose a loved one. Losing a loved one is hard there is no question. It is a sad reality of life though.  I lost my dad when I was 14. I remember it well of course.  My mom was a regular on the grief group […]

I was talking to one of my probate clients yesterday and he told me a story about a bill he received from the attorney who drafted his mom’s will and trust which include some scary billable hours.  My client, who we will call Bob called the drafting attorney who we will call Tom.  Bob called […]

For 20 years I have been telling people how to “put” their bank accounts and other assets into their trusts.  Some things, like real estate, are pretty easy. We just prepare a deed, our client signs it, and we send it in for recording.  Clients who work with full service financial professionals also have it […]

Ouch. Of course attorneys can make mistakes too but in this case it was the use of an online document service (unnamed to protect the guilty) that messed up. Decedent, we will call Betty, signed a will a few months before dying. Betty asked unnamed online document service to write the will to give all […]

I recently talked to a prospective client. His story made me think of one thing, though I didn’t tell him in these words, IT’S TIME TO SOLVE THIS AND GET ON WITH YOUR LIFE! His story was one I have heard countless times.  Siblings fighting.  It’s not always clear what exactly they are fighting about […]