Most people do not realize that probate and wills are not just for the rich. If you were to die tomorrow and do not have a will, then in most cases, the government will have no idea who the money should go to and how much should go to each of your kin. Ultimately, lawyers more »
When people retire, or decide to move to be closer to family often times it involves a move to a different state. So when you move to a different state, are your estate plan documents still valid in your new state of residence? The answer is maybe. Under of the U.S. Constitution, every state shall more »
On December 29th a California court of appeal upheld a century old law of inheritance. Under the law in intestacy (when you die without a will) your estate is distributed to your “legal heirs” In California if you die “intestate” without a surviving spouse, domestic partner, surviving children or surviving descendents of deceased children, your more »
Over their lives, people tend to accumulate a lot of “stuff”: furniture, clothing, knick-knacks, books, personal collections, etc. And when they die, that stuff gets passed on to their loved ones, taking up space in their garages, looking oddly out of place in their dining rooms, or sitting in storage simply because the heirs can’t more »
Tom Benson had once anointed his daughter and grandchildren as his heirs. Today, Benson and his third wife are waging an ugly courtroom fight for control of New Orleans Saints and his $2 billion fortune. Benson’s story seems like a plot from a US soap opera but it really has turned into a bitter courtroom more »
At the end of May, parties claiming deceptive business practices by LegalZoom filed a class action lawsuit in California against the online legal document preparation service. They argue that LegalZoom’s advertisements give consumers “a false sense of security that people do not need hire a traditional attorney.” In July 2007, Anthony Ferrentino asked his niece, more »
According to court records, Robin William’s family is locked in a legal battle over his estate. Robin Williams’ widow and his three adult children are having a conflict over items that the famous comedian left behind. Williams committed suicide in August, 2014. He hanged himself with a belt in his home. He had been seeking more »
In one of the largest municipal bankruptcy cases, a federal judge approved Detroit’s debt-cutting plan. Fifteen months after Detroit had filed for Chapter 9 bankruptcy protection, Judge Steven Rhodes finally ruled that the city’s plan was feasible and fair and equitable to creditors as per the requirements of bankruptcy law. Detroit has been forced into more »
When someone influences someone’s decision to change their will or leave their assets to them that may be considered undue influence. You will often hear about undue influence when a celebrity dies and leaves all or a vast amount of their large estate to a new spouse, especially one much younger, or a housekeeper, butler, more »
There is value in the story of an older client who had seen a very interesting clause employed in a will. There was a great deal of money at stake and the many family members had little reason to love each other, because they had never met and never knew of each others existence. It more »
After a loved one passes away, the personal representative (fiduciary) on behalf of the estate or trust is responsible for managing the estate and distributing the assets.When the decedent has a valid New York will or trust in place…
Under New York Law, a guardian is a person who has the authority to take care of your minor children if you are unable to as a result of a mental incapacity, illness, disability or you pass away. The legal guardian has the same authority and powers as a parent…
