When Sheila’s mother died with only a Last Will and Testament (Will) in place, she couldn’t fathom that she would still be knee-deep in probate a year later without an end in sight. Sheila often tells her friends and anyone who … [Read more...]
Print This PageCritter Corner: Simplifying Things for Your Heirs
August 6, 2024 by
Dear Kiwi and Mango,I am in the process of organizing my paperwork. I was thinking that I should put anything important that my children would need in one place, to make things easier if something should happen to me. Do you … [Read more...]
Print This PageComparing Financial Powers of Attorney: Badly Drafted DIY vs. Well-Drafted Documents
May 3, 2024 by
Q. My husband is a handy DIYer, and it has saved us lots money, in many instances. Now, he is insisting on doing our Estate Planning documents, including our Wills and our Financial Powers of Attorney, on his own. I am glad he … [Read more...]
Print This PageComparing a Typical Advance Medical Directive to the Farr Law Firm’s 4 Needs Advance Medical Directive®
April 16, 2024 by
Benjamin Franklin once said “(n)othing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” Today (April 16) is National Healthcare Decisions Day, a day for health care decision planning. And, in keeping with Franklin’s famous … [Read more...]
Print This PageMore Problems with Beneficiary Designations — Usually Beneficiary Designations Take Precedence Over Your Estate Planning Documents, But Sometimes They Don’t
March 15, 2024 by
Note: This article is Part 3 in a series on the Problems with Beneficiary Designations. Links for the prior two articles are below and at the bottom of this article.Please click here to read Part 1 and please click here to … [Read more...]
Print This PageHow Can Patient Advocates Help on Your Health Care Journey?
February 16, 2024 by
Q. I recently came across a Next Avenue article where a 72-year-old woman was told she had a benign brain tumor and needed surgery. The surgery was supposed to be simple, and the family was told she’d recover quickly, but things … [Read more...]
Print This PageAre Transfer on Death Deeds a Good Alternative to Estate Planning?
February 9, 2024 by
Q. I was recently discussing with my husband what would happen to our house in Annandale, Virginia when we are no longer around, especially since we don’t have our estate planning in place yet. One my friends’ parents recently … [Read more...]
Print This PageWhy Should Millennials and Gen Zers Care About Estate Planning?
February 9, 2024 by
Dear Raider,I’m in my 20’s and have never thought about estate planning. My older sister recently told me at a family gathering that she has her estate planning documents in place. I don’t understand why she would want to do … [Read more...]
Print This PageJay Leno Files for Conservatorship Over His Wife’s Estate
January 30, 2024 by
TV icon Jay Leno and his wife, Mavis Leno, have been married for 43 years — and by all accounts they are still in love. Mavis, 77, suffers from dementia, and according to a recent court filing, she has been “progressively losing … [Read more...]
Print This PageDoes My Spouse Have a Right to a Share of My Home?
December 1, 2023 by
Q1. I am giving serious thought to my estate planning and to who I want to leave most of my assets to when I am no longer around. I am seriously considering leaving the bulk to my two children and not my spouse. I live in … [Read more...]
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