Losing a spouse is a heart-wrenching event that can be difficult, if not unbearable, to even plan for. Therefore, many surviving spouses are not prepared for the death of their spouse and subsequently have to deal with financial and legal questions at a time when they are most likely not thinking clearly. This post discusses […]
The old adage “what’s mine is yours and what’s yours is mine” is particularly true for spouses located in community property states. News of the L.A. Lakers star Kobe Bryant’s divorce reminds us how important it is to know whether or not you are located in a community property state and to plan properly if […]
Everyone should have an estate plan. Estate planning attorneys say that a lot, and we mean it! But this is even more critical for farming families. There are many unique issues and problems that play an important role when planning for families with farms, among them: estate taxes, complicated probates, business succession, emotional ties and […]
December 25, 1899 – January 14, 1957 It has been 55 years since Humphrey Bogart died at age 57. Bogie, as he was affectionately called, died from esophageal cancer, leaving a wife and two children. He was married to another leading star of the time, Lauren Bacall, who was at his bedside at the time […]
It is a common misconception that estate planning is only necessary for the wealthy or those with a spouse and children. However, all individuals, no matter what their financial situation may be, can benefit from preparing for the future with estate planning tools, too. An estate plan includes more than creating a Will or trust […]
It is a common misconception that estate planning is only necessary for the wealthy or those with a spouse and children. However, all individuals, no matter what their financial situation may be, can benefit from preparing for the future with estate planning tools, too. An estate plan includes more than creating a Will or trust […]
Below is an illustration (a fictitious one) with three things to consider upon the death of a spouse who owns a business. Henry and Wendy celebrated their 30th anniversary last summer with their two children and three grandchildren. At the time of her death in November 2011, Wendy owned an increasingly successful retail business. Henry […]
It’s a new year! Time to dust of your estate plan and review your documents. While not much may have changed, if anything for that matter, it is still useful to perform an estate plan audit on a regular basis to ensure your documents are always kept up to date. Did you have mom and […]
We write a lot about trusts here at Epilawg: selecting the right trustees, how trusts can be useful during periods of incapacity, and utilizing trusts for blended families, just to name a few recent posts. What we have not discussed is the situation that can arise when the need to amend a trust is necessary […]
It is that time of year for eggnog and Yule logs, menorahs and dreidels, Christmas carols and Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, Ralphie and the Griswolds, and so much more that puts us all in the holiday spirit. While this time of year is joyous for most, it is also very stressful. Families gather near and […]
March 17, 1902 – December 18, 1971 In the world of sports, names such as Palmer, Nicklaus, and Woods are most associated with the game of golf. However, even before all of them, there was Bobby Jones, who is arguably the best golfer of all time. Mr. Jones’ legend is not just for his accomplishments […]