The handsome cat in this picture is Frank Sykora. He is my family’s cat and we love him like he is a human. Frank (or as we refer to him, Frank S.) spends most of his days sleeping and most of his nights protecting our home from critters and vermin. It is a tough job, […]
May 28, 1908 – August 12, 1964 Did you know that the author of the James Bond books is the same author of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang? Ian Fleming is the creator of James Bond and wrote the books that ultimately were made into box office hits. He had worked as an assistant to the […]
Since 2009, Frank and Jamie McCourt have been embattled in one of the messiest, public divorces. The McCourts were like any other couple. They met, fell in love, got married, and had four sons. However, along the way they purchased a major league baseball team, numerous homes costing millions of dollars and led an extravagant […]
Many people who support charities will limit their giving to writing a check (or perhaps these days using a great online giving portal like GiveMN.org). However, increasingly donors are taking advantage of the flexibility, tax savings, and long-term planning offered by planned giving. When a donor works with a planned giving professional, often in conjunction […]
When I ask a probate client if the decedent (or decedent’s predeceased spouse, if any) received medical assistance, I often receive a confused look. I make this inquiry because if the decedent (or decedent’s predeceased spouse) received medical assistance there may be a medical assistance lien filed against real property owned by the decedent. Before […]
Revocable trusts have many benefits. They typically allow for a smooth transition of assets when an individual dies, they can avoid the probate process, and they may incorporate transfer tax planning techniques such as disclaimers, QTIP trusts, and GST provisions (to name a few). While these benefits are great, the unsung heroes of the revocable […]
March 30, 1853 – July 29, 1890 As is the case with many artists, Van Gogh was plagued with madness during his lifetime and it was not until after his death did he receive his rightful fame. He only sold one work of art during his lifetime but his paintings are now valued in the […]
Often, many of our clients ask how a Will or a gift might be contested by others. One of the main ways is by contesting the testator’s or donor’s mental capacity when the Will was signed or the gift made. The type of capacity needed for each is slightly different.
Rare accidents and natural disasters can happen ending with the deaths of multiple family members. When these tragic events occur, they result in situations where it cannot be determined who died first. Such occurrences are labeled as “simultaneous deaths.” Many individuals do not take into consideration that they might die at essentially the same time […]
December 18, 1886 – July 17, 1961 While his nickname was “The Georgia Peach,” Ty Cobb is not an endearing baseball legend. It is said that “[i]nstead of having friends and family at his side, a handgun and a fortune in stock certificates were on the nightstand next to his hospital bed. Only three former […]
People often associate estate planning only with directing the distribution of a decedent’s assets; however, estate planning is much broader and it can provide substantial utility to a person while he/she is still alive through a field of practice called asset protection. Asset protection is the process of structuring the ownership of assets to minimize […]