When speaking with my elderly clients I encourage them to have conversations with their children about their wishes. Upon the mention of this suggestion, I have witnessed the change in demeanor of many. I go on to explain what their children will need and how the administration of their estate will proceed. We discuss how […]
I recently came across this TED Talk by Judy MacDonald Johnston and thought she did such a great job starting the discussion on end-of-life planning that I had to share it with our readers. The video is worth watching (it is a short 6 minutes) and should be shared with any loved ones who are unwilling […]
Many people realize when creating a will the possibility that a beneficiary could contest their wishes if an uneven or unexpected distribution takes place. When creating a will, some may wish to favor one beneficiary over another, while others may wish to benefit a non-profit or charity instead of a familial beneficiary. The most likely […]
The question of what happens to a person’s digital property after death is a hot topic these days. Many online service providers are currently grappling with this issue, including Facebook, Google, Yahoo, and the list goes on.
Grieving through Facebook has been previously discussed on Epilawg (see Jen Santini’s post, Grieving in the Digital Age), but I was again reminded of this topic as the result of a recent Minneapolis Star Tribute article by Katie Humphrey, Facebook is Changing the Way We Grieve. Ms. Humphrey reminds us that, “[d]eath doesn’t kill a […]
If Congress ultimately expands gun legislation, then it could have a profound impact on an individual’s ability to transfer guns to their beneficiaries. Bequeathing a gun in an estate is very different from passing on other personal property. Because a gun is a regulated piece of personal property at both the federal and state levels, […]
A couple in love has a baby but they haven’t tied the knot. Many times they also haven’t created an estate plan. Unfortunately, the unwed parents in love need an estate plan more than married parents. Why, you ask? Well, if an unwed parent dies without a plan, the surviving parent doesn’t inherit any of […]
We have had many posts related to choosing guardians for your children should something happen to both parents before their children reach the age of majority: Appointing a Guardian for Minor Children, How to Choose A Guardian, among other miscellaneous references to the importance of having an estate plan when you have minor children. As […]
This is the second in a three part series on pre-planning for your death. In the first part, terms related to pre-planning for your death were defined. In this part, exactly what happens to your remains after you die will be covered. Finally, steps to pre-planning your funeral will be discussed. This series is written […]
Some clients know how important the Power of Attorney document is. They may have acted as attorney-in-fact for a spouse or an elderly relative. Or they may have experienced first hand the challenges created when someone hasn’t executed a valid Power of Attorney. The Power of Attorney (aka POA) names an attorney-in-fact to make financial […]
QR codes, those squares made of square dots arranged in a pattern that you scan with your smart phone, are popping up everywhere these days. Consequently, I was not at all surprised when I saw a story on the local CBS evening news … QR Codes On Headstones: Preserving Personalities Of Those Passed.