In cases where siblings, now adults, wind up in a dispute over their parents’ estate, things can get very complicated. These types of disputes can be much harder to resolve than you would expect. The problem is that there's a lot more going on than just the...
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Could you be at risk of guardianship as you grow older?
The goal of guardianship is to protect an adult left vulnerable due to mental health issues or a lack of testamentary capacity. If someone cannot make good decisions on their own behalf and manage their independent life without support, concerned family members or...
Estate planning for the transfer of firearms
As an avid collector of guns and weapons, that’s something that makes you unique to your friends and family. As you work on your estate plan, you need to consider how you will handle the distribution of those assets, since they do have some special rules that may...
Why a simple will isn’t enough
If you don't have an estate plan and you decide to write a will, that is a good step to take. It does help to protect your family and your assets. But it is just the first step. It is typically not nearly enough to consider being done with your estate planning. It’s...
Leaving a business to your children? Consider these tips
You started your own business almost thirty years ago. What was once just a dream in your garage is now a multimillion-dollar company. It has really funded your lifestyle for decades, and everyone has benefited greatly. But now it is time to pass that business on to...
Can parents play favorites even in their estate plans?
Children all need the love and support of their parents. In families with multiple children, the ideal would be for each child to receive a similar amount of love and affection from their parents but many parents display obvious favoritism in how they interact with...
3 ways a guardianship can protect vulnerable adults
When guardianships make it into the news, it is almost always because of something bad. A celebrity's family member misuse their authority for personal gain, for example. However, for each rare situation involving the misuse of guardianship, there are probably...
Will estate taxes impact your intended legacy?
When you die, you want as much of your property as possible to pass on to the people you love. You likely have strong feelings about which loved ones should receive certain assets from your estate. Creating an estate plan gives you control over the distribution of...
Did a caregiver exert undue influence on your parent’s last will?
Disputes about the contents of an estate or the terms of a last will among beneficiaries are relatively common. Still, most of these disputes primarily affect family and interpersonal relationships, rather than the legal administration of someone's estate. However,...
3 real risks you face with a DIY downloaded estate plan
Estate planning is something people often put off because they don't want to pay for it and they consider the whole process unpleasant. Some people might try to speed through estate planning by downloading documents off of the internet and filling them out to create a...