Should Your Power of Attorney Spring?

 One of the more important decisions when drafting a power of attorney is when the document should become effective. It can be effective immediately or it can be made to be effective only when the principal becomes disabled. The latter is known as “springing.”

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Taking your dog with you

For many people, dogs are more than just best friends. They are a valued member of the family. However, pets, unlike other family members, are legally property. This raises the question whether you can direct that your pets be put to sleep after you pass away.

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Blowing An Inheritance

People often fear that leaving large sums of money to their relatives will result in those relatives blowing the money on things they do not need. A recent case in the United Kingdom demonstrates that this is not an unfounded fear.   Euan MacAndrew, a 24-year-old, was left an inheritance by his grandfather that amounted […]

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Reopening Jack Kerouac’s Estate

Author Jack Kerouac’s estate has long been settled after much acrimony. However, an important letter that he received from a friend could reopen the case.   Jack Kerouac is credited with inventing the free-flowing beat style of writing that was popular in the 1950s and 60s. He did not create the style on his own […]

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Estate Planning and 2014: Looking Back

Every year has new developments in estate planning. 2014 was no different in this regard. Some of the changes to estate planning in 2014 are very important to know about.   With 2014 just behind us, now is a good time to look back and see what changed in estate planning during the year. After […]

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Make Estate Planning Your New Year’s Resolution

The holidays are upon us. It’s also a good time to get started with some Old Year end and New Year beginning planning activities, especially if family members are going to be celebrating the holidays with you. Start with reviewing what you have and how you own it (by yourself, with your spouse, with a […]

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Silly Questions? Not When It Comes to Your Will

It’s something parents shudder to think about: a will. That’s probably why more than half of Americans with children do not have a legal will. Parents love their children, and the concept of dying and not being there for their children is simply not an option they consider. Establishing a will is a vital part […]

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A Trust Is Still a Good Idea

Up until a few years ago, a common estate-planning technique included the use of irrevocable trusts to own life insurance intended for the payment of estate taxes. Properly arranged, this method allowed the policy’s benefits to be used to pay the estate taxes of the person who died without the policy being included in the […]

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Need I Be Spoiled to Have a Trust?

Mention a trust, and the first thing most people think of is a spoiled kid living off an inherited fortune without having worked a single day in life. As a result, most people don’t know very much about trusts, and they assume there’s little need to have even a basic understanding of this useful estate-planning […]

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Plan Ahead!

AARP says to head off bickering over your personal possessions, consider supplementing your will with a letter of instruction, an informal document that you can draft yourself. Where there’s a will, there’s a way—and sometimes an ugly family feud. Families are consumed with grief when a loved one dies, but unfortunately certain legal and organizational […]

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