Estate Planning Basics
“Death is not the opposite of life, but a part of it.” (Haruki Murakami) Most of us do not want to think about dying. However, it is an inevitable part of our existence. And preparing for the inevitable is an...[Continue reading]
Divorce Over 50 Years of Age
There is a trend occurring in our society where divorce as a whole is declining. However, people over the age of 50 are seeing an increase. Several years ago, there was a 1 in 10 chance of a person going...[Continue reading]
Getting Divorced Really Stinks
I have had clients, friends and family members remark that I can discuss divorce in a very matter-of-fact way and that since I practice family law on a daily basis, maybe the personal aspects of divorce don’t bother me. I...[Continue reading]
First Steps in Handling a Loved One’s Estate
Being responsible for handling a loved one’s estate after their death is an incredibly difficult task. It can be exhausting physically, mentally and emotionally. If you are in that position, it means your loved one believed that you were the...[Continue reading]
Powers of Attorney and Unmarried Couples
Unmarried couples have a special need for powers of attorney. I will explain that bold and incredibly controversial statement here. There are many types of powers of attorney. They all accomplish the same basic purpose – giving someone else the...[Continue reading]
Attorney’s Fees in Estate Administration
If an attorney is helping you administer an estate, you will need to pay him or her. Attorneys charge for helping to administer an estate in different ways. I’m sure there are many imaginative ways that attorneys can bill for...[Continue reading]
Choosing an Executor
When we die, somebody will need to handle our estates. That means gathering and protecting our assets, dealing with our creditors and making sure our assets are distributed as specified in our Wills. That person (or persons) is called the...[Continue reading]
Divorce & Estate Planning Go Together
Divorce and estate planning go together. Not exactly like peanut butter and jelly, which some people know is one of my favorite lunch sandwiches, but they are a logical combination. As part of a divorce, individuals make a lot of...[Continue reading]
Holidays
Holidays can be stressful for everybody. They can be wonderful and joyous celebrations, but they can also involve lots of planning, preparation and possibly unrealistic expectations. Add the process of divorce or the loss of a loved one into the...[Continue reading]
Holidays and Child Custody
Making arrangements for your children during the holidays can be difficult and can sometimes give rise to conflict. Ideally, we want to spend as much time as possible with our children during the holidays. When parents are separated or divorced,...[Continue reading]