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]
Financial Experts in Divorce
Divorce involves many financial determinations – for example, what is the marital value of bank accounts, investment accounts, retirement accounts, real estate, business interests, vehicles, etc.? What do certain proposed outcomes mean on a practical level? Will you have enough...[Continue reading]
Digital Assets
What are your digital assets? What happens to your digital assets upon your death? Who has the authority to handle your digital assets if you are incapacitated or incapable of managing them? ...[Continue reading]
Wills and Unmarried Couples
In many instances, it is even more important for unmarried couples to have Wills in place than it is for married couples. That’s because the state has developed a default estate plan for married individuals that includes their spouse. This...[Continue reading]
FIVE ISSUES TO CONSIDER IF FACED WITH DIVORCE
1. Where is each spouse in the divorce decision-making process? Frequently one spouse is more convinced than the other that divorce is the best option. The biggest thing to keep in mind is just because you think the marriage is...[Continue reading]
Attorney’s Fees in Estate Planning
If an attorney is preparing your Will, trust agreement, powers of attorney, etc., you will need to pay him or her. Many attorneys (including me) charge a flat fee for estate planning services. That means you decide what documents you...[Continue reading]
Pros and Cons of the Domestic Relations Office
Some people go through the domestic relations office to establish child support, spousal support or alimony pendente lite orders. Some people make those arrangements without involving the domestic relations office. There are pros and cons to involving or not involving...[Continue reading]
What to Expect at a Domestic Relations Conference
A domestic relations conference is an uncomfortable experience, but it can help to have an idea what to expect. You, your spouse (for simplicity, I’m going to use “spouse” throughout this blog post even though you and the other party...[Continue reading]
Family Law Issues and Unmarried Couples
Unmarried couples are, by definition, not married. So although they may act like married couples, live like married couples, have families like married couples, in some ways the court system treats them differently. Unmarried couples who end their relationship and...[Continue reading]