Even if you haven’t thought about your estate plan today, I am certain that you have checked your email, made an online bill payment, or logged into your Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn account.  That’s just how the world works these days.  But would it surprise you to learn that new legislation is making these “digital

Early versions of Obama-Care had older folks making end-of-life decisions with a government-payed counselor on the way into a medical facility.  The time to make decisions concerning Patient Advocates and Advance Directives is not on your way into a hospital but rather when you are of a sound, clear thinking mind without the numerous stresses

All of the major news providers (USA Today, CNN.com, Huffingtonpost.com, etc.) reported that Elizabeth’s will has been made public and she has cut her estranged husband, former vice presidential candidate John Edwards, out of her will. Indeed the will, which was recorded on December 22, 2010, has been made public. What is newsworthy here is

This past February, I did a blog discussing the fact that Congress has eight years to fix a problem, but suggested that it would be fixed sometime during 2010.  Well, it is now late August, and Congress has still not been able to deal with this problem leaving many taxpayers and families unsure of how

The entire Anna Nicole Smith story regarding her claim to her elderly late husband’s estate began in 2007 with her claim her late husband made a oral will or trust granting her much of his wealth.  This saga continues with attorneys for her estate vowing to, again, go to the Supreme Court.  As was widely

This is a will and trust story gone horribly wrong.  Sadly, the circumstance are not that uncommon.   Children from a previous marriage and a current wife battling over an estate.  The”Easy Rider” star, filed for divorce shortly after revealing he was battling cancer.  Victoria Hopper, his current wife, is alleging that children from a previous

If there is no will Michigan’s intestate succession law (MCLA 700.2101 et seq) determines who the estate is distributed to. I should add, this is not how most people chose to have their estate distributed when given a choice. Essentially, intestate succession is like a default will for anyone who did not prepare one for

Our national news media loves headlines like “Ryan O’Neal Left out of Farrah Fawcett’s Will”, leaving the reader with the impression there was something wrong with their relationship. “How could she?” The simple answer is that she (and they) had a good estate planning attorney. Ryan O’Neal has told the press he was with her

Leona Helmsley’s shows what happens when basic decisions are left to the Trustees or Personal Representatives. The Humane Society of the United States, The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Maddies Fund have has filed suit in New York’s Surrogate Court to overthrow a decision from February 2009 which gave the