As we all know, many films do not take the time to peruse the estate planning effects caused by its characters and events. I found that “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part I”, released Friday, was a fine exception. In fact, it was the earliest that a film introduced estate planning topics since “Death…
I had the misfortune of hearing a dreadful story over the weekend. It is a fine example of how emotions can run quite high in the weeks leading to death if no estate plan is established, and how the survivors are left to solve complex issues that will have an impact for generations. Read more...
Generally, if a will is valid in one state, it will be valid in the next state. However, if your state laws differ in the areas discussed below, a revision or a completely new will is likely warranted. Proving Your Will Your personal representative will have to prove the validity of your will to the…
I always find it amusing when a series of strange events inspires an estate planning post. Here, I have a series of real and fictional horses to thank for today’s discussion. Read more...
Today’s post is going to be more exciting than a Roy Halladay playoff no-hitter, more intriguing than the latest UFO sightings over China, and more powerful than a locomotive. For today, we will discuss how every clause in a will answers at least one of six essential questions about your final wishes. As usual, basic…
I am pleased to announce that I have renewed active status as a Pennsylvania attorney. While I have done so mainly due to a familial circumstance, I spent most of my first 21 years there, and also worked there as an attorney for an additional 5 years. It is still home to me in many…
So far, we have discussed many different aspects of estate planning in this blog. However, if this site is supposed to convince you that estate planning is something that you should really get a handle on, then we should probably discuss some basics. We’ll do so in a Question and Answer format: Read more...
Today’s post goes into significant detail my phone service. However, please bear with me until the final paragraphs, as there is an actual estate planning point. My home used to have an easy phone set up – one phone line (hereinafter “Line 1”), one fax line (hereinafter “Line 2”), and two “distinctive ring” lines for…
