What is a Homestead? Generally, a homestead is a dwelling including the land and buildings on the land that is occupied by the owner. What is a Homestead Exemption? A homestead exemption is a law that states that a person’s homestead is exempted from seizure or sale for a debt in certain situations. This means…
Details
Most parents want to treat their children fairly in their estate planning, and many assume this means that their children should have an equal inheritance. But fair does not necessarily mean equal. In some families, there may be special circumstances to consider. For example, parents may want to provide more to a child who struggles…
Details
Question: Is DIY estate planning a good idea? If you think performing your own surgery or doing your own dental work is a good idea, then maybe it is. Most educated consumers realize it’s not. With the number of online and do it yourself (DIY) document preparers continuing to grow, some people may be wondering…
Details
Planning ahead for your family when you don’t have children is a little bit different than when there are children involved. When you don’t have to worry about paying college tuition and other financial obligations parents often have to think about, you can consider different techniques that may not have been financially feasible if you…
Details
LOS ANGELES— A judge has extended the temporary conservatorship of Zsa Zsa Gabor’s husband over the ailing actress and her estate, court papers obtained Friday show. The one-page order issued Tuesday by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Reva Goetz means Frederic von Anhalt will remain as his 96-year-old wife’s interim caretaker at least until Aug.…
Details
An estate plan for Cinderella’s parents? Sounds weird, doesn’t it? Read this blog to find out more about the princess and estates. – I saw Cinderella for the first time with my daughter recently, and though I (and likely you) were familiar with the outline of the story, we often forget the backstory. It starts…
Details
There are many myths about wills, trust and other legal documents, and what is appropriate for a particular family. Below are some of the most common myths and facts about estate planning: MYTH: I am young and don’t have a lot of money, so I don’t need a will. Wills are only for older and…
Details
New Orleans — Former Covington resident Gail Sheffield was held dear by friends for her sense of humor, her modesty and her brilliance — “She was Google before there was Google’’ long-time friend Julia Sims said. But what Sheffield held most dear was feral cats. They were her passion in life, Sims said, and she…
Details
The first step in creating a trust is to ask yourself what you want to accomplish. The whole idea of setting up a trust is to provide for your loved ones after your death. But how do you ensure the trust doesn’t run out of money? The keys, financial planners say, lie in setting up…
Details
The estate of author J.R.R. Tolkien is testing the principle, “You can’t be sued for suing.” In November, the estate and book publisher HarperCollins filed an $80 million lawsuit against Warner Bros., its New Line subsidiary and Saul Zaentz Co. — which holds the rights to The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings –…
Details
An appellate court judge has thrown out a Florida mogul’s adult adoption of his 42-year-old girlfriend, saying that his failure to notify his ex-wife about the scheme was a ‘fraud.’ Third District Court of Appeal Senior Judge Alan R. Schwartz wrote that the adoption of a ‘paramour’ or lover has no purpose and cannot be…
Details
Washington: Michael Jackson’s three children and his mother are seeking 40 billion dollars compensation for the singer’s death from AEG Live. They accused the entertainment company behind the star’s planned O2 Arena concerts for “negligent hiring and supervision” of Dr Conrad Murray-Jackson’s doctor, who is jailed for the star’s manslaughter, TMZ reported. The kids want…
Details