Here’s How Gene Hackman’s Children Could Still Claim His $80M Legacy Despite Being Omitted from His Will Reports emerged recently revealing that Gene Hackman, the celebrated Oscar recipient, had excluded his three estranged children from his will before his passing. Now, various legal specialists are now outlining ways these children might still secure a share…
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Questions First Responders Must Consider to Best Protect Their Loved Ones Thank you for all that you do for us. We understand that being the first one on the scene can come with many different risks. We are dedicated to protecting you and your loved ones from the different types of emergencies that may…
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Create a Will and Other Estate Planning Documents Everybody should have an estate plan, yet over half of all Americans do not have one. Some people might think that since they are not millionaires that estate planning isn’t something they need. Others may know that they need one but just haven’t gotten around to doing…
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Personal representative’s duties are commonly considered, but often misunderstood. This guide will help you understand what a personal representative does and his or her duties (a personal representative is called an executor in some states). Acting as a personal representative can be a time consuming task. It’s a good idea to review this list before…
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I often get asked “how can I use a revocable living trust to avoid probate?” My answer: by properly funding your Revocable Living Trust. A large part of the probate process is transferring title to assets out of the name of the deceased person and into the name of the new owners (the heirs). You…
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How to Do a Will We are often asked how to create a Will. To start, you should look at your state’s requirements for creating a valid Last Will and Testament (otherwise known as a “Will”). While we always recommend working with an experienced estate planning attorney when you create a Will, here is an…
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What Is a Probate?* Probate is a superior court action that is filed when someone passes away. Although the probate court has other jurisdiction (for example, to handle guardianships and conservatorships), when most people think of probate think they think of the process of transferring assets out of the name of the deceased person and…
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We are often asked whether a Will or a Trust is most appropriate for a client’s particular situation. Our answer? It depends on how the client wants their assets passed to their beneficiaries, if they want to avoid probate, the value of their assets, and their desire to create a plan based on their wishes…
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If you want your nonprofit corporation to be exempt from federal taxation and allow donors to deduct their donations on their tax returns, you will need to complete and submit an Application for Recognition of Exemption Under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (IRS Form 1023). Before getting started, you should check to be…
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If you’ve already formed your nonprofit organization, congratulations! You’ve taken the first step in creating a charity or tax exempt organization. However, just because you formed a nonprofit organization doesn’t mean that you will automatically be tax exempt. The IRS has specific requirements that must be followed before it will grant tax exempt status to…
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An Arizona beneficiary deed: what is it and how do I acquire one? A Beneficiary Deed is an easy and inexpensive way to transfer title of real property. Since a person’s real property is usually one of their largest assets, it makes sense to ensure that it goes to the right person or place at…
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Is it absolutely terrible if you don’t have an estate plan? Maybe, maybe not. The problem is that you won’t really know if you needed an estate plan or not until you need an estate plan. In a way, you can think about it like insurance – you don’t need it until you need it.…
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