Question: What is an estate plan? Do I need an estate plan? Answer: When you know what an estate is, then it’s easy to understand estate planning. (If you’re unsure what an estate is, read my post about estates.) For the most part, estate planning is literally the planning for the transfer of one’s estate…
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Your digital legacy is one that not many people think about. In this blog post, we’ll take you down the right path on how to plan for yours. Question: How Should I Plan For My Digital Legacy? Answer: Most people today do so much on their computers, iPhones, iPads and other devices that it’s important…
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One of the biggest questions that we receive is what one should do with their estate plan, after a divorce. Question: I got a divorce. I think my spouse was named in my estate plan. What should I do? Answer: If you don’t want your spouse to inherit any of your assets or be the…
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Question: I don’t have a Will but I want my spouse and kids to inherit everything. If my spouse and kids will inherit everything anyway, what’s the point of making a Will? Answer: That’s a good question. In certain circumstances, a person’s spouse and kids will inherit everything. However, that may or may not apply…
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Did Tammy Wynette Want To Disinherit Her Children? Virginia Wynette Pugh, who later became known as Tammy Wynette, was born in Mississippi on May 5, 1942 to a family of cotton farmers. Tammy’s father died when Tammy was just an infant. As Tammy grew up, she taught herself to play a variety of musical instruments…
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For any of you who are into the interesting, strange and downright bizarre stories of the Rich and Famous and their estates, you have to check out Investigation Discovery’s show “The Will”. Personally, I really like this show (ok, I AM an estate planning lawyer) and find it both interesting and informative. I will try…
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Question: What is community property? I am married and live in Arizona. Does this affect me? Answer: Married individuals living in community property states own property their property as either community property or separate property. Community property is all property acquired during marriage, except property acquired by gift or inheritance, or property acquired after the…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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