When you go in to get your estate plan in place, there are several documents you expect to walk away with. Wills are of course the old stand by, and you will also likely execute a financial power of attorney and a medical power of attorney. Trusts are also commonly...
Estate Planning
Celebrity estate planning mistakes inform the rest of us
While many examples of failures in celebrity estate planning, we'd like to take a look a just a handful here. One example involves the estate of Leona Helmsley, who left $12 million in trust for her dog, Trouble. Planning for a pet is not a bad idea, actually, but in...
Estate planning tips for avoiding disputes
Family disputes over an estate are one of the big pitfalls attorneys and their clients try to avoid in the estate planning process. Planning is very important in managing the occurrence of these disputes, even where family is willing to work out the issue with one...
Couples: consider whether you may need separate attorneys in estate planning
When couples start talking about estate planning, it is an important moment. Beginning to speak about each other's wishes and goals for estate planning is the first step toward leaving an ordered financial situation at one's death. It can mean other things as well,...
Estate planning essentials for those 18 and up
As children grow, parents are there to help them through difficult times and shield them from harm. As a child graduates from high school and heads off to college or the working world, a parent's role changes dramatically. In many cases, for the first time a child is...
Younger generations choose cash over collections
For many individuals in their 70s, 80s and 90s; the memories of growing up during a time of great economic depression has stayed with them their entire lives. For these individuals, belongings as a child were often few. As these men and women aged, however, many...
Google provides estate planning option for online accounts
When contemplating estate planning matters, most United Kingdom residents likely think about documents such as a will or trust. With the advent of the digital age, however, questions related to estate planning matters and an individual's virtual identity have become a...
Legal battle brews over Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s personal effects
In 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was shot and fatally wounded. At the time of his death, King was 39-years-old and had roughly $30,000 dollars to his name. Today, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is widely known as one of the most prominent and influential civil rights...
Estate planning for gay couples
As the U.S. Supreme Court wages whether to strike down the Defense of Marriage Act, gay couples in United Kingdom would be wise to ensure they've taken steps to appropriately plan for both their financial future and that of a surviving spouse and children. Estate planning...
United Kingdom retirees enjoying freedom and fun during the golden years
Individuals planning for retirement and end of life matters are often forced to make many important decisions. When most people think about their retirement years or estate planning, money and finances are the primary focus and concern. While it's important that...