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The practice of estate planning is dedicated to preserving an individual’s control over his or her assets after death. A simple will can control which individuals receive what assets, but a more thorough plan has the potential to do much more. Establishing a trust is the most common method used to exercise this kind of control. A trust can issue…Read More

When I think about musicians who have lots of experience with the legal system on the civil side of things, one of the first people I think of is Prince. During the 1990s he legally changed his name to an unpronounceable “love symbol’ as a form of protest during a legal battle over his contract with Warner Brothers, and he…Read More

Known as the “silent epidemic,” the federal government estimates as many as 1 in 9 Americans over age 60 has experienced some form of elder abuse. Of course, elder abuse can include physical and sexual assault, it can also involve much more subtle types of harm. From financial exploitation to neglect, elder abuse continues to be a growing problem in…Read More

A tax basis is essentially the purchase price of a piece of property. Whenever that property is sold, the seller must pay taxes on the difference between the sale price and the original purchase price. This concept applies to all property, including stocks, bonds, vehicles, mechanical equipment, and real estate. If debts are assumed along with the purchase price, the…Read More

There are many reasons why a person might leave a spouse or another loved one out of his or her will. It is possible that the will in question was executed prior to a marriage and was never properly updated. It may also be the case that the husband and wife, though still technically married, are estranged, and do not…Read More

A past client recently emailed me an article from the New York Post about a custody battle over a recently deceased person’s dog. The judge in the case ruled that the dog should be considered property, and that what was in the best interest of the dog was not something he was going to consider. As a result, the dog…Read More

An executor's fee is the amount charged by the person who has been appointed as the executor of the probate estate for handling all of the necessary steps in the probate administration. Therefore, if you have been appointed an executor of someone’s estate, you might be entitled to a fee for your services. This fee could be based upon a…Read More

It is a sad reality, but reality nonetheless: scammers love to target the elderly. Perhaps it is due to their trusting nature, presumably large savings account, or even their difficulty hearing over the phone that makes them vulnerable – but seniors account for roughly $2.6 billion in lost assets due to investment fraud each year. A truly shocking and pitiful…Read More

Many of us have been lucky enough to acquire timeshares for the purposes of vacationing on our time off. Some of us would like to leave these assets to our loved ones. If you have a time share, you might be able to leave it to your heirs in a number of different ways. One way of leaving your timeshare…Read More

What Is The Difference Between A Living Will And A DNR? For most of us, it is uncomfortable to think about our own death. But, as people are living longer and medical technologies are becoming more advanced, it has become more likely that you will end up in a position where you are alive but unable to tell others what…Read More