05 Oct Revocable Living Trusts for Domestic Partners

A revocable living trust allows assets to pass to designated heirs without going through probate court, leaving the administration as a private matter instead of a public one. The creator of a trust appoints a trustee and funds the trust with assets during his or...

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05 Oct Probate Process Considerations for Domestic Partners

At death, a will names an executor and directs how the deceased's property is to be distributed. A county probate judge oversees estate administration, ensures the validity of a will, notifies and confirms all legal claimants to property and resolves ownership disputes. In the absence of...

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11 Aug The Risk of Do-It-Yourself Estate Planning

THE RISK OF DO-IT-YOURSELF ESTATE PLANNING By Jacqueline Ferris MacLaren, Esq. If you have not used Legal Zoom, I suspect you have at least heard of it.  Legal Zoom is the leading legal service web site on the internet.  Among its legal services, Legal Zoom provides do-it-yourself...

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11 Aug Don’t I Just Need a Simple Will?

Estate Planning Overview – Don't I Just Need a Simple Will? Estate planning is a process that allows you to provide for the management of your assets when you are no longer able.  Good estate planning is more than just a simple will.  While a simple will...

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11 Aug What is a Revocable Living Trust?

What is a Revocable Living Trust?  There are various different types and forms of a trust.  The most widely utilized is a revocable living trust, which is a trust created during your lifetime that can be terminated or changed during your lifetime, as long as...

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11 Aug What are Healthcare Directives?

What are Healthcare Directives?  Health Care Directives consist of a Living Will and a Health Care Power of Attorney.  The purpose of a Living Will is to document your wish that life-sustaining treatment, including artificially or technologically supplied nutrition and hydration, be withheld or withdrawn...

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10 Aug What is a Financial Durable Power of Attorney?

What is a Financial Durable Power of Attorney?  The durable power of attorney allows the person you name, your attorney-in-fact, as the person to act in your place for financial purposes when and if you ever become incapacitated.  The durable power of attorney’s authority only...

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10 Aug What is a Will?

What is a Will?  Your Will governs the distribution of probate assets only, assets which are owned separately by you and do not pass by operation of law.    The manner in which you hold assets at your death determines how they will pass.  For example,...

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