Navigating Estate Administration Through Probate Court
Probate is the process of proving a will for a person who has deceased. While state probate laws may vary, the general process is quite similar across the country. A probate judge will also oversee cases where the deceased person did not prepare a will, known as dying intestate. Depending on the size of the […]
Why It Is Important to Have a Will
57% of American adults have not prepared a Last Will & Testament (a “Will”) according to Care.com’s estate planning survey. The survey found that participants were more likely or less likely to have a Will depending on issues such as age, race, and education. For example, when broken down generationally, 66% of people aged 65 […]
Considerations for Selecting a Power of Attorney Representative
In a comprehensive estate plan, it is crucial to include a power of attorney assigning who will be your trusted agent to manage your affairs. These legal documents can grant broad authority to one or more power of attorney agents to transact business or make medical decisions based on your behalf. What are the […]
McCarthy Admitted to Practice In the United States Supreme Court
Dan McCarthy was recently admitted to practice in the United States Supreme Court. An attorney must be admitted to the Court in order to participate in any cases before the Court. McCarthy Law Office was retained by the Fraternity Forward Coalition and the Fraternity Housing Association to file an amici curiae brief in a case arising […]
Establish a Trust to Pass Wealth and Family Values on to Your Children
Parents need to instill family values at an early age to ensure the adoption of these family values. Undoubtedly the best time to teach and empower your children as eventual inheritors of your family legacy is during childhood, then continuing throughout adulthood. Waiting until your later stages in life to discuss family values as a […]
What We Can Learn From Britney Spears Conservatorship
A conservator is appointed by the court to care for and protect a person who is deemed unable to care for themselves. Among the conservator’s responsibilities are managing the conservatee’s health and wellbeing as well as preserving their assets. While most people’s lifestyles and fortunes are decidedly different from Ms. Spear’s, the problems she has […]
Review Your Estate Plan Annually to Make Sure It Is Up-to-Date
Just like you should visit your doctor for a yearly check-up, you should review your estate planning documents annually to make sure they are up-to-date. Children grow up, marriages dissolve, property gets sold, residences change. That’s why we recommend that you consult us for an estate-plan check-up every five years or so. What Happens If […]
Planning Considerations for Timeshares and Vacation Clubs–Should Your Trust Be the Owner?
When it comes to your estate planning though, how should you handle your timeshare? If you have a revocable trust, should you transfer ownership of the timeshare to your trust? Should you instead continue to hold it in your name, or jointly with another family member? What if you do not use it very often and, despite your efforts to get your adult children to use it, it mostly just goes unused? Here are a few things to consider when deciding how to plan for your timeshare.
Open Records: Anyone Can Find Out About Your Probate
Probated estates become a matter of public record. That means that anyone can simply go down to the courthouse or hop online and find out about your probate, including your family information and a detailed inventory of all of your assets.
Estate Planning for High School Graduates–Seriously
Congratulations! Graduation is the culmination of years of hard work, and often years of private school tuition payments. Graduation from high school also generally means that you are at least 18 years-old. Aside from purchasing alcohol, there is now very little you cannot legally do. Even though you may not feel any different, from a legal standpoint, a lot has changed.