People creating an estate plan have to deal with uncomfortable questions of mortality and death. For many, these questions naturally lead to questions of religion, values, and ethics. For the faithful, an estate plan is not merely an exercise in legal formalities, but a way to ensure that your values and religious faith are affirmed and protected after you die. Here are several issues you may want to consider if religious concerns are important to you. 1. Your Representatives If you name an … [Read more...] about Estate Planning: Faith Matters
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Thomas Kinkade Estate In New Legal Fight
No sooner had artist Thomas Kinkade died in April than his estate was embroiled in a legal fight over the release of information about the artist's life. Now, a California probate court judge is considering whether the artist's live-in girlfriend, Amy-Pinto Walsh, can have her day in court, or if she should submit her claims only in a secret arbitration hearing. Ms. Pinto-Walsh had been living with Mr. Kinkade at the time of his death, having also served as his personal assistant. Mr. Kinkade … [Read more...] about Thomas Kinkade Estate In New Legal Fight
3 Estate Planning Issues For the Divorcing Couple
One of the most important times for you to review, or begin creating, your estate plan is when you go through a change in marital status. A divorced person has distinctly different estate planning concerns than a married person, and your estate plan needs to take these differences into account as soon as possible. Here are three common estate planning issues that divorced or divorcing people need to address. Issue 1: No more spousal share. All states have laws that give each spouse the right … [Read more...] about 3 Estate Planning Issues For the Divorcing Couple
Maryland Adopts New Elder Abuse Prevention Law
Banks and credit unions in Maryland will soon be required to report any suspected instances of financial elder abuse beginning this October. Under the terms of the new law, financial institutions with Maryland customers 65 or older must contact state officials any time they suspect the customer has been victimized by some sort of financial abuse. The law requires the financial institution to call state representatives within 24 hours of discovering the suspected abuse. If the bank or credit … [Read more...] about Maryland Adopts New Elder Abuse Prevention Law
Lawyer Sues Judge Presiding Over the Rosa Parks Estate Battle
The last time we blogged about the Rosa Parks estate fight going on in a Detroit area probate court, it appeared as if the legal dispute had finally come to an end. However, a lawyer representing one of the parties in that dispute has now filed a new lawsuit alleging that the judge and two of the court-appointed attorneys involved in the case have conspired with one another to effectively loot the late civil rights icon's estate of funds. Rosa Parks died in 2005, and ever since then her nieces … [Read more...] about Lawyer Sues Judge Presiding Over the Rosa Parks Estate Battle
