Yes, you can provide for your pets in your will. It’s a common misnomer that you can leave money directly to your pet. Some people remember stories about billionaire Leona Helmsley leaving $12 million to her dog named “Trouble.” In reality, you may love your pet like a child but under the law, the pet…
Business Trip from Hell A few years ago I was working as an attorney and traveling for work. I was sitting in the middle of a cramped coach seat on a flight back home. As I sat there waiting for the delayed flight to take off, the misery created inspiration. I decide to write a…
You should ask three types of questions: Estate Planning 101 Above all, it is important to talk with an experienced and licensed attorney in your state about your specific circumstance and how best to address your particular needs. Need an attorney? One of the best sources is to ask for a referral from your friends…
Who will clear your internet history when you die? And other messes you’ll leave behind for your family and friends Death is messy and not just in the way you think. All the things you’ve put off doing or tried to ignore will inevitably get dumped on those you leave behind – a spouse,…
Do you need help demystifying the terms and concepts used by some attorneys and estate planners when talking about wills, trusts, and estate planning? In this series, we aim to break down some of these topics to make them easier to understand without having to go to law school. Check out the following: What is…
A trust is a legal arrangement where assets are held for the benefit of one or more beneficiaries. The person that creates the trust is called the “settlor” or “grantor.” The trust can hold money, investments, real estate or other property. The trust agreement will name one or more trustees who have certain duties to…
Important information that your family will need is missing from your will. Most wills only address three basic issues: (1) who will administer your estate (the executor/executrix), (2) how will your remaining assets be distributed – usually as percentages or specifics gifts, and (3) if you have minor children, who will be appointed guardian. While…
A “last will and testament” or “will” is a legal document that an individual creates in order to specify how to handle their affairs when they pass away. Your “estate” is all of the money and property that you have at the time of your death. The specific requirements to create a valid will are…
Do you think you have everything in order? Have you been keeping it up to date? Even if you have the best estate plan, how will you get that information into the hands of your family and friends when they need it the most? LastLtr.com is an online service that helps you gather, securely store and…
Do you have an estate plan and is it up to date? Check out this article from HuffPo about three simple tips that you can incorporate into your estate planning. When you need help, use Last Letter to keep it simple. HuffPo: 3 Simple Tips for Your Estate Plan http://bit.ly/1SXqH5W There are hundreds of…