Year: 2015
With every state seeking additional revenue and every candidate seeking additional votes, estate taxes have become part of many politicians’ platforms. Most of us pay more attention to estate taxes on the federal level, but estate taxes on the state and federal level have changed a lot in recent years. Not everyone is clear on […]
Another celebrity situation that points to an important lesson: until a divorce is final, you are still married. For Lamar Odom and Khloe Kardashian, still being legally married in Nevada means that Khloe is legally permitted to make medical decisions for the former NBA player, who has an address in Henderson, Nevada. They signed off […]
If you are a member of a couple, whether you are married, living together or have some creative arrangement, if your lives and finances are intertwined, there are money and estate planning matters that should be dealt with sensibly and fairly. The biggest mistake most couples make is not planning and not discussing their financial […]
It is impossible to know how events will play out, both on a grand scale and in small and unexpected ways. Last minute decisions, like those of the rock musicians who won seats in bets and then were killed in the Buddy Holly plane crash in 1959, are often said to be a function of […]
The Duchess of Medina Sidonia was clearly not centered around her children. She feuded with them while she was alive and tried to prevent them from receiving any portion of the family archives and legacy. The children have now turned to the Spanish courts in the hopes that a right of inheritance in Spanish law […]
For a rock star who personified the ethos of the 1960s, how ironic that the estate of Jim Hendrix continues to be embattled with as many legal controversies as a global corporation. The latest chapter concerns the fate of one of Hendrix’ famed guitars, the Black Widow. Few of the many guitars owned by legendary […]
One can only hope that this decision by an appellate court in Michigan does not reflect a slippery slope of decisions. At its essence, this ruling says that it is possible for an attorney to be unethical and profit from the will that he created. Attorneys are held to certain ethical standards, one of which […]
We guess it had to happen. With the incredible popularity of tattoos has now come a means of allowing individuals who love their skin art to leave their tattoos behind after they pass. Expect this new service to evoke a fair amount of stomach churning for those who are not fans. The rise of tattooing […]
When the Queen speaks, people listen. In this case, a dispute over a title has led to Queen Elizabeth II asking England’s highest court to determine if DNA evidence may be used to clarify lineage. An unpleasant side effect may be that she is not the rightful heir to the throne. While we in the […]
Collectors of fine art are advised not to think of their collections as investments, but collectors cannot ignore the value of their art portfolio, nor should they fail to consider what will happen to the artwork when they are not around to appreciate it. And as the art portfolio grows in value, whether through acquisitions […]
