question mark

“Sometimes the persons involved either die simultaneously, i.e., too close in time to determine clearly who survived the other or die very close in time to each other.” There are any number of ways a person can inherit assets from another person. They may inherit assets from a trust, through a will or as a […]

colorful art

Is it true that wealth lasts for many generations? The real root to accumulating and transferring wealth is through supporting education, helping in the purchase of a home or in getting married, according to Fast Company in “5 lies you’ve been told about generational wealth“. Here are a few commonly held misconceptions about generational wealth: […]

Senior woman contemplating

A real-life problem when long-lost relatives show up. A trustee and only beneficiary of her mother’s trust explained her difficulties when her long-lost sister suddenly showed up toward the end of her mother’s life, according to the Santa Cruz Sentinel in the article “It’s never too early to disinherit children“. After disappearing for decades, her […]

fortune cookie

When money suddenly comes into the picture, there will most likely be challenges. There are many, many questions that can arise when you inherit money, such as do you pay down debts or do you invest, according to The Kansas City Star in “Coming into some money? Be wise with it“. Should you pay off […]

Family Portrait At Christmas

Leaving a legacy isn’t always about making a big bequest. A Bank of America/Merrill Lynch survey came up with some interesting information, according to The Voice in “How to leave a legacy no matter how much money you have“. The survey included more than 3,000 adults (2,600 of them were 50 and older) who were […]

extended family

Should inheritance be spent on sports cars and jewelry? Protecting your children from frittering away an inheritance is often done through a spendthrift trust but that trust can also be used to protect them from divorce and other problems that can come their way, according to Kiplinger in “How to Keep Your Heirs from Blowing […]

man touching stars in a rainbow

Instagram messages create challenges for French court. French entertainer Johnny Hallyday, who died in 2017, left behind testaments and Instagram messages causing some major court issues, according to The New York Times in “French Rock Star’s Instagram Defeats His Widow in Inheritance Battle“. Hallyday, a rock singer for more than 60 years, started using Instagram […]

miniature human standing over piled coins

If you receive an inheritance, it is wise to consider the impact. There are many things that can be inherited and one must be careful of the impact on a family’s tax liability, according to the Orange Town News in “Will I Pay Taxes on My Inheritance“. Here is a partial list of different assets […]

senior couple talking

It will most likely be difficult or impossible to complete the tasks if all the facts are not available. When you go to visit an elder law and estate planning attorney, it is important to tell the truth about all aspects of your family members and other potential heirs. If not, it is possible the […]

Wills trusts and estates covered

There are reasons for a will to be contested and one is the mental capacity of the client. The best way to avoid a will contest, is to have a well-written will prepared by a qualified estate planning attorney, who can help avoid legal contests. It is also important that the client be of sound […]