Estate Planning, Planning for Special Circumstances

Will a Gift I Make To My Married Child Be Community Property?

A very generous father wanted to buy a house for his married son. But he had a concern. He didn’t want the house to become community property.

Estate Planning, Planning for Special Circumstances

How to Avoid Being a Victim of Fraud

My mother received a phone call from someone claiming to be an Apple representative. The caller claimed that Apple had detected a breach in my mother’s iCloud…

FAQs About Wills

What is a Residuary Clause?

I recently worked with a couple that wanted to make sure that all their worldly possessions passed to the surviving spouse upon their death, and then to…

The Risk of DIY Planning

The Cost of a Do-It-Yourself Will

DIY Wills may seem like a penny-wise solution but may end up costing more in the long run than a Will drafted by an attorney.

Planning for Special Circumstances, The Risk of DIY Planning

A Holographic Will That Worked…But At What Cost?

DIY Wills can seem like a cost-effective solution, but the consequences of a poorly drafted will can cost you more in the long run.

Wacky Wills, Wills

Wacky Wednesday: Wills That Make You Go “Hmmm…” – Leona Helmsley

NB: This post is part of a series highlighting wills that contain some interesting, and sometimes bizarre, bequests and stipulations. You can see all these posts here. Leona…

FAQs About Wills

How Often Should I Update My Will?

Life Changes Can Result In Unintended Consequences, Even For Those With Wills Many years ago, I read an essay entitled “second-chance family” that reinforced…

FAQs About Wills, Wills

Why Should My Will Include a Self-Proving Affidavit?

Attorney Rania Combs discusses how a self-proved Will can speed up the probate process and save time and expense.

FAQs About Wills

What is a Self-Proving Affidavit?

A self-proving affidavit is a sworn statement that accompanies a Will. In the case of an attested Will, the testator and all witnesses sign it in the…

The Risk of DIY Planning

If Lawyers Aren’t Perfect, Why Aren’t DIY Wills Good Enough?

A reader submitted a comment to my article titled “LegalZoom vs. Lawyer: What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You.” This reader’s view of lawyers had…