Shakespeare said, “A good play needs no epilogue.” When a story is compellingly told, in other words, there is no need for commentary after the curtain falls. Like a play that is well written, a life that is well lived speaks for itself. But living well includes knowing that you have planned for what happens after you are gone. This foresight includes how easily your estate will be passed down to the people you care about. Have you written a will that names someone to settle your estate? If something were to happen to you, do you know who would […]
Easy Estate Planning In a Covid-19 World
Sheltering in place during the Covid-19 pandemic has left many of us with time to think. As news outlets keep an anxious tally of each day’s deaths and new infections, it is natural to consider how well prepared we are for the unexpected. What would happen if I got sick? Who would have the right to take care of me? If the end came suddenly, how would my final arrangements be handled? Who would inherit my assets and settle my estate? These are difficult questions to grapple with under the best of circumstances. In the midst of a global health […]
How to Disinherit Your Disapproving Relatives
Fans of the comic strip Peanuts might remember a panel in which Patty and Violet are planning a party. “Let’s not invite Charlie Brown,” Patty says. “Okay, we won’t invite Charlie Brown,” Violet replies. “And let’s not invite Lucy,” Patty continues. “Fine. We won’t invite Lucy,” Violet agrees. Then, looking up from her list, Patty exclaims, “It’s a lot more fun not inviting people than it is inviting them!” The impulse that prompted Patty’s remark can also apply when writing a will. The crazy aunt who makes homophobic remarks. She’s out. The estranged brother who refused to attend your gay […]
Where is the Best Place to Keep Your Will?
Your last will and testament is probably the most important document you will ever sign. It’s the one item that simply must be located when the need arises. It says who will settle your estate and who will inherit your worldly goods. It can also nominate guardians for your children, appoint trustees, and disinherit hostile relations. Where should you keep such a vital document? Probably not where you might think. Wills are decidedly low-tech instruments. Despite their importance, they consist of nothing more than paper bearing printed words and a “wet” signature. In order to open an estate, you need […]
Choosing a Guardian for Your Children
Any parent will tell you that raising children isn’t easy. The late-night feedings, public tantrums, and constant need for attention can leave even the most devoted mom or dad feeling exhausted. But for those of us in the LGBTQ community, simply becoming a parent can be just as challenging. Whether we try adoption, surrogacy, or other means, the process is likely to involve anxious waiting, many false starts, and difficult legal hurdles. It’s natural then, that same-sex couples and other LGBTQ parents are especially grateful for their children and would do anything to protect them. This sense of devotion should […]
Why the Legal Benefits of Marriage Aren’t Enough
The English author John Lyly once said, “Marriages are made in heaven and consummated on Earth.” Indeed, marriage has long been a two-sided coin. On the one side are the social and emotional aspects of the institution, the “joy and wonder” of marriage. On the other are the legal implications, the rights and privileges the law grants to married couples. After exchanging wedding bands, many couples assume that they have cemented their relationship with every benefit and privilege the law has to offer. Marriage does confer many essential rights – more than a thousand, by one count. But there are […]
Five Things to Do When Death is at Hand
Of the things we’d rather not think about, death certainly tops the list. But whether you see the end of life in spiritual, practical, or philosophical terms, it’s something we all must confront eventually. In the words of one living will, “Death is as much a reality as birth, growth, maturity, and old age—it is the one certainty.” The unpleasantness of the topic can make planning for death easy to put off. In fact, the vast majority of Americans will leave this earth without ever having prepared a will. But when the reality of death is fast approaching, perhaps through […]
Why Your Will May Be Next to Worthless
Robert Burns famously said, “The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry.” Burns was an 18th century Scottish poet, but he could just as easily have been a modern Estates & Trusts attorney. Too often, this familiar saying applies to the estate of someone who has died. Even if the person had a will, the final determination of who gets what might be dramatically different from what was expected. Why would this be? The simple fact is that a will can do only so much. It controls the assets that you own in your name alone and that […]
Protect Your Loved Ones With a Spendthrift Trust
Providing for someone you care about can be one of life’s great challenges. You may have a spouse or partner who depends on you financially. Or a relative with money problems who sometimes turns to you for help. Or perhaps you are fortunate enough to have children and want to give them every possible advantage in life. Whoever you care for, your life’s work may well focus on supporting them. If someone does rely on you, one of the hardest questions to consider is what they would do without you. You might be able to provide for the person financially […]
When Should You Write Your First Will ?
The idea of being “proactive” has never held much appeal. Burglar alarms are often installed only after the house has been looted. Trip insurance is frequently purchased for the vacation taken after the one that goes awry. And yes, barn doors are often locked after the horse has been stolen. The same is true of having a will prepared. It’s one activity that can’t be put off until after the need arises. Instead, it is often some galvanizing life event that first prompts someone to prepare a will. • “My mother died and her estate was a mess. I want […]