Category Archives: Estate Attorney

Scary Estate Stories: Left Out of Your Parent’s Estate Plan?  

Halloween Ghost Spirit Floating out of Open Book, Reading is Fun, Read Storybook Imagination, Scary Story Graphic estate stories

More than half of millennials say they expect to inherit approximately $350,000 or more from their aging parents. But baby boomers say they plan to leave far less than that to their kids. One survey found that many do not plan to leave behind any money.In another study, just 26 percent of Americans, including 22 percent of baby boomers, said they expect to leave an inheritance 

Conservatorship: Lessons from Celebrity Jay Leno

Business concept. Businessman standing on the street and star sign on the floor.

In January 2024, Jay Leno petitioned the court as the conservator of the estate of his wife, Mavis Leno. His reason for this is so he prepare an estate plan on her behalf and for her benefit. Unfortunately, doctors diagnosed Mrs. Leno with dementia and has impaired memory. Her impairment has made it impossible for her to create her own estate plan or participate in the couple’s joint planning. According to court documents, Mr. Leno wanted to set up a living trust and other estate planning documents to ensure that his wife would have “managed assets sufficient to provide for her care” if he were to die before her. Right now, Mr. Leno is managing the couple’s finances, but he wanted to prepare for a time when he is no longer able to do so.

Estate Planning Attorney and Trust Administration Attorney

Lawn auction hammer and small house on the table. real estate mortgage auction

As part of the estate planning process, you should discuss with your attorney the role they will play during your lifetime and whether they can also assist your loved ones with estate and trust administration when you pass away.

Medical Equipment Left Behind

Financial condition, Business man using stethoscope to check model house on natural green background, New home and real estate concept

Unless someone carefully declutters throughout their entire lifetime, it is unlikely that they will die without possessions. What’s more, when someone struggles at the end of their life with an ailment or age-related decline, they may require certain medical items: 

Navigate Probate: How to do it effectively

Vintage compass and old navigation map.

In more recent years, states simplify probate procedures. For example, the Uniform Probate Code (UPC) consists of laws written by a group of national experts. As such, it helps to standardize and streamline probate. As a result, most states have adopted these standards. Across state lines, the probate process generally works more effectively.

Remodeling May Impact Your Estate Plan

Architect house project concept, desktop computer on white work desk showing CAD sketch, minimalistic living room interior design in background, illustration. Generative AI

Between planning, permitting, and construction, the home remodeling process can take months to complete. But even after the finishing touches have been applied, you may still have work to do. If the home is part of an estate plan, a remodel can affect that plan and require changes to it. To keep your estate plan up to date, make sure to discuss a home remodeling project with an attorney.

Deathbed Gifts

Deathbed Incapacity Planning

Although gifts made within three years of your death are generally includible in your estate, an exception exists if a gift tax return was not required to be filed because the value of the gift was less than the annual exclusion amount. Transfers relating to life insurance policies, however, are an exception to this exception.