What is discretion and why is it important for your estate plan? Discretion – 1: the quality of being discreet, circumspect, and cautious in one’s speech, 2: the ability to make responsible decisions, 3 a: individual choice or judgment, b: power of … [Read more...]
DISCOURAGING DISENGAGEMENT IV: Domestic Partners, Disasters, Distance, and Doing It Yourself
Estate Planning Attorneys - Discouraging Disengagement In previous articles, I shared insights from James Brill’s excellent article, “Discouraging Disengagement.” Estate planning is fluid because time and circumstances alter plans. In the first … [Read more...]
Disengagement – Threats to your Estate Plan
As in parts one and two of this Estate Planning series, I want to credit James E. Brill and his excellent article, “Discouraging Disengagement.” In Part One, we discussed Death, Disability, and Decline. In Part Two, we looked at Disaffection, … [Read more...]
Imperfection – The Art of Drafting an Estate Plan
Often when I speak to a group about our practice, I claim that we draft imperfect estate plans. This may not sound like a good marketing plan, but it is the truth. We don’t set out to be imperfect or incomplete. It is not that our analysis or … [Read more...]
Fresh Start!
A new year is upon us and it reminds me of a fundamental need we all sense at one time or another; the need for a fresh start. I am not a huge fan of resolutions, but any prompt to move me into a better 2019 is a good prompt. Start Spring cleaning … [Read more...]
Slow Down
Have you seen the signs in various neighborhoods that advise, “Drive like your kids live here?” These signs want you to slow down and be more attentive and careful. So much hardship and disappointment could be avoided if people followed that advice … [Read more...]
“But No One Told Me…”
Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a guidebook, a pamphlet, or an online video for all of life’s challenges? You can find a YouTube video for almost anything, but, in some situations, there are so many different opinions that it’s hard to know who to … [Read more...]
OWNERSHIP?
FOCUS ON OWNERSHIP: You can’t give away or sell what you don’t own! Property rights are important under the law. Often, clients fail to consider the important question, “Who owns the property?” Ownership is not the same thing as possession. You … [Read more...]
HANDLE WITH CARE
Perhaps you have seen “HANDLE WITH CARE” stenciled on the outside of a container or crate. If you’re like me you may have tried to child-proof a room or dealt with the consequences of placing an item in harms’ way. As we get older we accumulate more … [Read more...]
SURPRISE!
Frequently, I will speak to someone about the death of a loved one and try to share wise counsel with them. There are a great many things that accompany death that most of us have little experience navigating. Each case is unique and each one has … [Read more...]
The Only Thing Constant Is Change
If you look at an anatomy text from the 18th century you will find that the human body has not changed much in the last 300 years. If you look at a legal text from that period, it will be of little use in guiding you in the 21st century. Every year, … [Read more...]
Gifts
As Christmas approaches and every commercial promises happiness with the purchase of the advertiser’s product, the thought of gifts is inescapable. For some people, gifts are pure joy. They love to shop for them. They love to give them. They love to … [Read more...]