Going to a woman’s undergraduate college taught me that it’s okay for women to be smart. When I went to Columbia Law School, I found myself explaining that to a very brainy, beautiful classmate who told me she got more dates if she acted dumb. That was in 1978. Women have come an enormous distance since then. Currently they…
Continue reading…Category: Estate Planning
Protecting an Elderly Mother’s Assets
Dear Liz: Could you advise us on how to protect our 93-year-old mother’s assets if she should become ill or die? She does not have a living will or a trust regarding her two properties. Answer: “If” she should become ill or die? Your mother has been fortunate to have had a long life, presumably…
Continue reading…What Could Happen If You Write Your Own Living Trust?
Readers often ask me about do-it-yourself estate planning. Lawyers want to know how to discourage clients from using books or software and websites that spew out documents for free or for a fraction of what they charge. Meantime, consumers ask, “What’s wrong with that?” The trouble with do-it-yourself planning is that even if your situation…
Continue reading…How do I leave my assets to my minor children?
Every parent wants to make sure their children are provided for in the event something happens to them while the children are still minors. Grandparents, aunts, uncles and other relatives often want to leave some of their assets to young children, too. But good intentions and poor planning often have unintended results. For example, many…
Continue reading…How do I leave my estate to my adult children?
When considering how to leave assets to your adult children, first decide how much you want each one to receive. Most parents want to treat their children fairly, but this doesn’t necessarily mean they should receive “equal” shares of your estate. For example, you may want to give more to a child who received a…
Continue reading…Beware of “Simple” Estate Plans
“I just need a simple will.” It’s a phrase estate planning attorneys hear practically every other day. From the client’s perspective, there’s no reason to do anything complicated, especially if it might lead to higher legal fees. Unfortunately, what may appear to be a “simple” estate is all too often rife with complications that, if…
Continue reading…Do I Really Need Advance Directives for Health Care?
Do I Really Need Advance Directives for Health Care? Many people are confused by advance directives. They are unsure what type of directives are out there, and whether they even need directives at all, especially if they are young. There are several types of advance directives. One is a living will, which communicates what type…
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