What Happens to Your Online Accounts After you Die? According to the Pew Internet Research Center, 62 percent of American adults use Facebook (and as this statistic was current as of September 2014, that number may be even higher now). These are not just young adults, but older ones. Sixty-four percent of those ages 50 to 64 and 48 percent of those 65 and More
How to Keep Your Kid from Becoming a “trust Fund Baby” These days, trusts aren’t just for the wealthy; plenty of Americans set up trusts to keep assets from being tied up in probate court and ensure their children’s well-being. However, parents are concerned that in the event of the parents’ death, their children could become “trust fund babies,” a derogatory term for an independently wealthy, More
How Often Do I Need to Update My Will or Trust? So you have a will and a trust set up. Good! When was the last time you updated them? If your answer is “When my now-adult children entered kindergarten” or “When Reagan was in office,” it’s probably time to revisit your estate plan and make sure it still fits your life today. These documents are More
How Do I Leave Money to My Disabled Child Without Jeopardizing His Government Benefits? Parents of a child with a mental or physical disability severe enough that it could impede their ability to live independently often worry about what will happen to their child after their death. Many disabled adults qualify for needs-based government benefits, including Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Though a parent may want to leave More
What Actually Happens in Probate Probate court proceedings are only usually necessary if the “decedent” (the deceased person) owned property in his name alone. Under Washington state law, probate is also usually triggered for a probate estate (made up of the property that can’t be transferred to beneficiaries in any other way) worth over $100,000. The Court Process If probate More
Why You Need a Healthcare Power of Attorney Though a healthcare directive is a very important legal document, it’s not the only one you need to ensure that your wishes are followed when you’re unable to make your own healthcare decisions. A recent Forbes article noted that hospitals affiliated with religious organizations may not honor a patient’s healthcare directive if parts of it More
May Is National Elder Law Month – Are You Protected? President John F. Kennedy first named May “Senior Citizens Month” in 1963. The name of the month changed to “Older Americans Month” in 1980 at the behest of President Jimmy Carter. The month celebrates the contributions of older adults to our nation and is used as an opportunity to raise awareness about issues facing older More
May Is National Elder Law Month – Are You Protected? President John F. Kennedy first named May “Senior Citizens Month” in 1963. The name of the month changed to “Older Americans Month” in 1980 at the behest of President Jimmy Carter. The month celebrates the contributions of older adults to our nation and is used as an opportunity to raise awareness about issues facing older More
Plan Ahead While You Can: Legal Lessons to Learn from Prince’s Death The recent death of famed recording artist Prince has rocked the nation. Surprisingly, given Prince’s battles for control of his intellectual property and his access to many lawyers, it appears that the singer had no will set up to distribute his huge estate, valued between $300 – $500 million, to his heirs. This oversight leaves More
How to Talk About Death With Your Heirs No one likes to think about death. But unfortunately, ignoring the possibility of your death won’t do anything except make life more difficult for your family and friends after your passing. However awkward it might be, it’s important to hold a family meeting about what your plans for after your death. Talk to Your Heirs More