The Four Seasons: A Last Will, and a Question No Family Wants to Ask
This newsletter contains spoilers for the Netflix show The Four Seasons. No spoilers beyond the first two episodes of Season 2. Netflix’s The Four Seasons has always been less about vacations than about relationships. The first two episodes of the new season continue that tradition by presenting a conflict that centers around a will. Summary […]
Simple Will? Maybe That Is All You Need
“I just need a simple will.” That’s one of the most common things we hear from prospective clients. Sometimes they even apologize for taking up our time. They don’t have a business. Their estate is not taxable. They don’t own multiple homes. They just want a simple will. Sometimes they’re exactly right. When someone tells […]
June Wrap-Up: Gray Divorce and Deathbed Visions
This month we’re talking about gray divorce, death bed visions and the death of American musician Oliver Tree. Gray Divorce The New York Times posted an article about “gray divorce”; that is divorce that happens later in life. Gray divorce is becoming more and more popular. The article mostly discusses the emotional reasons for divorce. […]
Medicare Enrollment After Retirement
Geraldine retired at age 68. She wasn’t worried about Medicare. After all, she had signed up when she turned 65, so she assumed that part of her retirement planning was already finished. Then she discovered that Medicare enrollment can be more complicated than she realized. Like many people who continue working past age 65, Geraldine […]
Book Report: Crying in H Mart
Spoiler Warning: This newsletter discusses major plot points in “Crying in H Mart” by Michelle Zauner. For some reason, I am always picking up books that intersect with elder law. I don’t do pick them up on purpose, but they seem to call to me. Some of these books teach me about aging; some about […]
SSI Rules Can Challenge Trustees
There’s a mountain of online and in-person discussion about the importance of SSI rules to trustees. The Social Security Administration maintains a “SSI Spotlight on Trusts” page that explains how to maintain SSI eligibility. The Special Needs Alliance — an organization that we belong to and love — publishes detailed guidance on how to protect […]
May Wrap-Up: The richest cat in the world and living funerals
It’s the end of the month. This month we’re talking about pets inheriting and living funerals. The Richest Cat in the World When fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld died in 2019, there was much speculation about who would receive his estate. To this day, seven years later, there is still not much known about his estate, […]
The History of Guardianship (and Conservatorship)
News coverage of guardianship and conservatorship matters abound. But how did these systems come to be? That is, what is the history of guardianship? Ancient Rome and even earlier Early Roman law adopted processes that existed even before the modern era. In 449 BC, for instance, the Twelve Tables of Roman law provided for establishment […]
Death Doulas
When a loved one is dying, it can be overwhelming for family, friends and the person who is dying. From organizing hospice care, to intense emotions and grief, there is a lot to navigate when someone is nearing the end of their life. This has lead many assembling teams of professionals to assist at the […]
Arizona Electronic Will Update – 2026
Just a few years ago, Arizona electronic wills were a “thing.” Our legislature adopted an Arizona electronic will law in 2018 (to be effective in mid-2020). At the time, only Nevada and Indiana had moved more quickly. Then the entire country went into a pandemic-initiated shutdown. Getting your estate planning updated seemed more important than […]
April Wrap Up: New Takes On Historical Estates
It’s the end of the month. That means it’s time for the end of the month round up. This month, my googling brought me to two stories – the Hseigh estate and the Guinness estate. The stories themselves aren’t necessarily from this month. But, they are interesting and both have been in the news recently. […]
Guardianship vs Alternatives in Arizona
You find yourself at a crossroads. A disabled family member either has extreme difficulty or is incapable of managing their affairs. You want to assist them and have heard about the concept of guardianship. So you end up calling a law office to get started on the process… but should you? The call to a law office is always […]
