At the end of the month, we like to survey the elder law landscape and share interesting developments. It’s not the end of the month, but we need a break from the all-corona-all-the-time news. So here’s a completely corona-free roundup. Take a few moments and pretend everything’s normal: Every so often a celebrity estate illustrates…
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Last week we described advice we would give clients who are concerned about the viral pandemic as it develops. Our core message: one thing you could pay attention to would be making sure your planning documents are in place. That means finding your estate planning documents — and especially your powers of attorney — and…
Just like the CDC, we wouldn’t want you to panic about the coronavirus. But it can’t hurt to be prepared, and that applies to your estate plan as well as your pantry and disinfectant supply. There is of course the obvious: If you die, you’d want your plan to be in order. It appears, though,…
Families often agree to modify the effect of a decedent’s will or trust. Does such a modification always bind future beneficiaries? A recent California case provides an example. It also gives us a chance to explore differences from state to state. The California facts McKie Roth, Sr., died in 1988. His second wife, Yvonne, survived…
Well, we made it. As many of you know, there are big changes happening at Fleming & Curti. We moved into our new offices over the weekend, after nearly three decades in the same spot. We’re now settling in at 1745 East River Road, Tucson, Arizona, and it feels really new in a really good…
A guardian may charge fees for acting as guardian. That basic principle is not really surprising or disputable. But the notion persists that this important work should not cost, or at least be inexpensive. We have written about guardianship fees before. The subject comes back up because of a recent Florida Court of Appeals decision…
People close to a loved one facing death often look for help from an attorney after the loved one dies. Many estate planning attorneys provide checklists and write about what to do in such a time of overwhelming emotion and numbing grief. Contacting an attorney is low on the list. Many do not realize that…
It’s becoming a more common dispute: who gets to make the decision between burial or cremation? Can you direct your own preference in advance? What happens if there is no clear decision — who gets to decide for you? In Arizona, almost two-thirds of all funeral/burial arrangements involve cremation. That’s a higher rate than the…
That’s our new address: 1745 E. River Rd, Suite 101, Tucson, AZ 85718. We move in this month. We’re very excited. We’ve explained the upcoming move before. While we have been in the same location for over a quarter century, it’s time to move on. We need more space, and we want to be closer…
It’s the last Monday of the month, and that means it’s time for the January roundup of elder law news items. First of all, the SECURE Act was passed in late December, so the first few weeks of the year brought lots of discussion about it. We’ve rounded up some of the most interesting articles,…