Two Life Insurance Beneficiary Designations Require Litigation
APRIL 28, 2003 VOLUME 10, NUMBER 43 When people consider “estate planning” they usually are thinking about preparing a will. Sometimes the common conception of estate planning includes preparing a trust as well, and often durable powers of attorney are also part of the plan. But two recent cases demonstrate that “estate planning” is really […]
Unsigned Will Invalid Despite Clear Intentions of Decedent
SEPTEMBER 9, 2002 VOLUME 10, NUMBER 10 Christel McPeak thought she had done her estate planning properly. She had hired an attorney, reviewed drafts of a will, durable power of attorney for financial purposes and health care directive, and she had approved the drafts. Then she went to her lawyer’s office and signed the final […]
Wife Sues Lawyer For Failing To Advise Disclaimer Of Insurance
FEBRUARY 26, 2001 VOLUME 8, NUMBER 35 Craig Fitzgerald was a successful accountant living in New Jersey; when he died he left three children and a wife. In the immediate aftermath of the unanticipated loss of her husband, Joan Fitzgerald did not realize that she had estate planning problems of her own to deal with. […]
Retirement Plan Beneficiary Designation Controls Despite Will Provisions
DECEMBER 11, 2000 VOLUME 8, NUMBER 24 “Estate planning” means more than just preparing and signing a will. The families of Donald and Mary Perkins learned that even when a will is in place, there still may be problems. Mr. and Mrs. Perkins had both been married before. Each of them had three children from […]
Failure To Seek Lawyer’s Advice Can Be Foolish—And Expensive
MAY 29, 2000 VOLUME 7, NUMBER 48 People often try to solve their legal problems without the help of lawyers. Frequently they accomplish exactly what they want. Sometimes they complicate their own lives unnecessarily and expensively, when a little sound legal advice would have resolved the difficulty easily. Take, for example, the situation Montanan Boyd […]
Bequests To Disabled Children Should Be In Special Trusts
MARCH 20, 2000 VOLUME 7, NUMBER 38 Suppose your adult son is disabled and receiving both financial and medical assistance from the government. While you do not consider yourself wealthy, you have worked hard all your life and managed to build a modest estate. If you leave your disabled child his share of your estate […]