Estate Planning
Deed Fraud: Stealing a Property With the Stroke Of A Pen
Note: This article is a guest post from Jesi L. Wolnik, Esq. Recently, I received an email from a real estate agent asking for assistance with a matter where deed fraud or house stealing was suspected. Here is an excerpt of the email: I’ve been asked to list a lot in Maricopa County for $600,000.…
READ MORE →Caring.com’s Comprehensive Guide to Power of Attorney for Aging Adults
A power of attorney is one way to ensure that no matter what happens down the road, your loved one’s wishes will be prioritized.
READ MORE →National Healthcare Decisions Day
Each year on National Healthcare Decisions Day, I write about how having a Living Will and a Healthcare Power of Attorney at minimum is extremely important. And this was before Coronavirus changed our lives and continues to do so. Sadly people are still coming face-to-face with what happens if they or a loved one gets…
READ MORE →Should You Name the Same Person Guardian and Trustee for Your Minor Children?
One of the hardest decisions parents make is who to appoint guardian of their minor children in case of their passing. And if that were not a hard enough decision, they will also need to evaluate who will control their family’s purse strings to be sure everyone is taken care of moving forward. That role…
READ MORE →How to Avoid Taking On the Medical Debts of Parents or other Relatives
This month ABC 15 shared a story about a Valley man who lost 10 family members to COVID 19. Soon after, the medical bills started rolling from losing his dad and his mom’s subsequent hospitalization. The debt is crushing. And he is not alone. ABC says that “hundreds of people have shared their story about…
READ MORE →What Kobe and Vanessa Bryant Taught Us About Estate Planning
This week marked the one year anniversary of Kobe Bryant’s tragic death in a helicopter accident that also killed eight others, including his daughter Gianna. While the exact reason for the crash has yet to be officially announced (it’s scheduled February 9, 2021) the lawsuits have already started. Part of the litigation is a case…
READ MORE →Cardinals Larry Fitzgerald Revised Will Due to COVID
Here is a sentence that will stop you in your tracks and make you think: “[Larry] Fitzgerald is a 37-year-old professional athlete. Strong. Committed. In peak physical condition. And COVID-19 had him revising his will.” (EJ Montini, Arizona Republic) The future hall-of-famer spent 13 days in quarantine after testing positive for COVID-19 on Thanksgiving. He…
READ MORE →What is a Power of Attorney and Why It’s Important, Especially Now
With the COVID virus starting to make a second surge across the United States, including here in Arizona, one of the most common questions I get from people both online and in person is relating to Medical and Financial Powers of Attorney. Usually it is from folks with an aging or ill parent or parents or parents of…
READ MORE →Chronic Illness & Estate Planning
Sean Connery passed away in his sleep at age 90 after suffering from dementia. One in three seniors dies with Alzheimer’s or another dementia, according to the Alzheimers Association. “He was a model of a man. It is going to be very hard without him, I know that. But it could not last forever and…
READ MORE →9 Reasons to Update Your Estate Plan, 2024-2025 Edition
Examining and potentially updating your estate plan is critical this year more than ever. Estate plans are a work in progress – they require regular reviews and updates. This is especially true given the current environment: an election year, potential shifts in tax laws and ongoing health concerns like COVID-19, flu, and RSV affecting families…
READ MORE →Why Patriot’s Day is a Reminder to Plan
“On this day… 19 years ago 246 people went to sleep in preparation for their morning flights. 2,606 people went to sleep in preparation for work in the morning tomorrow. 343 firefighters went to sleep in preparation for their morning shift. 60 police officers went to sleep in preparation for morning patrol. 8 paramedics went…
READ MORE →Guest Post: Maintaining Your Estate, A Simple Guide to Storing Art, Antiques and Collectibles
Guest post: Storing art, antiques and collectibles can be stressful, since these items are very delicate. This guide can help you plan properly. If you are a passionate collector, then your antiques do not only hold material value, but they also have sentimental value and they are part of you (and your estate). Therefore, if…
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