Category: Probate Tips

The Death of Anne Heche: Lessons for the Rest of Us | Part Two

Generally, the more money and property a person has, the more risk they are taking by not having an estate plan, since their money and property could be distributed in a way they would never have intended or approved of. This is particularly dangerous when there are minor children involved, and adults in their lives… Continue reading The Death of Anne Heche: Lessons for the Rest of Us | Part Two

The Death of Anne Heche: Lessons for the Rest of Us | Part One

Anne Heche’s accidental death a few months ago was a shocking reminder of how unexpected and unpredictable life can be.    You’ve undoubtedly heard the story – while driving through the Mar Vista neighborhood of Los Angeles on August 5, 2022, Heche was involved in a car crash and succumbed to her injuries a week… Continue reading The Death of Anne Heche: Lessons for the Rest of Us | Part One

But what does HEMS really mean?

In prior blogs, we explained what HEMS means for a Trustee and a beneficiary, and what use of the “health, education, maintenance, or support” standard really covers. As a practical matter, there isn’t much that won’t be covered by this standard.  But, if a distribution is desired to benefit the intended beneficiary, there is wide… Continue reading But what does HEMS really mean?

What Is HEMS and Why Is It Included in So Many Trusts?

In the world of estate planning, you may come across the acronym HEMS from time to time and wonder what the heck it means. “HEMS” is a commonly used standard for distributions and is short for “health, education, maintenance, or support”. When a trustee is limited to HEMS distributions, they must ensure that whatever they… Continue reading What Is HEMS and Why Is It Included in So Many Trusts?

What to Know about Nonfungible Tokens

NFTs are being talked about everywhere? What are they? An NFT is another word for a “nonfungible token”.

NFTs are being talked about everywhere? What are they? An NFT is another word for a “nonfungible token”. It is a unique digital code that represents a digital item such as art or music, as well as a growing number of physical items, that runs on the blockchain (a secure, decentralized, and cryptography-backed online ledger)… Continue reading What to Know about Nonfungible Tokens

Common Trusts: Parenting beyond the Grave

Even though most parents want to make their children feel like there are no favorites, most would acknowledge that different children have different needs at different times. Is it always “fair” to split things equally in an estate plan? This is a particularly difficult decision when you have minor children. Almost certainly, one child will… Continue reading Common Trusts: Parenting beyond the Grave

What Happens to Your Social Media Accounts at Your Death?

If you’re reading this, you probably have a social media account. Statista reports that more than 295 million people in the United States use social media. So what happens to your account and all that content when you pass away? If you have spent time creating, uploading, and sharing content, it’s important to take a… Continue reading What Happens to Your Social Media Accounts at Your Death?

What an Executor Can & Cannot Do

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Being appointed to serve as someone’s executor can be a big, and sometimes overwhelming, responsibility. Essentially, the executor is trusted with protecting and managing the person’s personal property and are bound to carry out their responsibilities as an executor with honesty, trust, and good faith. This is called a fiduciary duty. In this article, we… Continue reading What an Executor Can & Cannot Do