The clear answer to whether you should add your child or children as a joint owner on your accounts or property. I’ve said it before, and I will say it again. STOP adding your children or other non-spouses as joint owners on accounts and titles just for estate planning purposes. If your question is whether to add a child or other non-spouse as a joint owner on an account, don’t do it until you read this. Let’s talk about why! The 4 D’s are major reasons not to add a child as a joint owner. Yes, I’m an attorney, but no, I’m not your attorney. This information is purely for education and informa ..read more

Help! I’m a Digital Nomad, Where Am I Supposed to Get an Estate Plan? Domicile and Full-Time Travel for Estate Planning Purposes I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. Everyone over the age of 18 needs an estate plan. And, you should get that estate plan completed by a reputable, licensed attorney in your jurisdiction. But, what if you travel full-time, where is your residence? How do you know where to get your estate plan if you are a digital nomad. Where is your domicile if you are a full-time traveler or digital nomad? You still need an estate plan, but where? (Disclaimer: I am an atto ..read more

Who can contest a will? Can I challenge my parent’s will? Can someone else challenge my will? Whether a will can be challenged depends on the party, state law, and whether sufficient grounds exist for the challenge. Can I challenge a will, or could someone challenge my will? Important information about contesting a will. Disclaimer: I am an attorney, but I am not your attorney. Nothing in this site creates an attorney-client relationship. This article is for educational purposes only and should not be used as legal advice. Always consult with your own attorney as your own personal circums ..read more

Assignments vs. Disclaimers: What is the difference between an assignment and a disclaimer? What are the differences between disclaimers and assignments? In contrast to a disclaimer, an assignment is when a person directs his or her inheritance or power of appointment to someone else. A disclaimer, on the other hand, is a person’s unwillingness to exercise any power over an inheritance or power of appointment. In other words, with an assignment, you direct what happens and with a disclaimer you refuse to ever receive any control over an asset. However, what are the practical uses for disclaime ..read more

Estate Planning Steps You Should Take After Divorce After nearly 10 years of helping people create and curate their personal estate plans and probate family estates, I want to share some advice about your estate plan after a divorce. (Disclaimer: I am an attorney but I am not your attorney. The information provided here is merely educational, does not create an attorney-client relationship, and should not be considered legal advice. Always consult with your own attorney about your particular circumstances. )  What should I do with my estate plan after a divorce? I often receive ..read more

What are the differences between Quitclaim Deed and Warranty Deeds? Don’t ignore the top of your deed. Whether it says quitclaim or warranty deed matters. The difference is complex, but for the most part, a warranty deed is superior to a quitclaim deed. Let’s look at the meanings and the differences below. Quitclaim deed vs. Warranty Deed Types of Deeds (Disclaimer: I am an attorney, but I am not your attorney. Nothing in this site creates an attorney-client relationship. This article is for educational purposes only and should not be used as legal advice. Always consult with your own att ..read more

What are the types of joint ownership? What are the types of joint ownership? Joint tenants, tenants in common, tenants by the entirety; what in the world do those mean? How do the types of joint ownership affect your property interest? Joint tenancies, tenancies in common, and tenancies by the entirety are all ways to own property with other people, but what are the differences? (Yes, I am an attorney, but, no, I am not your attorney. Nothing in this post constitutes legal advice or creates an attorney-client relationship. This post and this site are merely educational, informational, and ent ..read more

Ten Illegitimate Reasons to Skip Out on Having an Estate Plan. Ridiculous reasons against having an estate plan. If you don’t really like your family, you enjoy paying legal fees, and you want the state and strangers making decisions for you, then an estate plan really isn’t for you. Check out these top ten reasons why you definitely shouldn’t get an estate plan. (Disclaimer: I am an attorney, and I believe that every person over the age of 18 should have an estate plan to protect themselves and their loved ones. However, nothing in this article creates an attorney-client relationship nor cons ..read more

When someone says that they have a “trust,” what are they really saying? Trust fund baby –we’ve all heard it in the movies. And now all we can hear when we hear the word “trust” is “rich” or “money.” However, trusts aren’t just about excessive amounts of money, tyrannical family legacies, or the Vanderbilts. What does it mean to have a trust? What is a trust ,and what does it do? (Yes, I am an attorney, but, no, I am not your attorney. Nothing in this post constitutes legal advice or creates an attorney-client relationship. This post and this site are merely educational, informational, and ent ..read more

What is the difference betwen a last will and testament and a trust? Wondering whether you need a will vs. a living trust? Or, more specifically, are you looking for the differences.  What’s the difference between a will and a trust? (*I am an attorney, but I am not your attorney. Nothing in this post constitutes an attorney-client relationship or should be taken as legal advice. The information here is merely for educational and informational purposes. You should always discuss your situation with your own attorney.) What’s the difference between a trust and a will? While a living t ..read more