Mary wants to cut out a niece from her will. Is this a simple matter? According to Mary, it is a simple change. She can prepare a one page document herself and have her neighbours sign as witnesses. Is she correct? What would a lawyer do when…
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Submit your estate questions here. I will select and answer them on my blog. I will not mention names if you wish to remain anonymous. Advisor Question: Clients ask what’s involved in updating or changing a will. It should be an inexpensive and simple process, right? Ed’s answer:…
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Advisor’s question: When my client died, she no longer owned the stocks named in her will. What happens to the gift? Ed’s Answer: It depends on the wording of the will. In many cases, the gift is said to have adeemed. That means it is lost. For…
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It's that time of year again. You need a thoughtful client gift that also promotes your services. Here's a suggestion at a price everyone can afford. I'm offering a special holiday box rate for my book Estate to the Heart. This is the book that finally makes…
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Clients often do not get proper advice. This can happen when they make their own wills. They do this because they wrongly think: all lawyers are the same lawyers are not necessary a simple online will form is all they need they are not rich and don’t…
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I am going to talk to you about money. Money is what people fight over. Sure, they may use other excuses, but what everything boils down to is money or what it represents. My perspective, as a lawyer, is different. I do estate planning but also help…
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It’s summer and everyone gets invited to a wedding. Did you know that a marriage revokes all wills? There are exceptions for those wills expressly made in contemplation of marriage to a new spouse. In a Second Marriage Marriage creates new property, support and tax rights for…
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Key 7: Take Action Now John and Jillian, both in their 30s, were going on vacation. They were leaving behind Heather, their five-year old daughter, for the first time. Suddenly they realized that they had no will, guardian, or trust set up for their daughter. They needed…
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Key 1: Start Right to Finish Right You don’t want to start your estate plan on the wrong foot like Diane did. Diane is a busy mother of twins. She wants her children to be protected should something happen to her. Her idea is that, “Planning an…
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Start By Creating an Inventory of What You Own You can do this by drawing a circle on a piece of paper. Everything you own fits into this circle. I call this your estate pie. The three slices in your estate pie are your Will Assets, your…
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