Legal Wills Blog - May 17, 2012
Protecting your digital assets
Over a year ago we talked about the importance of considering your digital assets as part of your estate plan. We explained that there can be true financial assets online including domain names, paypal accounts, online gambling accounts, iStore accounts, the list in endless. A domain name alone could potentially be worth thousands of dollars or [...]
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The perils of using a lawyer to write your Will
A somewhat tongue-in-cheek heading but written in response to the countless articles warning of the perils of writing your own Will using kits or interactive services like those offered at LegalWills. Let’s start with the statistical study; last year in the UK the Legal Services Board conducted a “mystery shopper” study of consumer Wills using [...]
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When should you update your Last Will and Testament?
It’s a common statistic that 65-70% of adults have not written their Will, however, one of the lesser reported stats is that the majority of the Wills that are in place, are out-of-date and should have been revised. The difficulty of course is that finding the time and money to create a Will in the [...]
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Can you solve your debt issues in your Will?
This is a guest post by Sophie Kinsella, finance blogger. She is a guest columnist, blogger, author for various websites and communities including Oak View Law Group. She has completed her Post Graduation in Social Welfare from California University and is currently working with a reputed Bank located in California. She loves to write articles [...]
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How not to write a Last Will and Testament
People are sometimes scared away from writing their own Will. Lawyers will claim that it is a difficult task that only people in the legal profession truly understand, and with some scaremongering, convince people that they should pay a lot of money for legal advice even though their wishes may be very simple. We’ve presented [...]
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New Year’s Resolutions and your Last Will and Testament
January is always our busiest month of the year at LegalWills; it is a time for reflection and also a time for looking to the future. Over the holidays many of us have spent time with relatives and discussed family matters. There may have been a conversation about a family member who passed away in [...]
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Free Last Will and Testament forms
We’ve seen a number of these recently; the “free” or the $5 Last Will and Testament. In fact, I’ll offer you one right here; a Free Last Will and Testament form . But be warned, it’s an absolute piece of garbage and will probably cause more problems for your family and loved ones than not creating [...]
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More reasons to write your own Will
It seems that Forbes publish an article almost every month warning people against preparing their own Will. The latest was a couple of weeks ago entitled 5 Reasons to get Professional Help Writing your Will. Once again, we will deconstruct the arguments and explain why many people are more than capable of preparing their own [...]
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Do your parents have a Will?
I straightforward blog article today with a simple question; “do your parents have their Last Will and Testaments in place, and updated to reflect their current wishes and circumstances?”. We know that about 60-70% of people don’t have a Will in place, and most of these are not kept up-to-date, but I am guessing that [...]
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Writing a Will on YOUR terms
We had an interesting comment into our support team yesterday. This person wasn’t complaining about the cost of going to see a lawyer or a solicitor to create a Last Will and Testament, it was the inconvenience. Today a survey from the UK revealed that about 30 million adults in Britain do not have a [...]
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News Headlines - May 17, 2012
Reduce Estate Tax By Making Gifts
You can do a lot to minimize your estate taxes before you die. One way is to make some gifts.
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Nightmare On Elm Street
Declining home prices and higher adjustable rate mortgage payments spell big trouble for some borrowers.
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Choosing The Right Financial Adviser
Like hiring a personal trainer, finding the right financial adviser can help whip your finances into shape.
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Pay Death To Go Away
Five ways to turn your wealth into health.
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Insuring The Future
Newlyweds need protection now more than ever.
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Taxes: Estate Planning
You can't take it with you, but you don't have to give it all to the government either.
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Estate Planning
Here are ten things you need to know about estate planning.
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Estate Planning In The Digital Age
If you died, could anyone access your online accounts? Here's how to protect and pass on your digital assets.
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You're Dead, Now What?
An estate plan will help your loved ones avoid delays, legal problems and uncertainty.
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Grandma's Got A Boyfriend, Now What?
The older you are, the more complicated your finances, especially if you're combining households.
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ALFA Honors Senior Living Heroes Through National Awards
The Assisted Living Federation of America has announced the winners of the ALFA 2012 Hero Awards, which honor extraordinary individuals who serve older adults in senior living communities.
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"We Are Living As If We Had One and a Half Planets"
GENEVA, May 15 (IPS) - The new WWF Living Planet Report warns of a significant decline in biodiversity, particularly in low-income countries, and a huge increase in the ecological footprint of high-income countries.
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Spring Cleaning-Living Areas
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM-- - During the sometimes harsh British winter, our living spaces take on more importance due to the sheer amount of time we spend in them. With gardens, and often just going out ...
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Mazza Honored with ALFA 2012 Senior Living Community Leadership Award
The Assisted Living Federation of America today announced that Kelly Mazza, senior executive director of The Arbors at Shelburne, a senior living community in Shelburne, Vt., was honored with the ALFA 2012 Senior Living Community Leadership Award.
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Gigantic Living Paintings Unveiled at Edmonton International Airport
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA-- - Editors Note: There are four photos associated with this release.The first passengers arriving into Edmonton, Canada were greeted by a breath of fresh air produced by the ...
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New assisted living facility will be state-of-the-art
By Kelsey Givens After four years of planning and hard work, the Pahrump Assisted Living and Memory Care Facility broke ground at 10 a.m. Tuesday. Robert Walsh, a partner with Pahrump Land Development LLC said “This facility has been designed to help the residents and seniors of Pahrump, and provide a place where people with[...]
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Tennis Legend Martina Navratilova Will Keynote Living at Your Peak, Vail's Interactive Health Event
VAIL, CO-- - Tennis legend Martina Navratilova will share her unparalleled health and fitness expertise as the keynote speaker at Living at Your Peak , the Rocky Mountain region's premier interactive wellness ...
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Out of the living room, onto the trail
The Living Room War was launched this week—the ferocious bombardment of attack ads that will make turning on a television in an up-for-grabs state like Ohio a high-risk, wear-a-metal-helmet venture for the next 25 weeks until Election Day.
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Is Living Barbie Valeria Lukyanova ‘An Iconic Symbol’ Of The Future? [PHOTOS]
Living Barbie Valeria Lukyanova, a 21-year-old Ukranian model, became an Internet sensation when photos of her doll-like appearance began circulating in the media. Some called her freakish; others called her crazy; but is she "an iconic symbol" of the future of Western society?.
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Intelligent Living Announces Renovation Division
VANCOUVER, BC-- - Intelligent Living Corp. , , a leading supplier of green building solutions and innovative home automation and control technology systems, today announced the establishment of an operating ...
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Advance directives make medical decisions easier
It was a discussion that Mary Peterson didnt want to have with her children.
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Pro bono attorneys serve seniors with advance directives
Jacksonville seniors are more prepared for their futures thanks to a team of volunteers who helped them create advance directive documents at Riverside Presbyterian House on April 21.
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END OF LIFE WISHES: Advance directives make medical decisions easier
It was a discussion that Mary Peterson didnt want to have with her children. Then a heart attack in her early 60s forced the issue out into the open.
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Student nurses set to explain psychiatric advance directives
CHICO — Two students from Chico State University's School of Nursing mental health empowerment program will explain the need for psychiatric advance directives during a meeting Thursday of the National Alliance on Mental Illness at Chico
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Seniors
"ADVANCE DIRECTIVES FOR HOOSIER SENIOR CITIZENS": Thursday; Aging In-Home Services, 2927 Lake Ave.; free; for time, call 745-1200.
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Wisconsin doctors get support to help patients complete advance directives
Social workers, chaplains and others will be trained to facilitate planning talks to avoid uncertainty about end-of-life care.
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San Diego Hospice Hosts Free Workshop: "A Roadmap to Health Care Decision Making" on June 2
San Diego's medical and legal experts will discuss advance care planning
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Film viewing to be held at First Church of the Nazarene
Southeast Kansas Area Agency on Aging (SEKAAA) and Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice are collaborating in an effort to increase public awareness of the importance of advance healthcare decision-making.
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Quinn: St. Aidan's Church encourages conversations at series on death and dying
When starting a difficult conversation about death, The Rev. Mary Kate Rejouis sees it as another way to connect and share with loved ones.
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CMHS Seminar to Focus on Healthcare Decisions
In conjunction with National Healthcare Decisions Day, Community Memorial Health System is holding a community dialogue on end-of-life care, including advance medical directives and Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment, on Tuesday, April 17.
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Court: Military power of attorney can’t be copy
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Lyndon and Latonya Bartholomew wanted to give Lyndon the legal ability to take care of the family mortgage and other issues while she deployed to Iraq with the military in 2010, so they brought a photocopy of a notarized form granting military power of attorney.
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Kentucky court: Copy no good for military power of attorney
Lyndon and Latonya Bartholomew wanted to give Lyndon the legal ability to take care of the family mortgage and other issues while she deployed to Iraq with the U.S.
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Attorney general announces rebate checks in Syracuse stop
SYRACUSE — New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman visited Syracuse today to announce that restitution checks are on their way to nearly 2,700 New York customers of two Brooklyn–based energy companies.
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Balance Of Power: Clean Energy And Desert Wildlife
This guest post was written by Johanna Wald, a senior attorney at the Natural Resources Defense Council in . By Johanna Wald I've had the great luck to spend my nearly forty year career protecting western lands. But about five years ago, I realized two things that changed the course of my approach to lands ...
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NCAA transfer restrictions won't be easily lifted
By ERIC OLSON AP Sports Writer The NCAA is examining transfer rules after a spate of high-profile cases that has critics saying too much power is in the hands of athletic directors and coaches.
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John Cena Files For Divorce; Wife Hires High Power Attorney
John Cena has filed for divorce from his high school sweetheart and wife of three years, Liz Huberdeau, reports The Miami Herald and TMZ.com. The WWE Superstar claims their marriage is "irretrevably broken."
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Zisa trial focused harsh light on family's power
The trial of suspended Hackensack Police Chief Ken Zisa was sometimes presented by the prosecution as a referendum on the power his family has wielded in the city for more than 30 years.
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Problem Solvers: Power of Attorney Problems
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Two Texas woman are in the metro area to see their elderly aunt – but as...
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Solar Power Market Braces For US-China Trade Case Decision
The U.S. solar-power industry has been nervously awaiting a federal decision on whether to impose antidumping tariffs on Chinese solar-panel makers.
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Federal judge orders Justice Department to acknowledge courts’ power, after President Obama says Supreme Court should ...
A federal judge in Texas has demanded the Department of Justice acknowledge courts’ authority to strike down acts of Congress, after President Obama said Monday that a Supreme Court ruling against his signature health care law would be an “unprecedented” display of “judicial activism.”
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USLegalWills.com News Articles
PRESS RELEASE: LegalWills.co.uk Launches DIY Online Legal Will Service
The new, online service from Legalwills.co.uk allows individuals to prepare their will, in the
convenience of their own home, for a fraction of the cost of hiring a lawyer.
A Last Will and Testament - The Worst Excuses For Not Having One
What should every adult have, but nearly three quarters do not?
An up-to-date Last Will and Testament.
Most people do not have a legal Will because of these top 10 excuses.
Where There's A Will...
The one thing in life that is guaranteed is death, and
it is never too early to start thinking about your last wishes.
Living Wills
Death and dying-it's something that many people avoid talking about. But
refusing to talk about it and make your end of life decisions can cause
you--and your family--more grief and money than you may know.
Everybody's going to die, so we all need Wills
It may not be a pleasant thought to think about, but it happens.
Everyone will die, and not all of us will die peacefully on our
deathbed. It is vital that everyone, including teens, have a will.
Poll: More planning ahead for death, living wills
People are more likely these days to plan for their own death or talk to
close relatives about the subject that many have long been inclined to
avoid, a poll found.
Promoting Advance Directives
Society has paid a price for not recognizing the value of advance
directives.
End of Life Care
There are a great many care options for the last days of life. Emotional
and philosophical concerns, deciding where to receive care, and legal
documents (such as advance directives, a health care proxy, and a living
will) need to be discussed, decided, and legally secured to ensure you
receive the treatment you want.
Gay Wills: Giving You The Choice
Under current legislation, if you don't make a Will your gay partner has
no automatic right to your estate.
Wills Protect Children's Interests
Your will may be the most important document you ever create for your
children.
Clearing Up Estate Document Confusion
Few topics confuse investors more than figuring out what estate-related
documents they need. Living Wills, Living Trusts, and Powers of Attorney
are just a few of the terms that most find hard to define, let alone
understand.
Be specific about your final wishes
What is the difference between advance directives and DNR (Do Not
Resuscitate)? What should I do?
Legal Issues of Elderhood
There are four crucial documents each senior citizen should have: 1. An
updated and valid will; 2. A durable power of attorney; 3. A living
will; 4. A durable power of attorney for health care.
Living Wills Can Help In Hard Times
Q: My family and my doctor have been pushing me to sign a living will.
I'm not comfortable signing a living will at this time. Do I really need
one, or is this something I can do without?
Think About Your Estate Planning Checklist
You may think it's too soon to do estate planning. Yet, none of us can
predict the future - so you'll want to be prepared for anything.
Digital Inheritance Raises Legal Questions
As more of our personal lives go digital, family members, estate
attorneys and online service providers are increasingly grappling with
what happens to those information bits when their owners die.
Families Need To Communicate End-of-Life Wishes
What do "quality of life," "heroic measures" and "dying with dignity"
mean to you? What kind of care would you want if you were unable to
speak for yourself? What are your hopes and fears about the medical
treatments you might or might not receive? What makes life worth living
or, conversely, not worth living?
What Next?
So, you've planned carefully, consulted the professionals and have your
estate plan in order. Have you considered, however, what would happen if
you became incapacitated or died suddenly? Would your spouse, family,
attorney-in-fact or successor trustee know what to do?
Young, Single and in Need of an Estate Plan
Remember that hilarious episode of "Friends" where Ross convinces
Rachel, Phoebe and the others to sit down and write their wills and
designate durable power of attorney to each other in the event something
should happen to them?
Little Things Cause Big Problems After Death
Death and taxes. We can't avoid them. And though we talk about taxes,
death is a subject most of us avoid. We know it's out there and coming
this way. Yet, we don't discuss it.
End-of-life Issues
Few things are more unnatural than talking about the end of one's life.
It is a very uncomfortable topic to discuss with your partner, children,
family and sometimes even your health-care provider.
As a Life Ebbs, the Ultimate Family Quarrel
Many people will put off the writing of a Living Will thinking that
their family will be able to agree on the most appropriate care.
Countless press articles suggest that the 30 minutes or so that it will
take to prepare a Living Will is time very well spent.
Florida Supreme Court Decision Highlights
Importance of Getting Health Care Wishes in Writing
Elder Law Attorneys Offer Nine Tips to a Living Will, Health Care Proxy
and Health Care Power of Attorney
The Desperate Case of Terri Schiavo
The lengthy legal battle over the fate of Terri Schiavo in Florida has
heightened people’s interest in Living Wills and the Healthcare Power of
Attorney.
Get Cracking On Will
People, in general, are often hesitant to prepare wills. There's a
number of reasons for this.
Digital Wills Concept Tested in Australia
People have been known to hide their wills in some pretty unusual
locations, but concealing one in digital form inside a watch may take
some beating.
Member wins Six Feet Under DVD set during "Make A Will Month"
USLegalWills.com ran a "Six Feet Under" contest. This contest was to
promote the October "Make A Will Month".
PRESS RELEASE: USLegalWills.com
Introduces New Online U.S. Legal Will Service
USLegalWills.com announces a revolutionary new service, enabling
consumers to create and update their Wills over the Internet. Now, from
the comfort and privacy of their own home, all that a consumer needs is
an Internet connection and about 30 minutes to create a custom Will that
is legal in their local jurisdiction.
U.S. Online Legal Will Creation Service is now
Available
USLegalWills.com is pleased to announce that the MyWill™
service is now available for our U.S. members. (This service was made
available to our Canadian members earlier this year.)
A Death In The Family Brings Financial Issues
Here's a list of my top financial issues to consider when your spouse or
common-law partner (CLP) dies.
Canadian Online Legal Will Creation Service is now Available
Who will care for your children? Who inherits your house, your money, or
your prized baseball card collection? We have
removed the obstacles to writing a Will. It is convenient, low cost, and
simple.
PRESS RELEASE: USLegalWills.com Launches Unique Internet
Estate Planning Services
USLegalWills.com has launched a unique portfolio of services that
allows consumers to communicate their final wishes to loved ones after
they have passed away. The interactive web site includes services for
describing funeral wishes, drafting a legal Will and preparing
multimedia messages.
Elders' 'Day-At-A-Time' Approach Neglects Planning
Senior citizens must ensure that their Will, Living Will, Power of
Attorney, funeral plans and healthcare directives are in order.
Family
Feud Over Ted Williams Body
The family feud over Ted Williams' body deepened when his Will showed
that he wanted to be cremated, but the executor of his estate said the
slugger later decided to be frozen.
Wills
Can Leave a Bitter Legacy
Poor planning, vague bequests may lead to family feuds, lawyers warn.
Stuart Adamson of Big Country dies without a Will
A number of high profile cases have made headlines in North America
which demonstrate the importance of writing a Will and keeping it up to
date.
Same-sex Partners Should Each Write a Legal Will
News articles highlight the importance of writing a will in same-sex
relationships.
More Than Half of Americans Don't Have a Will, Says New Survey by FindLaw
According to a recent survey,
59% of American adults don't have a will, giving them little control or input
into issues, such as what will happen to their assets and any minor children,
after they die.
CBC's Market Place attacks the Canadian Legal Will Kit
(also known as the Canadian National Will Kit,
the Canadian National Will Guide, and the
Complete Canadian Will Guide)
Consumer affairs TV show 'Market Place' attacks a product called the
Canadian Legal Will Kit, and questions the use of all Do-It-Yourself
Will kits.
Complete Strangers May Get a Share of Your Estate
Another case demonstrating the consequences of dying without a Will has
been reported in California. This time the California Supreme Court
reluctantly decided that a widow whose husband died without a Will must
share his property with his half siblings, even though he never knew of
their existence. |