I was recently interviewed on Fox 31 News about the heartbreaking tragedy involving Shanann Watts. Her husband has been arrested for her murder. If he is convicted of or pleads guilty to that murder, a question will likely arise as to who is entitle to receive her assets. Ms. Watts...
We were honored to be interviewed by K&R Home Transitions about the importance of proper estate planning: [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93SiAagld2I[/embedyt] For more information, please visit parkbench.com. Thank you for the opportunity Katharine Pickering!...
We get calls every day from unfortunate individuals whose relatives died intestate, or who can’t access a family property due to poorly executed legal documents. The transfer of assets from one generation to another is rife for potential disaster, yet statistics show that nearly 2/3 of Americans don’t have any...
Our estate planning process includes not only a will or a trust, but incapacity documents designed to give your chosen agent the right to handle your financial affairs if you can't. Known as a General Durable Power of Attorney, or Power of Attorney (POA) for short, this document is a...
Have you seen the "revenge obituary" trending on social media? In the most recent example, a brother and sister reveal to the world that their late mother abandoned them as children to run off with her husband's brother. Far from being overcome with grief, the adult children are very clear...
Have you been putting off estate planning because...
You’re one step ahead of everyone else in this crazy game called life: you’ve made an estate plan to distribute your assets after you die to your estate benefactors and life insurance beneficiaries. Great job, and…now what? What do you do with those assets to ensure that they are distributed...
What response would you expect to get if you called your doctor’s office and asked, “How much do you charge for an amoxicillin prescription?” Probably an incredulous: “Uh, we need to see you before we can prescribe medication.” Maybe you push your luck. “It’s just a simple sore throat.” Certain response: “Unless the...
There are times when prioritizing speed and cost in a purchasing decision makes sense. I like to go to a really high-end steakhouse every now and then, and linger over a three-hour dinner, served slowly and prepared with great care. But not when I’m on a cross-country road trip. When...
Part Three of our series on Personal Representatives and Trustees concludes with some common questions. (Part 1 -- "Serving as Personal Representative or Trustee, A Step-by-Step Guide" -- is available here; Part 2 -- "Personal Representative? Trustee? What are these titles and who should get them" -- is available here). 1....