In a technical sense and strictly construed a legacy is a gift or bequest in a will of personal property. An estate is a person’s interests in real and personal property both before and after death. The word legacy has…
Death is a part of life – but for the surviving family it is a time of stress, both emotional coping with loss and knowing what to do to handle the paperwork and the practicalities of what happens when a…
I think that is too young to have access to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Since he is my potential heir as well, will a trust help me from contributing to this situation and instill in him a sense of…
I am usually an optimist, but feel like we have a death sentence. I don’t know where to start to gain control over our life and I’m receiving so many suggestions. Where do I start? Start with you. I’m a…
The daughter of his sec-ond wife is giving his personal items, like guns and tools, away without consulting me and my stepmother, age 81, refuses to answer my calls. My Dad and I were very close and it hurts to…
Many people have decorated a spare bedroom with boxes of old medical insurance reimbursement statements and tax returns. While proof to grandchildren that you only earned $6,000 decades ago with both spouses employed and being able to tell them when…
If you are a veteran, a parent, dependent or spouse of a living or deceased veteran, you may be entitled to benefits through Veteran’s Affairs. A Report of Separation known as a DD Form 214 is a record that shows…
Comedian Bill Cosby’s two main interests in life have been to entertain his fellowmen and a desire to teach them how to live. He is a devoted family man and a noted philanthropist. He said “Give your children enough money…
Can we just use her monies since they are jointly owned? Joint ownership can be a good way to avoid probate, but many people mistakenly believe this form of ownership will preserve the assets from being counted on a Medicaid…
If you’re 18 or older, it’s time to make a will. Even young adults have assets and legal interests that need protecting and directing upon death. Many children come from blended families where there are fathers and stepmothers, mothers and…
