COVID has caused a lot of changes in our everyday lives and is changing the way many of us do business. While many things can be done remotely by telephone or over video-chat, certain tasks are best accomplished in person....more
First and foremost, let’s address a common misconception we’re seeing right now: a Living Will is NOT the same as a Last Will and Testament.
The terms “living will” and “medical directives” are hot topics currently as many...more
The combination of COVID and back to school time has a lot of people thinking about their personal estate planning. Even if you are not working in a medical facility or a school environment with a heightened concern regarding...more
Sometimes court decisions make you say “huh?”
In March 2019, the Iowa Court of Appeals made an interesting determination in the Estate of Newhall decision. A brother and sister had been in court for many years regarding...more
This update covers the proposed Treasury regulations associated with the new IRS Code 199A as it relates to estates, trusts, and beneficiaries. An overview of Section 199A can be found here....more
In March 2018, Governor Reynolds signed HF 2125 into law, with effective date, July 1, 2018. This law increases the limit of personal property that can be transferred after death using an affidavit....more
When it comes to your estate plan, ensuring appropriate beneficiary designations is just as important, if not more important, than your will. When you start a job, open a retirement account, or take out a new life insurance...more
Governor Branstad signed Senate File 333, the Iowa Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act, on April 20.
This bill is an important tool in estate planning and trust and estate administration....more
When I first posted about Prince’s estate, I did not intend to continue providing updates. However, as administration of the estate continues, more and more opportunities arise to discuss how things could have been handled...more
I’m not typically one to follow pop culture, but in the case of Prince’s lack of an estate plan, I’m following closely how this can serve as an example of how not to do your estate plan. An earlier post discussed the...more
News sources are reporting that court documents filed last week indicate Prince died intestate, meaning he did not have a will. His sister filed the paperwork, stating to her knowledge he did not have a will and requesting...more
Delaware has become the first state to enact the Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act (the "Act") The Uniform Law Commission describes the act as a law "that will vest fiduciaries with at least the authority to...more
The Florida Supreme Court Case of Aldrich v. Basile may serve as a cautionary story that online pre-printed forms that allow a user to essentially fill in the blank may not address the specific needs of the individuals using...more
This week (October 20-26), 2013 is the 5th annual National Estate Planning Awareness Week. I will admit I had not heard of such a week until today. Upon further research, it does not seem to be all that well-publicized since...more
When most people think of estate planning, they think of drafting a will or trust to say what happens to property after death. Arguably more important is what happens when you are alive but unable to make decisions following...more