The Risks of Bad Advice
The Importance of Beneficiary Designations
The Secret Child
Estate Planning 101: The Five Most Important Clauses for Wills and Trusts
Ruder Ware's Elder Law Team Recognizes National Special Needs Law Month - Part 2
Everything You Need to Know About Beneficiary Designations
The Wonder Years - Rediscovering the Magic of Split Dollar Life Insurance
As environmental challenges and social responsibility become increasingly prominent, many individuals are choosing to align their estate planning with their personal values. One of the most powerful ways to do this is by...more
August is National Make-A-Will Month, a timely reminder to create or update your will. Whether you’re establishing a career, raising a family, or accumulating assets, having a will in place ensures your loved ones are...more
As an old song covered by the Beatles goes, “the best things in life are free, but you can’t keep em for the birds and bees, now give me money, that’s what I want.”...more
Lathrop GPM attorneys Allie Itami and Sara Hire will walk through key legal and tax considerations that arise when retirement accounts grow beyond personal retirement needs. From alternative investments to estate tax...more
Roughly two-thirds of Americans are estimated to die without executing a valid will. As a result, assets in their name will pass under the laws of intestacy of their home state. The laws of intestacy are essentially default...more
Arizona is a popular destination for people who are considering moving to a new state. According to the U.S. Census Bureau‘s American Community Survey, over a quarter of a million people move to Arizona every year....more
Estate planning is a crucial process for anyone looking to protect their family and assets, but for families with a loved one who has special needs, it requires additional considerations. Without proper planning, a...more
Recent years have seen an unprecedented rollback of many hard-won civil rights for LGBTQ+ Iowans at the state and federal levels. There are several ways LGBTQ+ Iowans can protect and empower themselves and their loved ones...more
Having a fantastic estate plan does not mean much if you do not take steps to implement and maintain it. Just like your car, your estate plan requires maintenance. We have a few tips to help you keep your estate plan up to...more
For newly married couples and those starting a family, estate planning is often thought of as something to address later in life. However, as discussed by Dan Stone, an associate in the Elder Law Practice Group at Mandelbaum...more
Divorce is an emotional and complex process, but one important aspect that often gets overlooked is your estate plan. If you don’t update it, your estranged spouse could still inherit your assets or make crucial financial and...more
In this episode of Trust Us, Danielle Friedman, Herb Fineburg, and Max McCauley tackle the pitfalls of common estate planning advice, highlighting the risks of adding children to bank accounts or deeds purely for convenience....more
Estate planning is a critical part of securing the future for any family, and for LGBTQ+ individuals, it is particularly important given the legal complexities and challenges that may arise in the current political climate....more
The Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act of 2019 (the SECURE Act), was originally signed into law on December 20, 2019. Intended to assist and encourage Americans in saving and investing for retirement,...more
As the end of 2024 draws near, it’s a great time to review your finances and prepare for a prosperous new year. Whether you’re cozying up by the fire or decorating with family, a little year-end financial planning can help...more
Nicolas Puech, a lesser-known heir of the Hermès luxury brand, has taken an unusual approach to his estate plan by deciding to leave his fortune to his former gardener. Puech, who has long been known for his philanthropic...more
Marital estate rights create the potential for catastrophic consequences should a spouse pass away at a time when the parties are physically separated but have not yet signed a separation agreement or been granted a divorce....more
In recent years, LGBTQ+ individuals have seen an unprecedented rollback of many of their basic civil rights at the state and federal levels. There are several steps LGBTQ+ Iowans and others can take to protect themselves and...more
In a September 2024 decision, the Massachusetts Appeals Court ruled that an estate beneficiary did not invoke the in terrorem clause under his father’s will by submitting an affidavit in support of his brother’s challenge to...more
Many families are confident that they have made the necessary preparations to transition their wealth, businesses, foundation and family office to the next generation ... someday, when the time is right. We know that some...more
A recent California appellate case clarifies the application of the statute of limitations to trust amendments. In Smith v. Myers (2024) 103 Cal.App.5th 586, a dispute arose between the decedent’s children and his widow...more
Dear Jonathan: I just completed the probate of my late brother’s will. I was the personal representative he appointed to act on behalf of his estate. This was not a pleasant experience and in fact, was quite the opposite and...more
The Wall Street Journal recently published an article involving a scenario that—while significant and possibly worst-case—may be more common than you may think. Specifically, the article describes a scenario under which...more
Did you know that as soon as your child turns 18, you lose automatic access to their health, school, and financial information? When a child turns 18 and becomes a legal adult, it’s a momentous occasion—filled with...more
Married couples often have wills naming one another as their primary beneficiary. People also often name their spouse as beneficiary of retirement accounts and life insurance policies. Upon commencing a divorce action,...more