Mamma Mia!: Common Estate Planning Issues for Blended Families
An Executor’s Guide to Administering an Estate
Interview with Lisa Grayson - Digital Planning Podcast
Inheritance Data - Digital Planning Podcast
Probate is the legal process of administering a Decedent’s Last Will & Testament (“Will”), whereby assets owned by the Decedent at death are distributed pursuant to the terms of their Will, or if there is no Will, according...more
Irrevocable trusts have long been a valuable arrow in the quiver of the high-net-worth estate planner. An irrevocable trust can provide tax advantages by minimizing estate taxes and preserving wealth for future generations....more
While every probate dispute is unique, there are some issues that commonly arise. When the validity of a will or trust is contested, one family member or group may accuse other family member or members of undue influence or...more
Everyone should have an estate plan. Your estate plan is the roadmap in a crisis, providing guidance to loved ones on how to proceed and ensuring your wishes and goals are met. For those with young children or children with...more
Nearly 140 years ago, the United States Supreme Court first recognized that one who causes harm to another should not financially benefit from the estate of the harmed person. In Mutual Life v. Armstrong, the defendant was...more
A recent case by the Tennessee Court of Appeals highlights the importance of changing one’s insurance and retirement policy beneficiaries after divorce. This is true no matter what the divorce documents say and no matter what...more
Recent North Carolina legislation addresses the electronic storage of attested written wills. Although electronic wills themselves are not yet fully authorized under North Carolina law, these recent statutory changes allow a...more
The July 2025 Section 7520 rate for use with estate planning techniques such as CRTs, CLTs, QPRTs and GRATs is 5.00%, which is the same as the June 2025 Section 7520 rate...more
Inheritance is a very important aspect of family law. It is the branch of law that ensures welfare of family members and the continuity of the family unit after the death of an individual. Inheritance law in the UAE includes...more
On April 28, 2025, the Minnesota Court of Appeals issued its opinion in In re Estate of Bogren. The court addressed a matter of first impression in Minnesota – whether a disclaimer of property must clearly state the value of...more
Heirs, Assets, and Arguments: Why Elder Law Attorneys Are Key in Probate Litigation - Probate is the legal process through which a deceased person’s assets are distributed to heirs or beneficiaries and debts are settled....more
In this episode of Legacy Lessons, Shawn R. McClelland, Partner in our Tax, Trusts, and Estates Practice Group, walks us through one of the most common estate planning questions families face: Should I create a will, or do I...more
The California Court of Appeal recently reaffirmed that a party’s ownership interest in real property must be clearly established before the party can have standing to bring an action for partition of the property. ...more
In Suday v. Suday, the executor was also the sole beneficiary of her mother’s estate. No. 24-1009, __ Tex. LEXIS __ (Tex. June 27, 2025) (per curiam). She engaged in substantial litigation seeking to challenge her parents’...more
In In re Estate of Earnest E. Clifton, an applicant offered a copy of a lost will, and the trial court denied the application via a zoom hearing without a court reporter. No. 05-24-00079-CV, 2024 Tex. App. LEXIS 7071 (Tex....more
In In re Est. of Prieto, the contestant’s mother executed a will in 2008 leaving her property to a trust. No. 04-22-00038-CV, 2024 Tex. App. LEXIS 6336 (Tex. App.—San Antonio August 28, 2024, no pet.)....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
The Spotlight strives to provide a forum to discuss the latest news and compelling issues impacting fiduciaries and those to whom fiduciaries owe duties. Whether you are an officer, director, trustee, beneficiary, trust...more
The Alzheimer’s Association says that more than 55 million people are living with dementia worldwide. In the United States the figure for Alzheimer’s alone is nearly 7 million, on pace to hit 13 million by 2050. We all know...more
It is a common misconception believed by many that having a will avoids probate. Not only is it false, it really could not be further from the truth. Rather, a will is a tool that is often used during the probate process and...more
New York law generally requires that, to have a will admitted to probate, a party offering the will for probate must file the original instrument with the Surrogate’s Court (Margaret V. Turano, Practice Commentaries: SCPA §...more
In a recent ruling, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (“SJC”) affirmed the finality of voluntary acknowledgments of parentage (“VAPs”), even if later genetic evidence proves that a parent who signed a VAP has no...more
When a loved one passes away, the emotional toll of the loss can be compounded by the sudden responsibility of managing the deceased person’s estate—especially if you’ve been named as the executor under a Last Will and...more
What can an experienced San Diego tax attorney do for you? San Diego is uniquely positioned to support any local, regional, national, or multinational business or corporation. The proximity of San Diego to Mexico (the United...more
Probate is the legal process through which a deceased person’s assets are distributed to heirs or beneficiaries and debts are settled. While many estates pass through probate smoothly, disputes can and do arise—sometimes...more