Legal Wills Blog - February 5, 2012
Can you solve your debt issues in your Will?
This is a guest post by Sophie Kinsella, finance blogger. She is a guest columnist, blogger, author for various websites and communities including Oak View Law Group. She has completed her Post Graduation in Social Welfare from California University and is currently working with a reputed Bank located in California. She loves to write articles [...]
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How not to write a Last Will and Testament
People are sometimes scared away from writing their own Will. Lawyers will claim that it is a difficult task that only people in the legal profession truly understand, and with some scaremongering, convince people that they should pay a lot of money for legal advice even though their wishes may be very simple. We’ve presented [...]
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New Year’s Resolutions and your Last Will and Testament
January is always our busiest month of the year at LegalWills; it is a time for reflection and also a time for looking to the future. Over the holidays many of us have spent time with relatives and discussed family matters. There may have been a conversation about a family member who passed away in [...]
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Free Last Will and Testament forms
We’ve seen a number of these recently; the “free” or the $5 Last Will and Testament. In fact, I’ll offer you one right here; a Free Last Will and Testament form . But be warned, it’s an absolute piece of garbage and will probably cause more problems for your family and loved ones than not creating [...]
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More reasons to write your own Will
It seems that Forbes publish an article almost every month warning people against preparing their own Will. The latest was a couple of weeks ago entitled 5 Reasons to get Professional Help Writing your Will. Once again, we will deconstruct the arguments and explain why many people are more than capable of preparing their own [...]
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Do your parents have a Will?
I straightforward blog article today with a simple question; “do your parents have their Last Will and Testaments in place, and updated to reflect their current wishes and circumstances?”. We know that about 60-70% of people don’t have a Will in place, and most of these are not kept up-to-date, but I am guessing that [...]
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Writing a Will on YOUR terms
We had an interesting comment into our support team yesterday. This person wasn’t complaining about the cost of going to see a lawyer or a solicitor to create a Last Will and Testament, it was the inconvenience. Today a survey from the UK revealed that about 30 million adults in Britain do not have a [...]
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The Perils of a Codicil
In a previous post we highlighted the dangers of making quick changes to a Last Will and Testament. We discussed the reasons why you might want to update your Will and the different options available to you for making an update. There were two important pieces of advice in this post; never make a handwritten [...]
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Should you really write your own Will?
There will forever be two very divided camps on whether it is a good idea to write your own Will. On the one side will be the lawyers and solicitors who continually warn of the dangers of trying to “do-it-yourself” often illustrated by stretched analogies; “you wouldn’t perform your own brain surgery now would you?” [...]
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I think I’ll wait until my life settles down…
Sorry for the brief hiatus….we’ve had a short leave from our social activities, but now we’re back with lots of interesting information and discourse. We received an great question today into our support team at www.legalwills.ca . A prospective customer decided that they needed a Will, they had a husband and one child, but knew [...]
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News Headlines - February 5, 2012
Reduce Estate Tax By Making Gifts
You can do a lot to minimize your estate taxes before you die. One way is to make some gifts.
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Nightmare On Elm Street
Declining home prices and higher adjustable rate mortgage payments spell big trouble for some borrowers.
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Choosing The Right Financial Adviser
Like hiring a personal trainer, finding the right financial adviser can help whip your finances into shape.
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Pay Death To Go Away
Five ways to turn your wealth into health.
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Insuring The Future
Newlyweds need protection now more than ever.
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Taxes: Estate Planning
You can't take it with you, but you don't have to give it all to the government either.
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Estate Planning
Here are ten things you need to know about estate planning.
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Estate Planning In The Digital Age
If you died, could anyone access your online accounts? Here's how to protect and pass on your digital assets.
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You're Dead, Now What?
An estate plan will help your loved ones avoid delays, legal problems and uncertainty.
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Grandma's Got A Boyfriend, Now What?
The older you are, the more complicated your finances, especially if you're combining households.
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Martha Stewart Living says Macys deal has loophole
Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia's contract with Macy's to exclusively sell certain products has a loophole that will let the company sell in J.C. Penney Co stores, according to the home-goods company. ...
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Martha Stewart Living Says Macy's Deal Has Loophole
Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia's contract with Macy's to exclusively sell certain products has a loophole that will let the company sell in J.C. Penney Co stores, according to the home-goods company.
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Living Light Culinary Institute Announces the Raw Revolution Tour with Cherie Soria April 14 through May 12 in ...
Living Light Culinary Institute founder and director Cherie Soria is leading a tour of the Northwest, with a detour to Toronto to be a presenter at the Total Health Show on April 20-22. Soria and her staff will teach the school’s introductory course in gourmet raw vegan cuisine, FUNdamentals of Raw Living Foods, in four cities: Vancouver, B.C. on April 14, Toronto, Ontario on April 28, Seattle ...
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Five more consulates to disappear
Swiss living in Uruguay, Paraguay, Ireland, Malaysia and Portugal will this year have to turn to other countries for their consular services.
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O'Hare bookstore firings renew living wage push for Chicago airports
Supporters of a living wage ordinance for Chicago airports are using the recent firings of workers to renew their push.
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Do the dead outnumber the living?
Do the dead outnumber the living - or is it the other way round?
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Transitional Living taking applications
Sheboygans Salvation Army Transitional Living Program will be taking applications for a 25-person waiting list of potentially eligible clients for the 2012-13 grant year.
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Joe Paterno - Why His Living Legacy Will Out Weigh His Asterisk
Robert Michael Fried's new book, Igniting Your True Purpose and Passion, highlights the need to create a living legacy.CARMEL, California (PRWEB) February 02, 2012 The recent passing of legendary football coach Joe Paterno has caused many of us to take a step back and reflect on our legacy and how we will be remembered long after we've passed from this earth. According to Robert Michael Fried’s ...
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City, firefighters reach contract deal
Firefighters won't get cost-of-living increases, but many will get step increases.
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Cost of living pressures ease - ABS
The ABS says the annual rate of living pressures has eased particularly for pensioners.
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Advance directives don't work for high-risk surgery
Advance directives that limit the use of life-supporting treatments necessary for patient survival are a poor tool for helping patients express their wishes about surgery, according to a new study led by a University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health vascular surgeon.
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New Free Service Brings Advance Medical Directives Into 21st Century; ADVault Solves the "Death Panel" Nightmare for ...
DALLAS, TX-- - ADVault, Inc. today launches MyDirectives®, a free-to-consumers, easy, convenient, and secure platform that brings advance medical directives* online, allowing hospitals and families to ...
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Can 'living wills' tie a surgeon's hands? UW study indicates so
A new study from a UW-Madison surgical professor suggests advance directives, or "living wills," don't work in the surgical suite.
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Utah law covers advance medical directives, life-sustaining treatments
Utah law covers advance medical directives, life-sustaining treatments By Patty Henetz The Salt Lake Tribune Published Jan 11, 2012 11:18AM MDT More than two-thirds of middle-aged Americans haven’t planned how medical decisions should be made for them if they can’t speak for themselves, according to a recent poll by the Associated Press-Life Goes Strong. The reason the respondents most often ...
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State first to launch electronic advance directive registry
West Virginia is about to be the first in the nation to implement a statewide electronic registry for advance directives.
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TUESDAY AT 9 A.M.: Learn about living wills and advance directives at Monroe Senior Center talk Jan. 17
A free educational program on living wills and advance directives will be offered Tuesday, Jan. 17, at 9 a.m. at the Monroe Senior Center, 235 Cutlers Farm Road. The presentation is part of an ongoing Life Planning Seminar Series by the law firm of Bishop, Jackson & Kelly.
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Health directives topic of free lecture at Carmel Foundation
The Carmel Foundation has scheduled a free lecture Jan. 18 on advance health directives and Physician Order for Life Sustaining Treatment. The Carmel Foundation serves members age 55 and older. The public is invited to this lecture. Refreshments will be served immediately after the program.
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Facing Death: What Doctors Can Teach the Rest of Us About End-of-Life Care
Physicians are more likely to sign advance directives and avoid rescue measures at the end of their lives
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Start a conversation with the people you love
Who would make your healthcare decisions if you were unable to speak for yourself? Hospice Savannah will host an Advance Directives Seminar in the Education Room of Liberty Regional Medical Center at 6 p.m. Jan.
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Big Pro-Life Win
Pro-life leaders are hailing a decision by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe to support a resolution banning euthanasia, specifically as regards advance directives and living wills.
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Why a lasting power of attorney is not just for the elderly
Mental and physical incapacity can hit at any time, which is why charities recommend planning ahead to ease the potential burden on loved ones We all know that we should write a will, but too few of us know we should also consider something called lasting power of attorney. By 2025, more than 1 million people in the UK will have dementia, according to the Alzheimer's Society. One in five people ...
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Arizona candidate says English challenge an abuse of power
SAN LUIS, Arizona (Reuters) - An Arizona city council candidate struck from the ballot over her limited English skills concedes she isn't fluent in the language but called the legal challenge an abuse of power that could keep her from serving a poor border community where most residents speak only Spanish. ...
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Mark Brown: State’s Attorney not up to the task of investigating Koschman case
Just finished a second reading of Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez’s court filing in which she explains all the reasons there’s no need for a special prosecutor to investigate the death of David Koschman.As all Sun-Times readers know, Koschman is the young man who was killed in 2004 in what police say was a drunken confrontation on Division Street with Richard “R.J.” Vanecko, a nephew ...
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Will soccer star Barton be the first tweeter accused of contempt? Footballer investigated over John Terry tweets
Premier League footballer Joey Barton is being investigated by the Attorney General over tweets about the John Terry racism case. The Queens Park Rangers captain gave a robust view of the incident that led to Terry being accused of using racist language against Barton’s team-mate Anton Ferdinand last October.
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Power plant sidesteps voters
A state law that allows Denton to build a power plant and sell natural gas to industries near Denton Airport also allowed the city to bypass a charter provision that could have required voter approval of the project.
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Joey Barton could become first tweeter accused of contempt
London, Feb 5 (ANI): Joey Barton, who is being investigated by the Attorney General about the John Terry racism case, could be accused of contempt over his tweets against the Chelsea skipper.
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Sri Lanka: Fein: TVPA's plain language interpretation negates Rajapakse immunity
In a forceful rebuttal to the U.S. State Department's suggestion of immunity to Sri Lanka President Rajpakse in the war-crimes charges against him in the case filed in District Court in Washington by three Tamil plaintiffs, Bruce Fein, the attorney for the plaintiffs, said, 'the sitting head of state immunity issue pivots solely on an interpretation of the words an individual in the Torture ...
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Tips on granting power of attorney
Q: I am an elderly gentleman thinking about granting power of attorney to my son, so he can handle my financial affairs now and after my death.
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Muslims to NY attorney general: Investigate NYPD
Thirty-three civil rights groups from around the country complained to the New York attorney general Friday about police documents that showed the New York Police Department recommending increased surveillance of Shiite mosques based on their religion.
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Closure of Armstrong probe could affect feds
Now that the federal government has closed its investigation of Lance Armstrong, some legal experts are wondering whether the effort to prosecute superstar athletes over doping claims is worth it.
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LegalWills.ca News Articles
PRESS RELEASE: LegalWills.co.uk Launches DIY Online Legal Will Service
The new, online service from Legalwills.co.uk allows individuals to prepare their will, in the
convenience of their own home, for a fraction of the cost of hiring a lawyer.
A Last Will and Testament - The Worst Excuses For Not Having One
What should every adult have, but nearly three quarters do not?
An up-to-date Last Will and Testament.
Most people do not have a legal Will because of these top 10 excuses.
PRESS RELEASE: A Legal Will Does not Last a Lifetime
Most Canadians do not have a legal Will, but of those that do, most are not kept current.
The process of maintaining one's Will is extremely important, but with a lawyer it can be
inconvenient and expensive. A new online service by LegalWills.ca allows people to
maintain their legal Will conveniently and cost effectively.
Where There's A Will...
The one thing in life that is guaranteed is death, and
it is never too early to start thinking about your last wishes.
Living Wills
Death and dying-it's something that many people avoid talking about. But
refusing to talk about it and make your end of life decisions can cause
you--and your family--more grief and money than you may know.
Everybody's going to die, so we all need Wills
It may not be a pleasant thought to think about, but it happens.
Everyone will die, and not all of us will die peacefully on our
deathbed. It is vital that everyone, including teens, have a will.
Poll: More planning ahead for death, living wills
People are more likely these days to plan for their own death or talk to
close relatives about the subject that many have long been inclined to
avoid, a poll found.
Promoting Advance Directives
Society has paid a price for not recognizing the value of advance
directives.
End of Life Care
There are a great many care options for the last days of life. Emotional
and philosophical concerns, deciding where to receive care, and legal
documents (such as advance directives, a health care proxy, and a living
will) need to be discussed, decided, and legally secured to ensure you
receive the treatment you want.
Gay Wills: Giving You The Choice
Under current legislation, if you don't make a Will your gay partner has
no automatic right to your estate.
Wills Protect Children's Interests
Your will may be the most important document you ever create for your
children.
Clearing Up Estate Document Confusion
Few topics confuse investors more than figuring out what estate-related
documents they need. Living Wills, Living Trusts, and Powers of Attorney
are just a few of the terms that most find hard to define, let alone
understand.
Be specific about your final wishes
What is the difference between advance directives and DNR (Do Not
Resuscitate)? What should I do?
Legal Issues of Elderhood
There are four crucial documents each senior citizen should have: 1. An
updated and valid will; 2. A durable power of attorney; 3. A living
will; 4. A durable power of attorney for health care.
Living Wills Can Help In Hard Times
Q: My family and my doctor have been pushing me to sign a living will.
I'm not comfortable signing a living will at this time. Do I really need
one, or is this something I can do without?
Think About Your Estate Planning Checklist
You may think it's too soon to do estate planning. Yet, none of us can
predict the future - so you'll want to be prepared for anything.
Digital Inheritance Raises Legal Questions
As more of our personal lives go digital, family members, estate
attorneys and online service providers are increasingly grappling with
what happens to those information bits when their owners die.
Families Need To Communicate End-of-Life Wishes
What do "quality of life," "heroic measures" and "dying with dignity"
mean to you? What kind of care would you want if you were unable to
speak for yourself? What are your hopes and fears about the medical
treatments you might or might not receive? What makes life worth living
or, conversely, not worth living?
What Next?
So, you've planned carefully, consulted the professionals and have your
estate plan in order. Have you considered, however, what would happen if
you became incapacitated or died suddenly? Would your spouse, family,
attorney-in-fact or successor trustee know what to do?
Young, Single and in Need of an Estate Plan
Remember that hilarious episode of "Friends" where Ross convinces
Rachel, Phoebe and the others to sit down and write their wills and
designate durable power of attorney to each other in the event something
should happen to them?
Little Things Cause Big Problems After Death
Death and taxes. We can't avoid them. And though we talk about taxes,
death is a subject most of us avoid. We know it's out there and coming
this way. Yet, we don't discuss it.
End-of-life Issues
Few things are more unnatural than talking about the end of one's life.
It is a very uncomfortable topic to discuss with your partner, children,
family and sometimes even your health-care provider.
As a Life Ebbs, the Ultimate Family Quarrel
Many people will put off the writing of a Living Will thinking that
their family will be able to agree on the most appropriate care.
Countless press articles suggest that the 30 minutes or so that it will
take to prepare a Living Will is time very well spent.
Florida Supreme Court Decision Highlights
Importance of Getting Health Care Wishes in Writing
Elder Law Attorneys Offer Nine Tips to a Living Will, Health Care Proxy
and Health Care Power of Attorney
The Desperate Case of Terri Schiavo
The lengthy legal battle over the fate of Terri Schiavo in Florida has
heightened people’s interest in Living Wills and the Healthcare Power of
Attorney.
Get Cracking On Will
People, in general, are often hesitant to prepare wills. There's a
number of reasons for this.
Digital Wills Concept Tested in Australia
People have been known to hide their wills in some pretty unusual
locations, but concealing one in digital form inside a watch may take
some beating.
Member wins Six Feet Under DVD set during "Make A Will Month"
LegalWills.ca ran a "Six Feet Under" contest. This contest was to
promote the October "Make A Will Month".
PRESS RELEASE: PartingWishes.com
Introduces New Online U.S. Legal Will Service
PartingWishes.com announces a revolutionary new service, enabling
consumers to create and update their Wills over the Internet. Now, from
the comfort and privacy of their own home, all that a consumer needs is
an Internet connection and about 30 minutes to create a custom Will that
is legal in their local jurisdiction.
U.S. Online Legal Will Creation Service is now
Available
PartingWishes.com is pleased to announce that the MyWill™
service is now available for our U.S. members. (This service was made
available to our Canadian members earlier this year.)
A Death In The Family Brings Financial Issues
Here's a list of my top financial issues to consider when your spouse or
common-law partner (CLP) dies.
Canadian Online Legal Will Creation Service is now Available
Who will care for your children? Who inherits your house, your money, or
your prized baseball card collection? At LegalWills.ca we have
removed the obstacles to writing a Will. It is convenient, low cost, and
simple.
PRESS RELEASE: LegalWills.ca Launches Unique Internet
Estate Planning Services
LegalWills.ca has launched a unique portfolio of services that
allows consumers to communicate their final wishes to loved ones after
they have passed away. The interactive web site includes services for
describing funeral wishes, drafting a legal Will and preparing
multimedia messages.
Elders' 'Day-At-A-Time' Approach Neglects Planning
Senior citizens must ensure that their Will, Living Will, Power of
Attorney, funeral plans and healthcare directives are in order.
Family Feud Over Ted Williams Body
The family feud over Ted Williams' body deepened when his Will showed
that he wanted to be cremated, but the executor of his estate said the
slugger later decided to be frozen.
Wills Can Leave a Bitter Legacy
Poor planning, vague bequests may lead to family feuds, lawyers warn.
Stuart Adamson of Big Country dies without a Will
A number of high profile cases have made headlines in North America
which demonstrate the importance of writing a Will and keeping it up to
date.
Same-sex Partners Should Each Write a Legal Will
News articles highlight the importance of writing a will in same-sex
relationships.
More Than Half of Americans Don't Have a Will, Says New Survey by FindLaw
According to a recent survey,
59% of American adults don't have a will, giving them little control or input
into issues, such as what will happen to their assets and any minor children,
after they die.
MyMessages™ service goes live
LegalWills.ca unveils the MyMessages™ service, which allows members
to prepare multimedia messages to be delivered to designated friends and
family members after they have passed away.
CBC's Market Place attacks the Canadian Legal Will Kit
(also known as the Canadian National Will Kit,
the Canadian National Will Guide, and the
Complete Canadian Will Guide)
Consumer affairs TV show 'Market Place' attacks a product called the
Canadian Legal Will Kit, and questions the use of all Do-It-Yourself
Will kits.
Complete Strangers May Get a Share of Your Estate
Another case demonstrating the consequences of dying without a Will has
been reported in California. This time the California Supreme Court
reluctantly decided that a widow whose husband died without a Will must
share his property with his half siblings, even though he never knew of
their existence. |