Planning for Retirement: Does the Three-Legged Stool Work?
DECEMBER 16, 2013 VOLUME 20 NUMBER 47 For decades accountants, financial planners, lawyers and government workers have talked about Social Security and the “three-legged stool.” The metaphor had a simple attraction, especially when Social Security was a young program. The three legs? Social Security, private retirement programs and personal investments. You should have some of […]
Transfer of Guardianship to New State Should Be Easy
DECEMBER 9, 2013 VOLUME 20 NUMBER 46 We have written before about transferring a guardianship or conservatorship to Arizona, or out of Arizona, when the subject of the proceeding moves to another state. In fact, Arizona has joined a number of other states (that number, incidentally, currently stands at 37 states, plus the District of […]
Why You Might Want to Create a Trust for Your Kids
NOVEMBER 25, 2013 VOLUME 20 NUMBER 45 This conversation comes up a lot with our estate planning clients. “So, you’re leaving your entire estate equally to your three kids,” we say to our client. “Do you want to leave it outright or would you consider putting it in a trust for them?” The two most […]
Can You Change Your Will By Writing On It?
NOVEMBER 18, 2013 VOLUME 20 NUMBER 44 So you have a will, and you want to make some changes. Can you just write in the new provisions? How about if you sign somewhere on the document?Can it be a copy of your will, or does it have to be on the original to be effective? […]
Forgetfulness, Dementia and National Awareness Month
NOVEMBER 11, 2013 VOLUME 20 NUMBER 43 November is National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month. At Fleming & Curti, PLC, we got a little bit of a jump on the month by describing (in our October 28, 2013, weekly newsletter) the incidence of dementia and some of the experience we have in dealing with clients with […]
Can You Disinherit Your Spouse? It Depends
NOVEMBER 4, 2013 VOLUME 20 NUMBER 42 Most of us are fascinated by the lives and deaths of famous people. Their legal and financial affairs tend to be complicated, and they are sometimes messy. They may also provide some constructive information, useful to illustrate broader points applicable to many of us. One such illustration: the […]
Dementia: Facts, Figures and Legal Effects
OCTOBER 28, 2013 VOLUME 20 NUMBER 41 At a seminar for lawyers and accountants last week, our ears pricked up when we heard a speaker say: “remember, something like 60% of your clients over 75 suffer from Alzheimer’s Disease.” (OK — that might not be an exact quotation, but that was the sense of the […]
Disinheritance of Adult Child With Disabilities Leads to Lawsuit
OCTOBER 21, 2013 VOLUME 20 NUMBER 40 Suppose you have two children. Your daughter is very capable, very mature, very responsible. Your son has a developmental disability, or a drinking problem, or just problems handling money. What should you do with any inheritance you leave to your son? Put it in a trust? Make your […]
Why Do I Need a Lawyer — Can’t I Write My Own Will?
OCTOBER 14, 2013 VOLUME 20 NUMBER 39 “My father hates, absolutely hates, lawyers,” a casual acquaintance tells us at a social gathering. “I know it’s a bad idea, but can’t he just write his own will?” Let’s get the answer out of the way right up front: yes, he can. And there’s a very high […]
Decedent’s Family Permitted to Challenge Validity of Marriage
OCTOBER 7, 2013 VOLUME 20 NUMBER 38 Though we do not handle divorce cases at Fleming & Curti, PLC, we do find ourselves dealing with divorce, annulment, child support and spousal maintenance issues from time to time. One common question we see involves late-life marriages between a (sometimes) confused senior and a (sometimes, but not […]
