A recent case brought to mind the importance of documentation in business endeavors, especially those with personal roots. We had a client who was very successful at property investing. His brother-in-law was eager to learn and the two of them bought a few properties together. Unfortunately, the brother-in-law had a drinking problem and passed away […]
Read more...Category: Estate Law
Trust Estate Problem
We were told, “… never heard of that before.” “… can’t be done,” and “Good luck with that!” Indeed, a lawyer’s work is sometimes against all odds and a little luck never hurts. But your lawyer’s success does not rest on good fortune alone. In a law practice, the sources of success are neither aimless […]
Read more...Estate Planning for Young Professionals
With the term “estate planning” we usually think of mature individuals who have a lot of assets to be concerned with. This perception, however, is not entirely accurate. Estate planning is not just for older adults with substantial assets. Young people require estate planning as well, even though they may not have as many assets […]
Read more...How Do I Know If I Need a Living Trust?
When people think about estate planning, the first thing that comes to mind is a last will and testament. While this document is useful for communicating your final wishes regarding the disposition of property, it may not be enough. A will can be sufficient for a smaller estate, or one without any unique circumstances. But […]
Read more...Timing is Everything
So often we see people spend time, effort and money on a commercial real estate project after a problem arises. The truth is, some tend to try and do a transaction themselves to save money. They may think that the project is straightforward and doesn’t merit attorney involvement, or they just really don’t have the […]
Read more...Why Consider Mediation?
None of us ever plan to be involved in a business or real estate dispute. These problems can be stressful, time-consuming and costly. In the heat of the moment, some may think that the only answer is to head to court for litigation. In many cases, however, mediation can provide a simpler and more cost-effective […]
Read more...The Importance of Funding Your Trust
If you have already created an estate plan, you may have happily filed the documents away for safekeeping. You may have thought that your estate plan was complete, and you don’t need to think about it anymore. The truth is, this is only part of the estate planning process. The final step is to fund […]
Read more...Are Automatic Lease Renewal Clauses Enforceable?
These clauses say the lease will renew for some additional term unless the landowner or the tenant gives written notice it will not be renewed. The renewal may be for the same term as the original lease, or for a different term. These clauses are the opposite of options. An option gives one side the […]
Read more...Estate Planning for Empty Nesters
You may have recently packed up your kids and sent them off to college. Many parents find themselves with mixed feelings. The good news is that you get to prepare for the next chapter of your life. If you had an estate plan when you were raising your kids, you were probably concerned about appointing […]
Read more...Why Legal DIY Isn’t the Best Solution
All too often in our practice, we see people who have decided to write their own will, lease, or other legal document with less than desirable results. Or, they may try, unsuccessfully, to record a deed, or file a document with the court. Two people may have a business arrangement and decide to create their […]
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