How Can I Avoid Family Fighting in My Estate Planning?

September 4, 2020
Bill O’Leary, Esq.
Asset Protection, Elder Care, Elder Law, Estate Planning, Power of Attorney, Probate and Estate/Trust Administration

One problem that frequently stems from the inheritance process is fractured relationships between siblings. Unfortunately, the common denominator in many of these situations is the parents' estate plan.

Which Stars Made the Biggest Estate Planning Blunders?

August 29, 2020
Bill O’Leary, Esq.
Asset Protection, Business Planning, Estate Planning, Life Insurance, Power of Attorney, Probate and Estate/Trust Administration

The saying goes that anyone who does not learn from mistakes in the past, is doomed to repeat them. In estate planning, if you do not learn from other’s mistakes, you are likely to repeat them.

How Can I Protect Assets from Creditors?

August 25, 2020
Bill O’Leary, Esq.
Asset Protection, Elder Care, Elder Law, Estate Planning

Estate planning is not just about saving taxes, it is also about managing and protecting your assets against future creditors, both for you and for your beneficiaries.

What Does My Estate Plan Look Like after Divorce?

August 24, 2020
Bill O’Leary, Esq.
Asset Protection, Divorce, Estate Planning, Power of Attorney, Probate and Estate/Trust Administration

Some marriages end in noise and pain. Other marriages drift away quietly with the signing of documents and only a hint of acrimony.

What Should I Know about Immediate Variable Annuities?

August 19, 2020
Bill O’Leary, Esq.
Asset Protection, Elder Care, Elder Law, Estate Planning

Immediate annuities (also known as payout or income annuities) require you to pay to an insurance company. The insurer will send you a stream of payments, starting right away.

Cat Is Fighting for Her Inheritance?

August 18, 2020
Bill O’Leary, Esq.
Estate Planning, Pet Planning, Pet Trusts, Probate and Estate/Trust Administration

The fortunate cat has starred in magazine spreads, had makeup lines named in her honor and is the inspiration for the novelty novel Choupette: The Private Life of a High-Flying Fashion Cat.

Will James Brown’s Estate Finally Be Settled after 15 Years?

August 14, 2020
Bill O’Leary, Esq.
Asset Protection, Elder Care, Elder Law, Estate Planning, Life Insurance, Power of Attorney, Probate and Estate/Trust Administration

James Brown died on Christmas Day 2006. However, almost 15 years later, litigation over his estate rages on. The Godfather of Soul had bequeathed the majority of his assets to underprivileged students in South Carolina and Georgia, but not a single scholarship has been given, pointed out Donald W. Beatty, Chief Justice of South Carolina’s Supreme Court.

Why Is Trust Funding Important in Estate Planning?

August 11, 2020
Bill O’Leary, Esq.
Asset Protection, Business Planning, Elder Care, Elder Law, Estate Planning, Probate and Estate/Trust Administration

If you have updated your estate plan during the Covid crisis and even found a way to sign your documents while maintaining social distance, do not overlook the last step of trust funding.

How Do I Include Care for My Children in Estate Planning?

August 1, 2020
Bill O’Leary, Esq.
Asset Protection, Estate Planning, Guardianship, Power of Attorney, Probate and Estate/Trust Administration

Parents should make sure they have arrangements in place for the care of their minor-aged children, when planning their estates…

Did ‘The Gambler’ Have Estate Planning?

July 28, 2020
Bill O’Leary, Esq.
Asset Protection, Estate Administration, Estate Attorney, Estate Plan, Estate Planning, Estate Planning Attorney, Inheritance, Power of Attorney, Probate and Estate/Trust Administration, Will

Kenny Rogers didn’t write a lot of his greatest hits. His heirs get a little cash, when any of his recordings are played or purchased online, but that’s just a trickle of income.