I have recently been reading a book by Dr. Atul Gawande, called “Being Mortal—Medicine and What Matters in the End”. At times a somber tone, but a very important conversation often neglected by us, namely what matters at the end of life. Dr. Gawande exams how in Western society we approach death … [Read More...]
Michigan Estate & Probate Attorney
Being Mortal Matters
New Year’s Resolutions and Signs from the Universe
So today, I have it on my task list to write my blog. I actually enjoy writing blogs, although I don’t often hear much feedback on them. I fell off my blogging efforts last year due to a variety of reasons, but one of my New Year’s Resolutions for 2018, was to commence blogging in February (I … [Read More...]
Spring Cleaning for Estate Planning
Everyone loves spring cleaning, right? O.K., that might just be what my mother told me to get me to clean up my room when I was a little girl. I will confess that as a small child I saw absolutely no need to spend time cleaning my room, and growing up in Florida the concept of Spring was a bit … [Read More...]
Spring into Estate Planning
It is that time of the year......Spring Estate Review Planning sessions!! (I do provide my clients with a no-cost estate plan review, but even if you aren't a client, I hope that you will take out your estate plan, dust it off, read it and make sure it still works for your life). This week I had … [Read More...]
The times they are a changing…..but you still need an estate plan!
Regardless of your thoughts about the new administration, one of the hallmarks of this administration's legislative agenda is significant tax reform. And one of the campaign promises? Eliminate estate taxes. Well, many people think, if there is no estate tax, there is no need to plan! As … [Read More...]
May the Luck of the Irish be with you!
There is an Irish proverb "where the tongue slips, it speaks the truth". All too often, people speak in a way that is different than the estate plan that they leave. Prospective Clients often contact me to ask why the estate plan does not reflect the statements made by their loved one in life. … [Read More...]
Oh what wonders we can find!
Well, this week one of my assistants is off traveling out of the country, and she is going alone. While that decision was not mine to make, one of my concerns was, not surprisingly, how do things in your life get handled if the trip does not go as planned. Of course, Woless (as my Wonderful Legal … [Read More...]
Durable Brain Power!
The prospect of taking care of a sick or disabled loved one can be very difficult. As a probate lawyer, I help my clients work through their concerns and worries about becoming a caregiver. And in my own life, I came face-to-face with the reality this week, when we discovered my mom had a stroke. … [Read More...]
Getting Hitched? Avoid Stress and Plan Your Joint Estate!
Believe it or not, I was once a young woman with big ambitions and dreams. With hard work and dedication, I've accomplished many of them. I will always remember what it felt like at the beginning of my life and career, on the precipice of my future. Young people today have more opportunities than … [Read More...]
“Wealthcare”: The Importance of a Financial Power of Attorney
I was reading this week's issue of The Economist, when I came across an article that was not only intriguing, but very relevant to the work I do as a probate and estate planning attorney. The article, "Not Losing It: Cognitive Decline and Banking" revolves around the very pertinent, yet too-rarely … [Read More...]
Don’t Stop ‘Til You Plan Enough!
According to a recent article in the Wall Street Journal, the estate of everyone's favorite moonwalker, Michael Jackson, could be in hot water with the most beloved of federal government agencies - the IRS. Most would shrug their shoulders at this news - indeed, newspapers have never lacked for … [Read More...]
Estate Planning for Pet Lovers
Just over ten years ago, in December 2006, I received a little bundle of joy. She was the tiniest thing, a pug with shiny black fur, dark eyes and a little button nose - my sweet and sassy princess, Sweet Pea. When little “Pea” joined our family, she instantly stole the spotlight, and my heart. I … [Read More...]