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Michael Jackson’s Will on Video and Put to Music.

It seems that just about everything makes it onto the Internet these days. As many people may know from their discussions with me, Michael Jackson’s Last Will and Testament made huge news but said very little. The King of Pop put together a revocable living trust, and the terms of that trust were kept private and away from the public’s eyes. But you never would have guessed that from all of the coverage. They made it sound as if the battle over the Will was a battle over the estate, but all the Will really did was appoint guardians for his children and said nothing about the money.

Maximizing Gifts

It has almost become a cultural mystery for many Americans, but there is a good reason for it. Every November or December, certain families start getting checks from parents or grandparents in increments of $13,000 and no one really understands why. “Hey, isn’t this cool?” a twenty-one year old college student would tell their classmate. “My grandparents just sent me $26,000!”

When asked why, they would reply, “Oh, it’s some tax thing.”

Retirement Account Beneficiary Designations Need Checking

It’s extremely easy for me as the attorney to recommend how assets should be retitled or beneficiaries changed on accounts so they work with a revocable trust to avoid probate. All real estate, bank accounts, brokerage accounts, mutual funds, and even life insurance should be retitled in the name of the trust. Beneficiaries on life insurance policies should also be changed to name the revocable living trust as the beneficiary. But retirement accounts are not that easy because there are income tax consequences. Unless there is a specific reason otherwise, spouses will name each other as the primary beneficiary. The contingent beneficiary is where we have to make decisions. And it is shocking how many times this is wrong.

Guardianship Nomination Forms; Not Simply Giving Your Kids to Someone

It is probably an oversight by attorneys, or simply trying to make things easier, that leads so many people to not fully understand what nominating people to serve as guardians for minor children means. This leads to a lot of needless confusion when not explained ahead of time, but it also can present planning opportunities that clients may not have considered before. Yes, a nomination of guardianship form or guardianship provisions in a Will are clear, but how these wishes are approached are not always clear to the clients.

The Equality Toolbox: Building a Stable Domestic Partner Family

The Human Rights Campaign and state equality groups, legislators and protestors, and businesses and individuals have struggled to build a country of equality that includes members of the LGBT community. But constructing this home big enough to include all of us has taken a lot of time. And like the Winchester House, every twisting and turning staircase can lead to dead ends, locked doors, and enough construction that it seems the work will never end. Court decisions, legislative edicts, and lobbying at all levels of government have become the foundation of this huge house we are building. What seems to be lost in constructing protests, electing equality architects to public office, and fighting a homophobic zoning board is that each partner can build their own houses of equality with tools already available to them.

Lawyers Need to Be Aware of Their Online Reputation

Lawyers need to be pro-active when handling their online reputation, if not it could cost you clients in the long run.

In Tough Economic Conditions, Client Retention is More Important than Ever

Many clients are looking for an attorney based on price, but providing superior customer service can lead to a long term relationship.

Four Reasons to Review Your Client’s Estate Plan

Reviewing client’s estate plans can lead to a long term relationship.

Preparing Estate Planning Clients For the First Meeting

Letting your clients know what to expect and what they need will lead to a more fruitful estate planning meeting.

Legis, Inc Launches New CMS Website

Legis, Inc. is proud to unveil their new content management system driven website.