If you have an elderly or infirm parent, you may have little choice but to place him or her in a nursing home or another long-term care facility. Still, you may have heard horror stories about abuse and neglect in nursing homes. You may also wonder if the nursing home...
Serving the Cleveland Area since 1994
Serving the Cleveland Area since 1994
Blog
Who oversees an estate if there is no will?
As an estate planning attorney, I see what happens firsthand if somebody dies without a will. It's a common occurrence. In fact, most studies find that roughly half of Americans don't have one. It is called dying "intestate" if you pass away without an estate plan....
Understanding the difference between testate and intestate
When writing a will and estate plan, there are many legal terms you need to know throughout the process. My clients routinely ask about these terms and the difference between them. Two common words that can mean drastically different things for your estate are...
What is non-probate?
Upon your passing, your estate will go into a system called “probate.” Everything is subject to your will and the applicable laws for its final disposition. The process can be long and complicated, especially if you have a lot of assets. It’s...
Advantages and disadvantages of probate
People often have questions about what probate is and how it works. They also have heard things about probate in the news or from friends. Not all of what is said about it seems to be positive. Here are some basics to help you navigate this aspect of estate planning....
Guardianship abuses illustrate need for advanced care directives
With a growing number of baby boomers entering advanced age, what should be a person’s golden years can turn into a nightmare. Recent investigative reporting has delved into the seedy underbelly of senior care in the United States. As each state battles the...
What Will Happen To Your Pet If You Die First?
It’s not a pleasant question to ask yourself, but if you were to unexpectedly expire in an automobile accident, what would happen to your fur baby? Many of us think that close family members of friends would carry on the care and nurture of our pets, but sadly,...
What happens when Mom and Dad can no longer manage money?
If your contact with your aging parents, due to job responsibilities or geographical distance, is sporadic, you may miss the first indicators that one or both is experiencing mild cognitive impairment. It can be shocking to visit after several months and see obvious...
Even at a young age, a will is helpful
You're still young, so you may not think you need to worry about having a will. While you could live to be 70 or even reach 100, there's also the possibility that you could pass away much sooner. The idea that younger people don't need a will is false. Not having a...
Estate planning in your 50s: Points to consider
Estate planning is something you should begin to think about early in life. For example, most people realize in their 20s or 30s that an estate plan is a must. By the time you reach your 50s, you will look back and realize that a lot has changed over the years. For...
