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If you are the executor of your loved one’s estate or the trustee of their trust, there are some things you need to know. You are responsible for ensuring that the trust and estate administration goes according to plan as laid out in your loved one’s will or trust, possibly with the assistance of a lawyer. Though it is not legally required, you may choose to involve other family members in your meetings with the attorney, especially in the beginning phases of the administration. Bringing others to meetings can provide greater transparency and avoid contention. However, the attorney–client relationship extends solely to you. The attorney has a legal duty to, and takes direction from, only you.

Famous comedienne, Joan Rivers, spent her life making millions making us laugh. After her unexpected death in 2014, many newspapers and media outlets began to speculate about the contents and distribution of her estate. However, Joan had known her last will and testament would become tabloid fodder and had taken steps to ensure her and her loved one's privacy was maintained.

A couple may choose to use a Separate Revocable Living Trust, as opposed to a Joint Revocable Living Trust for many reasons. In some states, there can be tax benefits. RLTs also provide enhanced asset protection for married couples, simplify trust administration after one or both spouses passes away, and clarify the division of property in a remarriage or blended family situation.

It is perfectly reasonable that you would want your children to make their own way in the world. Many high profile people are choosing to disinherit their children now, rather than provide them with an inheritance they may or may not be able to handle. However, there are other reasons that people may choose to disinherit loved ones.

Although creating or updating your estate planning may seem like a daunting task, a proper estate plan can help address many concerns you may face as a senior citizen. We can give you peace of mind my answering questions like Who can help me if I'm unable to manage my own affairs? Can someone help me if I'm out of town? How do I protect and provide for my loved ones after I'm gone?

Jim Morrison did not have a good (if any) relationship with his parents. He died young, at just 27 years of age, but he had given some thought to his estate plan and had a will in place. Unfortunately, his wishes were not fulfilled as he had planned.

Many Americans have collectables – coins, cars, antiques, and weapons. The larger the collection, the bigger problems you may have passing it on to a loved one when you pass away. Guns in particular have special rules and regulations that you should be aware of if you have a rather large collection of them. Transferring guns can be a lengthy, expensive, and even illegal process if you don’t fully understand the law.

Joan Crawford was one of Hollywood’s most iconic and interesting leading ladies. Joan lived a full life of family, scandals, rumors, and extravagance. After she died in 1977 it was discovered that she left an inheritance to two of her adoptive children, while disinheriting the other two.

Whether you have inherited some of your wealth or have built it yourself, you likely want to share this wealth with the next generation and beyond. The quote “shirtsleeves to shirtsleeves in three generations” has often been attributed to Andrew Carnegie. The same concept has been echoed by other people and various cultures, with the underlying notion being that the first generation builds the wealth, the second generation spends the wealth, and the third generation rarely sees any of the wealth. Here at The Law Offices of DuPont & Blumenstiel, we are committed to crafting estate plans that will disprove those words and provide for many future generations.

Carrie Fisher and her estate planning team created a proactive estate plan, which included an irrevocable living trust. The trust, however, was not funded. What went wrong and how was it rectified?