Will or trust? estate planning lawyer

DO YOU NEED A WILL, A TRUST, OR BOTH?

Gabriel Katzner - August 29, 2023 - Wills

A comprehensive estate plan provides peace of mind that your assets will be distributed to your loved ones upon your death exactly as you intend. A last will and testament and a trust are two estate planning tools that serve slightly different purposes, complement each other well, and are frequently part of an estate plan. […]

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Senior Man registering for examination at the health center

PROVING YOU’RE MENTALLY COMPETENT TO EXECUTE YOUR ESTATE PLAN

Gabriel Katzner - May 2, 2023 - Wills

No one wants to believe their family member would contest their estate plan by alleging they weren’t competent to write it. This is more likely when you disinherit someone who ordinarily would have received money and property from you or if you have been diagnosed with a mental condition that is associated with deteriorating mental […]

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Executor inside her car asking for directions to locating beneficiaries to a man on the road who is pointing to the front with his left hand

LOCATING LOST BENEFICIARIES: DUTY OF THE EXECUTOR

Gabriel Katzner - April 18, 2023 - Wills

Imagine you have been named the executor for your grandmother’s Last Will and Testament. She names you and several of your cousins as her beneficiaries. You happily accepted this role, but you have a problem. You haven’t talked to two of your cousins in over a decade. You have no idea how to reach them. […]

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Woman appointed excecutor of a will sitting infront of her computer covering her face with her hands in an overwhelmed fashion

TIPS FOR OVERWHELMED EXECUTOR TO LIGHTEN THEIR LOAD

Gabriel Katzner - January 22, 2023 - Wills

Being the trusted executor of a friend’s or loved one’s Estate is quite an honor, and it may come with responsibilities that could feel daunting at times. Like all management roles, it takes organization, foresight, and attention to detail to be an effective executor.   Probate is a legal process where a special court oversees the […]

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Men discussing his last will and testament with a woman

PROBATE DISASTERS: LESSONS FROM CELEBRITIES

Gabriel Katzner - January 16, 2023 - Probate

Some people think estate planning is only for the rich and famous. Some rich and famous forget to ensure they have a full and current estate plan. Both are mistakes and can cost your loved one’s time and money as your estate progresses through probate, and people have to guess your intentions. Prince, Whitney Houston, […]

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Parents Home, 5 bedroom two floor, light blue paint house, with a couple of trees on the sides. its the parents home

CAN CHILD TAKE HOME WHILE I’M ALIVE IF PASSED IT IN MY WILL?

Gabriel Katzner - October 5, 2022 - Wills

No, your child cannot take your home from you. Naming someone as the recipient of your property, even your house, in your Last Will and Testament does not give them any right to that property while you are still living. The Person Who Has Title to The Home Has Control Over It If you have […]

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Gentleman next to his wife on the couch is filling and signing a paper similar to his last will and testament

LEARN ABOUT THE HARMLESS ERROR STATUTE?

Gabriel Katzner - September 22, 2022 - Wills

The Harmless Error Statute Some states have adopted a harmless error statute that allows a document that does not meet the full legal requirements of a will to be considered valid and admitted to probate as long as you intended for it to be your will. Having a last will and testament is an estate […]

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pour-over will

WHAT’S DIFFERENT ABOUT A POUR-OVER WILL?

Gabriel Katzner - June 20, 2022 - Trust Administration

Most people use wills and trusts to pass accounts and property to their loved ones upon their death. These basic legal instruments can be used separately or together. For example, a revocable living trust can be used in place of a will, but the two are not mutually exclusive. A special type of will known […]

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What is an electronic will

CAN YOU DO AN ELECTRONIC WILL?

Gabriel Katzner - May 5, 2022 - Probate

In today’s world, especially after the pandemic, nearly all business functions offer an electronic alternative. In the past, all the meetings were in the offices, now, people feel more comfortable holding most of their meetings online. In most cases, they are faster to execute, less expensive, and easier to implement. So too, documents that are […]

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Is a hand written will legal?

Gabriel Katzner - March 19, 2022 - Wills

HOW STRONG IS A HANDWRITTEN WILL?  When Aretha Franklin,  passed away in 2018, her family and lawyer initially thought she had died without a will.But in early 2020, three handwritten wills were found in Franklin’s home in Detroit. Two from 2010 were locked in a cabinet and one from 2014 was found hidden under a […]

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