Recent Blog Posts
Using Donor-Advised Funds to Cultivate Family Philanthropy
A couple of months ago I wrote about some great internet tools for researching charities. Today I want to share a simple, yet flexible method for charitable giving that allows you to create a legacy of charitable giving. A donor-advised fund (DAF) allows you to make a tax-deductible gift to a charitable fund that… Read More »
Digital Asset Planning: The Problem with Online Afterlife Companies
Last June I wrote an Introduction to Estate Planning for Digital Assets. I discussed some of the unique and dynamic issues along with the importance of maintaining a digital asset inventory and including enabling provisions in estate planning documents. I also highlighted the emergence of so-called online afterlife companies. These companies provide various services… Read More »
Estate Planning Humor: 3 Videos for April’s National Humor Month
April is National Humor Month — and who doesn’t like a good chuckle? Humor is easily one of the best ways to tell a story, or just to be entertained. Even typically serious topics can be ripe for humor. Estate and tax planning is no exception. To close out the month, here are links… Read More »
Gift by Poetry: Followup Exclusive — The Poem
On April Fools Day I wrote Gift by Poetry: Dogged Unfairness or Poetic Justice? about a recent appellate decision involving a poetic gift of a pet dog. I received a lot of good feedback on the piece and the story was picked up by the popular Wills, Trusts & Estates Prof Blog. I also… Read More »
Illinois Probate: Heirs vs. Legatees
Last year I wrote about the importance of distinguishing between ‘Heirs vs. Descendants’ in the estate planning context. Today’s post will highlight the difference between ‘heirs’ and ‘legatees’ in the probate context. Heirs (n.): The individuals who by operation of (intestacy) law inherit the property of a decedent who dies without leaving a valid… Read More »
The 3 Habits of Highly Effective Trustees and Executors
Estate disputes can be triggered by the lack of effective estate planning. I recently wrote about 10 estate planning steps to help avoid family inheritance disputes. Conflict can also be caused by problems that arise during administration of a trust or estate. Trustees and executors face a laundry list of administrative tasks to address… Read More »
Gift by Poetry: Dogged Unfairness or Poetic Justice?
In honor of April Fools Day (and National Poetry Month), today’s post reviews a new Illinois appellate court decision that seems like a spoof (or a law school exam question) — but isn’t. There are usually a handful of Illinois cases each month dealing with estate or trust issues. Many involve esoteric procedural matters… Read More »
6 Charitable Giving Internet Research Tools
Charitable giving is a wonderful way to create a legacy, not only for yourself, but also to express your values to your children and to encourage them to become better citizens. But if you’re going to donate your hard-earned resources, you want to make wise choices. Part of the process includes working with an… Read More »
Living Wills for all…in La Crosse, WI
NPR recently published an interesting and unique piece, entitled “The Town Where Everyone Talks About Death“. Something out of a Stephen King novel, perhaps? Despite the ominous and morbid sounding title, the article and accompanying radio story is actually about how Bud Hammes, a medical ethicist at a hospital in La Crosse, has encouraged… Read More »
10 Estate Planning Steps to Avoid Family Inheritance Disputes
In addition to representing trustees and executors named in estate plans that our firm has prepared, I also advise and represent clients in estate administration and litigation matters for estate plans that we did not create. While every family and estate plan is unique, when I review disputed or contested estate administration cases and… Read More »