When I was reporter for The Atlanta Constitution, my colleagues and I had deep respect for those who wrote obituaries, stories on how a life had been lived. As an attorney handling estate matters, both planning and administration, I know writing an obit is a solemn and often sad task. As this article describes, many obit writers see their work as telling readers about … [Read more...] about Obituaries – Life’s Stories and Lessons on Living Life Better
Estate Planning
Who Cares for Your Digital Life and Afterlife?
What happens with your digital life when you die or if you are in a coma? The Washington Post interviewed me in a piece that highlighted Delaware’s new law that grants access to digital property owned by someone who is incapacitated or has died. As I told the reporter, in my practice I regularly see loved ones struggling to manage someone’s affairs because the accounts are … [Read more...] about Who Cares for Your Digital Life and Afterlife?
E-Z Legal Form Not so Easy with Court Fight Over Will
Ann Aldrich probably thought she was doing well when she signed a will that left a list of her assets to her sister and if her sister didn’t survive then to her brother James. However, the will she signed in 2004, an “E-Z Legal Form,” was not drafted for her by a lawyer. Certainly unintended, the fill-in-the-blank form will created several problems that resulted in litigation … [Read more...] about E-Z Legal Form Not so Easy with Court Fight Over Will
Checking Out Your Doctor
Frequently I am contacted because a prospective client is facing a pending medical procedure and wants to have a medical agent nominated and other estate planning issues addressed. As you consider a medical procedure, what do you really KNOW about your doctor other than she seems to make sense or he took his time in meeting with you? It turns out that vetting your physician’s … [Read more...] about Checking Out Your Doctor
Digital Property Inventory
Have you made an inventory of your digital property? Or will your loved ones be left to search for your things? How will they gain access? These are important questions as I discussed with a reporter for the Fairfax Times and the Gazette. … [Read more...] about Digital Property Inventory
