Abraham Lincoln, the nation’s 16th president, died without a Will. Despite being a lawyer himself, he died intestate (without a Will) after being the first president to be assassinated in 1865. Despite death threats, Martin Luther King Jr. also died without a Will, and today his family is still fighting over control of his estate. […]
When a parent dies, siblings may battle for years quarreling over their inheritance. When Governor John Kasich’s parents died at the age of 67 from a car crash in 1987, John inherited the primary control of their estate over his brother, Richard. Because Richard struggles with depression and bipolar disorder, John Sr. and Anne Kasich […]
Many intensely litigated estate disputes arise our of how an individual handles beneficiary designations on certain accounts. A “Designated Beneficiary” is a person or trust selected by an owner of an account to inherit the account balance payable upon the death of the account owner. Beneficiary designations are typically used for life insurance, retirement accounts […]
Did you know that it is now possible to be buried on the moon? Elysium, a San Francisco based company, is now offering an affordable way to have your ashes forever a part of the night sky. Interested? You had better get it in writing. Healthcare Agent has Authority over Remains Many people do not […]
CNN Money has named Charlotte, NC one of its “10 Fastest Growing Cities.” Every day more and more young people are setting down roots in the Queen City with the hope of starting a family. These people generally talk to us about long-term planning to ensure the financial safety and stability of their loved ones […]
If the motto “all for one and one for all ” has turned into “every man for himself ” regarding joint ownership of real property, you may need assistance from an experienced Charlotte NC partition lawyer. In North Carolina, a Partition is a legal action brought by a co-tenant of jointly owned property before the […]
A last will and testament is a legal document that should be kept safe. These are a few places where NOT to keep your Will and other original legal documents: Safe Deposit Box Storing your Will in a bank safe deposit box is not advisable because of the difficulties involved obtaining the document after your death. […]
What Happens When I Die Without a Will in North Carolina? When one dies without a valid will or other estate planning documents, they are said to die “intestate.” Each state has a different set of laws controlling who inherits the deceased’s property in this situation, called the “intestacy laws.” Essentially, a person who dies […]
South Carolina Will Formalities: Legal formalities of a Will are strictly construed and having a Will prepared by an experienced South Carolina estate planning lawyer can deter Will contests, by having the drafting attorney attesting to the capacity of the testator and the Will’s proper execution. Capacity to Make a Will A will is only valid […]