Creating a will or estate plan is an important step, but it is not something that should be done once and forgotten. Laws change, personal circumstances evolve, and assets shift over time. An outdated estate plan can create confusion, unintended outcomes, or additional legal hurdles for loved ones. Understanding when and why to review your […]
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. […]
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. […]
Since the administration of an estate of a decedent is conditioned upon the death of that person, it is important to understand if and when a person is legally dead according to the South Carolina Probate Code. The 2013 amendment incorporated them back into the Probate Code at Section 62-1-507 as part of the Uniform Simultaneous […]
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 […]