Valuable Lessons from the Prince Estate

Valuable Lessons from the Prince Estate

The late Prince Rogers Nelson’s estate continues to make national news. Unfortunately, the reasons for this publicity are not positive and should serve as a strong cautionary tale for anyone who does not yet have good, state-specific estate planning in place.  While Prince’s failure to plan provides many valuable lessons, I believe the following two are the most important.

I Just Want a Simple Will by Teresa Morgan

“I just want a simple will.” As an attorney who has for the past twenty years focused a large part of her practice on estate planning, I cannot begin to count the number of times I have heard that statement from a new or prospective client.

Who Gets Grandma’s Yellow Pie Plate?

Personal belongings often have special meaning for individuals and family members. Planning to pass on such items — treasured wedding photo, Grandpa’s fishing tackle box, or a well-used yellow pie plate — can be challenging, and may lead to family conflict.

4 Smart Ways to Leave a Legacy

Give to charity Another way to leave a legacy is by contributing money or the equivalent to a charitable cause that reflects your values.

Don’t Neglect to Plan for your Digital Assets

If you’ve made a will, your loved ones will get many of your tangible assets — your car, house, stereo and family heirlooms. But what about your digital property — email accounts, online stock options, photo-sharing sites, even your iTunes profile?

5 Steps for Digital Estate Planning

A will is essential — and these days it should include all your online accounts. The new Google Inactive Account Manager feature can also be a useful tool.

What Joan Rivers Just Taught Pet Lovers About Estate Planning

The death of comedienne Joan Rivers has left millions of fans mourning her loss. The acclaim is sincere: In her arena, the 81-year-old Rivers was a master whose career spanned half a century and represented a huge step forward for women in comedy.