Actor Val Kilmer’s passing in April 2025 highlights estate planning issues that can affect almost anyone. Although Kilmer was a celebrity, these issues—including managing real estate in more than one
Simultaneous death laws, such as the Uniform Simultaneous Death Act (USDA), enacted in 1940 and updated in 1993, were created to resolve legal uncertainties when two or more people die at the same time or close in time to each other and the order of death is unclear.
Once you are married, you will be uniquely situated to provide meaningful support for your spouse after your passing through special estate planning tools available only to legally married individuals.
When somebody close to us passes away, we are left with constant reminders of them. There are many ways to turn memories into mementos and honor a beloved friend’s or family member’s passing. These tributes can also be a creative and strategic way to use estate assets. Planning ahead provides your loved ones with more flexibility in using your money and property for dedications and memorials. A well-thought-out plan can even set aside money for such purposes.
Approximately three-fourths of Americans do not have a basic will.[1] Many of the same people also have children under the age of 18, which underscores a major misunderstanding about estate
Handling a Loved One’s Debts After They Die Americans are, quite literally, getting buried in debt, with nearly half expecting to pass away with outstanding debts.[1] As a general rule,
Why Every Pet Parent Needs to Consider a Pet Trust Today Estate planning is about protecting what is important to you. Although much of the traditional estate planning conversation focuses
Sometimes, pet owners can get a bit creative when providing for their pets’ future care. The following three famous cases involving pet trusts offer some important lessons. David Harper and
Wrongful death lawsuits and probate proceedings are both civil legal matters that occur after somebody has died. When the death of a loved one is caused by another individual or
Death is a personal and private affair that affects the deceased’s close family and friends. However, there is at least one aspect of death that may require state oversight: probate.