by HWH Updates | Jan 10, 2018 | Estate Planning
Accumulating wealth and protecting wealth are two very different things. Research shows that it takes just two generations for a family to lose 70% of its net worth. By the third generation – it hits 90%. Protecting the inheritance of future generations requires...
by HWH Updates | Jan 3, 2018 | Estate Planning
“Mom told me all her life that she planned to split everything evenly between her children. She got sick, and my brother took her out of state so he could provide care for her. Communication became more difficult as time passed and it was harder to find out...
by Durham Law Firm | Dec 19, 2017 | Estate Administration, Probate
The term “probate” sums up the legal processes that determine how an executor should distribute a deceased person’s assets. Understanding Probate, if you still have no idea what it is, should be your main priority if you are appointed an administrator,...
by Durham Law Firm | Dec 4, 2017 | Guardianship
There is nothing more disruptive to a family as the loss of a parent – the only exception is the loss of both. In that case, a brother or sister of legal age may need to step in and assume guardianship of younger siblings. The decision to assume the parenting...
by Durham Law Firm | Nov 30, 2017 | Estate Planning, Probate
The estate of someone who’s passed away is adjudicated in probate court. The will and other documents are entered into the record. The executor goes through the process of identifying the creditor with a claim against the estate. Before any assets distributed to the...
by Durham Law Firm | Nov 14, 2017 | Estate Administration, Probate
How much of your life is virtual? Do you know anyone who doesn’t have a computer, a tablet or a smartphone? Every email, every payment, every movie, every picture, every file in the cloud is a digital asset. What happens if you pass away and no one can retrieve them?...
by Durham Law Firm | Oct 17, 2017 | Estate Planning
There’s a lot to consider when you’re planning your estate. Asset distribution. Health care proxies. Power of attorney. Though you make the decisions, it’s your family who will carry them out. It’s important to meet with them and make sure they understand your wishes....
by Durham Law Firm | Oct 9, 2017 | Estate Administration, Estate Planning, Probate
The point of probating a will is to validate its legitimacy and allow the beneficiaries to gain access to their inheritance. Having the proper Will probated first is usually the best way to prevent a will...
by Durham Law Firm | Sep 13, 2017 | Estate Administration, Media, Video
So, from time to time I have some people who come into my office where someone is infirmed or recently passed and a loved one comes in and says, “I think this person was financially exploited.” Many times, they are legitimate. After investigation, we find that the...
by Durham Law Firm | Aug 15, 2017 | Estate Administration, Media, Video
So, someone has died. What do we do next? Well, we don’t start giving away their stuff and that is what people intuitively start doing. They say, “I’m the son, I’m the daughter, I’m the beneficiary named in the will. Here’s the will, let’s start handing out stuff.”...
