The Elimination of the Oklahoma Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare
Did you know that as soon as your child turns 18, you lose automatic access to their health, school, and financial information? When a child turns 18 and becomes a legal adult, it’s a momentous occasion—filled with...more
You just landed your first “real” job and are looking forward to the exciting opportunities ahead. Your new job is accompanied by a 401k and opening a savings account. You have a car and you are thinking about buying your...more
A comprehensive estate plan provides how your estate is handled in the event of death or incapacitation. It also establishes your desires for how medical and life-sustaining treatments are communicated and administered. ...more
We all make important decisions and engage in regular financial transactions without giving a second thought about our capacity to do so. But what if you suddenly lost the ability? What would happen? While most of us don’t...more
Dear Jonathan: My father, a widower, passed away a couple of months ago. Being his only child, he appointed me as his agent on his durable power of attorney so that I can handle his bill paying which I have been doing for the...more
Dear Jonathan: My parents just updated their estate plan and told me that they named me in their wills, their trust and their financial and health care durable powers of attorney to act for them when they can no longer act...more
Michigan’s new Uniform Power of Attorney Act (UPOAA) becomes effective on July 1, 2024. This law serves several purposes, which include preventing financial exploitation of vulnerable individuals and making standard power of...more
As your child approaches their milestone 18th birthday, it's crucial to understand the changes and responsibilities that accompany reaching the age of majority in the eyes of the law. This moment marks their transition into...more
Normal aging can be challenging, but caring for an aging family member with dementia is particularly difficult. Over the years, we have often seen caregivers suffer from exhaustion, compromising their mental and physical...more
Trial attorney David Skidmore from Warner Norcross + Judd LLP’s Probate Litigation Practice Group, a subgroup of the firm’s Litigation and Dispute Resolution Practice Group, recently represented clients in a trial before the...more
As college students prepare to move into campus housing and attend orientation, estate planning is likely the last thing on their mind. However, when a person turns 18, health care decisions and managing financial matters no...more
A power of attorney is among one of the most important incapacity planning documents you can have. It designates someone you trust with taking care of your affairs if you become unable to do so....more
There may come a point in life when you – or a loved one –need a trusted family member, friend, or professional to assist with your property and financial affairs and decision-making. Since that point may come when you are...more
While they may still be under the care of their parents, college-aged or other young adult children should have certain legal documents in place in case of emergency or incapacitation, as well as to ensure prudent management...more
I suspect that many of you, like me, have deleted an email from a friend that says he is away on a trip and needs you to wire him money. According to experts, despite increased phishing emails and robocalls, it is far...more
Our attorneys field questions every day about the nuanced estate planning issues that arise due to a client's unique circumstances, but there also are many fundamental estate planning considerations that apply "across the...more
Before you pack the car and bring your student to their new home at college, there is an important bit of estate planning each family should consider. At the age of eighteen, a child become a legal adult....more
In Michigan, the age of majority is 18 years. This means that when a person turns age 18, they are no longer a minor and are considered to be a legal adult. Consequently when your child turns 18, you no longer have the legal...more
Author David F. Johnson recently presented his paper on “Undue Influence, Detecting Elder Abuse, and the Duty to Report Financial Exploitation” to the Austin Probate Bar Association in Austin, Texas, on May 20, 2022. This...more
The most powerful and flexible tool estate planners have today is the revocable living trust. It is essentially a substitute for a will that allows you to avoid the often lengthy and expensive probate process, while giving...more
During the estate planning process, it is important to ensure that your fiduciaries (the personal representatives of the estate, trustees, and agents named in the durable power of attorney) have the information necessary to...more
When people decide to engage in estate planning, typically they focus on naming the beneficiaries of their estate and making sure their estate avoids probate when they pass away. In most cases, these concerns are addressed by...more
Traditionally, an estate plan addresses the tangible assets you own, such as cash and securities, investment real estate, vehicles, and your house. But this is 2022. Increasingly, people are living in a digital world, where...more
This newsletter is intended to keep readers informed about developments in probate and fiduciary litigation in Massachusetts and New York. Our lawyers are at the forefront of this area of the law, shaping how it is handled in...more
Acting as an agent under a power of attorney is a big responsibility and it isn’t something everyone can take on. It is possible to resign or refuse the position....more