Mamma Mia!: Common Estate Planning Issues for Blended Families
Financial Planning Tips for the Sandwich Generation with Sherry Finkel Murphy
Once Removed Episode 38: The Legacy Mindset: What It Is and How to Build It
Once Removed Episode 13: It’s 5 o’Clock: Do You Know Where Your Will Is? A Lesson From Aretha Franklin
The Case of the Laughing Heirs
The Secret Child
Welcome to 'Splitting Heirs'
Ruder Ware's Elder Law Team Recognizes National Special Needs Law Month - Part 2
Law Brief: Alexis Gruttadauria and Rich Schoenstein Discuss Why You Need an Estate Plan
Inheritance Data - Digital Planning Podcast
As the landscape of HNW disputes remains increasingly complex — with cross-border disputes, challenges with tracing and valuating digital assets, contentious trusts, and privacy concerns playing larger roles — ACI's Inaugural...more
Robbie Robertson, famously associated with Bob Dylan, left his own mark as founder of legendary band, The Band, and through his solo work and his many movie scores. Inducted into the halls of fame in the U.S. and his native...more
In the recent case of Mills v. O’Connor, 2025 BCCA 34, the BC Court of Appeal offered some fresh insight on the relatively new and unsettled area of tracing property under the Family Law Act (the FLA). Under the FLA, the...more
Dividing assets in a divorce is often a complicated and emotional process, and when inheritance is involved, the stakes can be even higher. In South Carolina, inherited property is generally considered separate from marital...more
What are some of the fundamental issues when estate planning for business owners? Why should every business owner have an estate plan? What are some of the primary issues to address in an effective estate plan for those who...more
Managing personal finances is stressful, and many people are glad to let their spouse take the lead on paying bills, filing taxes, managing investments and the like. However, when preparing for divorce, you should have a good...more
Axios published an article this week about what it terms the “growing acceptance” of prenuptial agreements. The sum of the article is based on a Harris poll reporting that 50% of those interviewed support the idea of couples...more
First, foremost, the case decided on October 12, 2022 is non-precedential, leaving the bench and bar to debate whether it matters.* But, the decision in Nally v. Nally, 163 EDA 2022 is going to make the real estate community...more
In recent years there has been an evolving literature devoted to income and wealth disparities between the “top tier” of Americans and what is often termed “the rest of us.” The data seem fairly clear. Whether this disparity...more
The saying that “the beaten road is the safest” is typically associated with advice not to take unnecessary risks and to play things safe. In the law, the notion rings true for courts and their adherence to established...more
When you're planning a wedding, discussing a prenuptial agreement with your soon-to-be spouse may not seem exciting or may even feel uncomfortable. Yet, no one knows what the future holds, and a prenuptial agreement can...more
Ask anyone being married for the first time why he or she should have a premarital agreement and the answer is commonly: “Why would I, I don’t really own anything?” followed quickly by the romantic sentiment, “and besides, I...more
So you’ve received an inheritance and you’re married. The person who left you the inheritance probably intended for it to benefit you, not your spouse, if you get divorced. How do you protect the inheritance?...more
Many individuals wonder whether it matters how property is titled in a divorce. In other words, some theorize that if an asset is in their individual name, it might mean that they will receive this asset in a divorce. It...more
I have seen this more than one time in my career. One party (or his/her family members) really wants there to be a prenuptial agreement but, either due to lack of time, fear/cowardice, not having your act together, or any...more
The presents are unwrapped, and gifts exchanged. But that gift with your name on it, or that new vehicle in the driveway with a big bow on top, is it really yours? Or, in the event of a divorce or legal separation, is it...more
After creating and implementing a plan for your estate, it is important to regularly revisit your plan to ensure that it is still reflective of your values and goals for passing along your legacy. Seemingly small changes in...more
Trusts and Estates Attorney Alexis Gruttadauria joins host and Litigation Partner Rich Schoenstein to discuss “Why You Need an Estate Plan” on the latest episode of Law Brief. Lexi and Rich delve into the legal disposition of...more
YES! If you don’t have a prenuptial agreement the California Family Code applies. You might as well familiarize yourself with California law and decide whether you want to opt out via a prenuptial agreement....more
Inheritance is an event that eventually happens in the life of many. When a family member becomes deceased, or even a close friend, an individual may inherit a piece of their deceased family member’s or friend’s estate....more
One of the more complex issues we see when addressing alimony and equitable distribution relates to inherited assets and the money (distributions, investment experience, interest, etc.) that emanates from them. Under New...more
Stepmothers are frequent characters in California trust and estate litigation, as they are in fairy tales and Disney movies. With about half of all marriages ending in divorce, there are many stepmother/stepchild...more
Divorce and remarriage are common in the United States, and most legal professionals place these issues squarely within the family law realm. However, people who remarry should also carefully revisit their estate plan...more