Bar Exam Toolbox Podcast Episode 337: Listen and Learn -- Will Revocation
Bar Exam Toolbox Podcast Episode 336: Listen and Learn -- Will Formation and Execution
Bar Exam Toolbox Podcast Episode 326: Listen and Learn -- Intestate Distribution (Wills and Trusts)
Mamma Mia!: Common Estate Planning Issues for Blended Families
Episode 21 | Where There's A Will, There's A Way
An Executor’s Guide to Administering an Estate
Interview with Lisa Grayson - Digital Planning Podcast
Inheritance Data - Digital Planning Podcast
“Gambit”: A calculated move, a stratagem. An example might be to buy a mineral interest with a long and complicated title history from the incarcerated son of a deceased parent and to bet on a court favoring your...more
Family heirlooms, jewelry, artwork, and treasured household items often carry far more emotional value than financial worth. Because of this, when these items are not included in your estate plan, they easily become sources...more
Attorney Who Assisted Decedent in Signing Will Not Disqualified as Witness to Execution of Will - Matter of Nires, 241 A.D.3d 555 (2d Dep’t 2025) - If an attorney assists a client in signing his will, is that attorney...more
The Superior Court of Connecticut, applying Connecticut law, has held that the question of whether a professional liability policy’s prior knowledge exclusion barred coverage for a malpractice action is an issue for the trier...more
In 2024, the New York Legislature enacted Real Property Law (“RPL”) § 424, which codified New York’s public policy in favor of transfer-on-death deeds that provide for real property to pass to beneficiaries named therein upon...more
Some people may assume that if they do not make a will, their assets will “automatically” go to their spouse or children. But Virginia’s intestacy laws do not always align with what families expect. Dying without a will,...more
Many people are familiar with so‑called “no contest” or in terrorem clauses—provisions in a will or trust that attempt to discourage lawsuits by threatening to cut off a beneficiary who challenges the document. While these...more
Christakos v. Boyadjis, 262 N.J. 447 (2026) - When does an attorney owe a non-client a duty of care? And when can that non-client bring forth an action for legal malpractice? Christakos v. Boyadjis, 262 N.J. 447 (2026),...more
Estate disputes often arise when disappointed beneficiaries challenge the validity of a will based on alleged lack of capacity, undue influence, or suspicious circumstances. While some claims raise legitimate concerns that...more
What Is a Pour-Over Will? When people begin estate planning, they often think first about a simple will. While a will is an important document, it may not always provide the most efficient way to transfer assets after...more
Estate litigation rarely turns on a single moment, but an effective cross‑examination of the other side’s forensic document examiner may be one’s best shot at that “Perry Mason moment.” ...more
In In re Marshall, this case involves two related probate court cases where in one Preston Marshall alleges that Elaine T. Marshall breached her fiduciary duties as trustee of the Harrier and Falcon Trusts by appointing...more
High-profile estate disputes often capture public attention because of the personalities involved. Beneath the headlines, these conflicts highlight all-too-frequent issues that arise in estates of all sizes. The ongoing legal...more
Trust litigation frequently leads to prolonged conflict and substantial expense, eroding the value of California trusts and estates over time. These losses diminish funds that would otherwise pass to beneficiaries. Trust...more
Across the country, millions of adults are quietly living in what has come to be known as the sandwich generation. Statistics show that one in six Americans is in the sandwich generation, supporting aging parents while also...more
Fiduciaries are often tasked with managing a finite amount of trust or estate assets while navigating beneficiary needs, family dynamics, and potential issues that may arise....more
We have all been there, staring at our recent credit card statement, fuming over a subscription charge we swear we canceled. We sent an email! We called the customer service line! We clicked that little “unsubscribe” link at...more
In Hollingsworth v. Swales, Richard C. Harris (R.C.) executed a will in 2017 and a codicil in 2020, which contained an arbitration provision. No. 10-23-00018-CV, 2025 Tex. App. LEXIS 871 (Tex. App.—Waco February 13, 2025,...more
When a person dies intestate and it is not possible to identify any heirs then the estate will eventually be taken over by the Crown. In England and Wales, where this happens there is a public list known as the “Bona...more
Being named as executor of an estate in Virginia is a significant responsibility. You are expected to administer the estate according to the terms of the will, manage assets prudently, and act in good faith toward all...more
New Jersey has readopted and amended its inheritance tax regulations, with important changes that affect estate planning, estate administration, and families formed through assisted reproductive technology. Effective...more
Estate planning is often viewed as a process that ends at death, with assets transferred and administration completed through probate or trust administration. For many forms of intellectual property, however, that view is...more
Last year, the New York Legislature (the “Legislature”) enacted, and Governor Kathy Hochul signed, into law several pieces of legislation that are likely to significantly impact trusts and estates practice in 2026 and...more
In a recent decision, the New Jersey Supreme Court highlighted the importance of clearly documenting client intent and the limits of an attorney’s duty to non-clients. In Christakos v. Boyadjis, 262 N.J. 447 (2026),...more
Think of passing an estate to your family like handing over a safe deposit box full of valuables: if the key (a valid will) is clear and everyone knows the code, the handover is calm. If you lose the key, the box stays...more