Tag Archives: estate planning
Yes, Nosy Neighbor Nellie Can Find Out About Your Probate Case!
Most people think of probate (the process of collecting, managing, and distributing a deceased person’s money and property) as a private process. However, because wills are filed at the courthouse (in Maryland, Wills are filed with the Register of Wills and In the District of Columbia, Wills are filed with the Probate Division for… Read More »
No-Contest Clause: Does “No-Contest” Really Mean “No Contest”?
We live in a litigious society. Unfortunately, even family members sometimes file lawsuits because they are dissatisfied with what their parents or loved ones leave them in a will or trust. Some are so disgruntled that they decide to contest or challenge the validity of a will or trust, which can delay its administration… Read More »
Life Insurance: Do I Really Need It?
Recent events have made many of us think about our mortality and how to make sure our loved ones are taken care of especially if we die unexpectedly. Life insurance can be an affordable way to provide for our children, a spouse, a sibling, aging parents, and other loved ones. Life insurance can provide… Read More »
Seniors Are Changing Their Living Wills Due to COVID-19 Concerns
Kaiser Health News is reporting the coronavirus pandemic is prompting seniors to create or modify their living wills. Specifically, intubation is the topic that has many seniors crafting or rethinking their strategies amidst a wealth of disparate COVID-19 information that makes forming reliable conclusions for decision making, dubious at best. Why Seniors are Changing Their Living… Read More »
Estate Planning for Essential Workers: Finding The Right “Prescription”
To all front-line and “essential” workers: Thank you for all of your hard work – day in and day out (and often evenings, nights, and weekends). You tirelessly give of yourself to care for some of the most vulnerable people in our society. Whether you are caring for them in a hospital, therapy room,… Read More »
The Impact of COVID-19 on the Senior Community
Around the first of the year, the lives of Americans changed forever. A new virus, CODIV-19, began to spread across our country. The virus, part of a worldwide pandemic, spread quickly and silently. Virtually all aspects of life changed – businesses closed down, social distancing became a new norm, and toilet paper and hand… Read More »
COVID-19: A Lesson in the Importance of Advance Directives
In this Covid-19 pandemic, a wrenching question demands an answer: if you or someone you love is taken down by a life-threatening illness, how far would you want extreme life-prolonging measures to be tried? In this context, we will discuss the importance of advance directives Importance of Advance Directives vs. DNR Orders For us… Read More »
COVID 19: A Reminder of Why Estate Planning is Important
Coronavirus has been all over the news—and with good reason. For some people, it can turn into a serious illness if contracted. Thankfully, for the great majority of people who contract the disease, the symptoms appear to be relatively mild. Nevertheless, it is crucial for everyone, particularly those who are in good health, to… Read More »
Online Estate Planning During COVID-19 Pandemic from Start to Finish
As you have probably heard by now, keeping physical distance between us is crucial to stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Call or email McDonald Law Firm to find out how we can help you complete your online estate planning during COVID-19, without taking a single step outside the safe confines of your… Read More »
The Risks of DIY Wills
There has been an explosion in the numbers of Americans rushing to make their will online. Understandably, the coronavirus pandemic has created the scramble to set up wills and end-of-life-directives. However, online do it yourself wills, (or “DIY wills”) are often deemed invalid as they do not comply with all of the legal requirements… Read More »
