When the time comes for you to get your estate plan in order, the two most important questions you’ll need to answer is (1) who are you going to appoint as your Executor (and ideally a successor Executor)? And (2) how are you going to distribute your assets? In short, the gifting of your property […]
As we all know, family dynamics can make estate planning challenging. When I have clients that are concerned about a specific individual challenging the validity of their will or trust, they often ask me if they should add a no-contest clause provision in their estate plan. In theory these clauses are designed to prevent unhappy […]
In our third “Get to Know” post of the series, we are finally featuring one of our attorneys! You really can’t know Camille without liking her. She has a laid back, warm presence about her, which she often uses to hide her intelligence and sharp wit. We are very lucky to have her at Davis, […]
Believe it or not, almost 1/3 of the estate planning documents I draft—whether it’s a standard Will or a Living Trust—have pet provisions. Just like provisions in estate planning documents that dictate where your personal property goes upon your passing, you can put language in place to ensure that your beloved pets are provided for […]
I’ve been practicing for long enough at this point in my life that I can tell a real life story for almost every situation that occurs and boy, do I have stories about mishaps regarding the storage of vital estate planning documents. From Wills being locked in safety deposit boxes to Health Care documents being […]
One of the things that struck me the most when I joined the firm was how kind and helpful all of the staff were and Kim Silva was no exception. From day one, she has helped “show me the ropes” and is always eager to offer her services if anyone needs assistance. I’ve yet to […]
A common misconception that often arises in my practice is that someone who is cognitively “stable” automatically has testamentary capacity and is capable of drafting (or directing someone to draft) their estate planning documents. According to the CDC, 1 in 4 Americans in 2023 have some form of a disability and according to the Alzheimer’s […]
As of late, many of my clients are choosing to structure their estate plan using a revocable living trust instead of relying simply on a will. They prefer to cost advantage, the privacy, the savings in time and the added control over assets that a trust can provide in the event of their incapacity and […]
As much as I love writing about Estate Planning and Probate law, what I love even more are my co-workers (honestly!). It’s a very unique culture at Davis, Davis & Associates, and one in which I have not personally experienced in my professional life. Each member of our team is vital to our success, in […]
Try as we might to live (and die) debt free, most people do pass away with some debt. The Executor (also known as the Personal Representative) of an Estate is legally obligated to notify known creditors that an estate of a decedent is being probated and it’s also a legal obligation to publish notice that […]