Recent Blog Posts
Estate Planning Matters Even If You Have No Heirs
It’s no secret that we believe everyone can benefit from well-thought-out estate planning. For parents, proper estate planning means not only that their assets will go to their children, but also that they have a say in how and when that property is managed and distributed (e.g., through a trust), among other benefits. Some… Read More »
What If My Parent Did Not Name Me In Their Will?
Keeping an updated, written last will and testament is the surest way to guarantee that your assets are distributed according to your wishes upon your death. Where there is no will, or where someone who apparently should otherwise inherit property is left out of the will, Idaho statutes provide guidance as to how the… Read More »
The Basic Steps of Idaho Probate—and Ways to Avoid It
When a loved one passes away, families are often left not only with a sense of grief and loss, but also with protracted legal battles ahead of them to resolve their loved one’s estate. The probate process can take years to complete, leaving heirs waiting for the inheritance intended for them while seeing that… Read More »
What is the Joint Probate Exception in Idaho?
Probate can extend past the three-year rule under the joint probate exception, a law in Idaho that extends probate due to a deceased spouse. People tend to assume that the process of doling out property following a death is automatic. Surviving spouses, in particular, assume that the estate of the deceased will automatically transfer… Read More »
Will You, or Won’t You? When You Don’t Have a Will, You Don’t Have a Say in How Your Assets Are Distributed
What do Aretha Franklin, Prince and Kurt Cobain have in common? Other than being extremely famous and wealthy music performers, they all died without a will. In the case of Aretha Franklin, her reported $80 million estate will go through probate, and a probate court—not her—will determine how her assets will be distributed among… Read More »
What are Some Common Estate Planning Mistakes?
If you’ve created an estate plan, you’ve already avoided the worst estate planning mistake anyone can make—failing to create an estate plan at all. Once you’ve begun the estate planning process, there are other potential pitfalls that could result in difficulties for your heirs or cause your assets to be distributed in a way… Read More »
The Importance of Hiring an Attorney for Estate Planning
Scribbling off a list of intentions for your property and assets after you pass and signing it doesn’t amount to an estate plan. Likewise, fill-in-the-blank wills can hardly reflect the details and nuances of a person’s last wishes. Estate planning requires an in-depth look at your finances, health, the state of your marriage and… Read More »
Why Every Parent Needs an Estate Plan
When you have a child, your priorities change, becoming oriented around caring and providing for your child and family. While it’s an unpleasant thought, you have an obligation as a parent to consider how your child will be cared for in the event that you face serious injury or illness that could take you… Read More »