Many people understand that a will acts as the roadmap for distributing someone’s assets upon death. However, not everyone realizes that a will does much more than specifying who receives what. Some of the other important functions that a will can serve include the following: Nominate a Personal Representative. The PR collects the assets of … Continue Reading
Joint Revocable Living Trusts: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly A revocable living trust is an estate planning tool that basically serves as one’s “alter ego” during lifetime, holding legal title to assets but having no separate tax identity. The creator of the trust, known as the “grantor,” “settlor” or “trustor,” also typically serves … Continue Reading
The Importance of a Properly Executed Will, and What it Does and Doesn’t Control In Colorado, signing a will with the proper formalities can make a big difference in the administration and distribution of your estate. Colorado has a progressive, consumer-oriented probate system. Commentators in the national media constantly warn the public to “avoid probate,” … Continue Reading
As a result of publicity over the Terry Schiavo case, I have received several inquiries from clients and others about the use of living wills and advance directives in Colorado. After reviewing the living will and medical durable power of attorney forms published by the Colorado Bar Association, and Colorado’s statutes governing living wills and … Continue Reading
Four Documents We All Should Have, or Why You Really Do Need a Will It used to be that people were worried that if they didn’t have a will, all their assets would go to the state. Most people are now aware that this doesn’t happen, but there is a great deal of misinformation still … Continue Reading