Your Free Online Legal Dictionary • Featuring Black’s Law Dictionary, 2nd Ed.
No one ever thinks about outliving their parents, but when it happens, the surviving siblings can be left with a lot of unanswered questions. What are their rights and responsibilities? How do
If you have a power of attorney (POA), it’s essential to know who can override it. In this post, we’ll look at the people or entities who can step in and make
Medical situations happen unexpectedly, and unfortunately, many of us could face a medical emergency someday. However, in some medical emergencies, patients cannot declare to their loved ones or doctors what treatments they
Knowing how to find out if someone died may come in handy someday. Certainly, asking a person’s closest relatives is the most tried and true method. Doing so can also be one
Estate planning and the role of last wills and testaments are a popular topic of conversation among members of the baby-boom generation. You might think you know a lot about last wills
Most lawyers have stories they can tell about the extent to which clients go to avoid planning their estates or preparing last wills and testaments. Clients have been known to ask an
If you are unable to make health care decisions, you can designate someone you trust to make those decisions for you. The procedures and the form you would use to accomplish this
A power of attorney (POA) is a powerful legal tool that grants one person the authority to make legal decisions, such as those related to health and financial matters, on behalf of
Some people hold positions that place them in a position of trust. Executors under a last will and testament, trustees handling assets placed in a trust, and attorneys representing their clients all
Lawyers and judges use language that is unique to the law. Statutes make reference to submitting the “purported will” to the court in connection with probate proceedings instead of simply requiring the
When a loved one dies unexpectedly, the funeral and burial expenses can be quite a shock. Many families do not have any funeral savings and might need to scramble to collect enough
Dying and leaving behind minor children is something no one wants to consider. However, the consequences of not making guardianship plans can have long term, devastating consequences. Should you pass away without
Federal law strictly protects medical records for each individual in the U.S. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPAA ensures that intensely private information cannot be misused or improperly shared.
In the United States, all deaths must be reported to the Social Security Administration (SSA). This is something that most funeral homes do as part of their services to the bereaved; it
Family relatives are defined as more than someone’s parents, siblings, and children. Family relatives also include grandparents, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins. Severing relations with adult family members, depending on the
When someone dies due to mysterious circumstances, an autopsy report may be conducted to determine the “cause of death.” If you are a close family member, you might be interested in receiving
An irrevocable trust allows the creator, called a grantor, a way to ensure that his or her possessions and insurance policies are distributed in a desired manner after his or her death.
Estate planning allows you to identify the beneficiaries of your financial assets. The probate court process for dividing assets after death can be quite: Time-consuming Difficult Expensive Assets that are encumbered with
Estate planning allows a family to gain increased control, management, and access to their valuable assets. A Family Trust can be used to distribute tax exemptions and liabilities for specific asset classes.
The Irrevocable Trust is becoming a popular way for families to protect their assets from seizure by creditors. People have accumulated more wealth than ever before while also accumulating record debt levels.