The new “Secure Act” legislation expected to be passed by Congress will affect estate planning & retirement planning in 2020 and beyond. As part of the late 2019 pile of bills expected to be passed to keep the government open, it is anticipated that Congress will pass a bill that…
My mother died and left almost everything to my brother, and very little to me. I think my brother influenced our mother to change her Last Will. What can I do? A legal action may be brought against the brother for undue influence if it is supported by the evidence.…
Q: Nashua estate planning client has questions about whether his parent’s manufactured home is covered by the NH “homestead” allowance? A homestead is a dwelling owned and used as the principal place of residence by the person claiming the homestead. Under RSA 480:1 every person is “entitled to $120,000 worth…
If you have ever wondered if it is worth the time and effort to draft a will, look no further than the Aretha Franklin estate for your answer. Aretha Franklin left an eighty-million-dollar estate comprised of the assets of her musical legacy, and it was initially presumed that she left…
New Hampshire’s recently adopted law on access to and administration of a deceased person’s “digital assets” provides some clarity on a complex issue. Terms of service agreements and privacy policies govern access to social media and email accounts, and most expire when a user dies and are not transferable. Surviving family members…
My Parent Died In Nashua Owning Real Estate, Do I Need To Go To Probate Court? Yes, if the deed to the real estate was in your parent’s name only. When a person dies owning real estate in his/her sole name, then the real estate must go through the legal…
What Are Motivating Factors For Estate Planning And Business Planning? A recent client consultation touched on the “whys” of estate planning and business planning. As in, what do most people want to accomplish when they come in to our offices? Here is my unofficial “top five” list. 1. Incapacity planning…
Effective January 1, 2018, NH adopted a version of the Uniform Power of Attorney Act. One of the more important provisions under the new law is that banks and financial institutions are prevented from arbitrarily refusing to accept powers of attorney. Bank and investment company refusals to accept powers of…
Q: Estate planning client has concerns about whether her former spouse can still inherit her assets? A client had been through a divorce several years before coming to our office for a will, trust and some business transition strategy advice. During marriage she had built up a profitable business, and…
Is an LLC a good way to hold and transfer the family vacation home? Since family vacation homes often provide a refuge for family members to gather and enjoy one another’s company, parents are often in search of ways to keep these properties in the family. Before implementing such planning,…