Traditionally, when one thinks about their trust and selecting a trustee, the job is thought of with respect and dignity. Selected trustees often feel honored and respected. However, what they don’t know is that the job of Trustee comes with a tremendous amount of duty, responsibility and obligation. After being saddled with the job of trustee, most of my clients want to…GIVE IT BACK!

My in-laws have decided that the bulk of their estate will go to several different charities. My husband, their only son, thinks that's fine since we are doing okay financially. However, I feel that the in-laws should leave most of their estate to our two kids. I have suggested to my husband that he discuss this with his parents, but he refuses. What else can be done besides sue once they are gone?t

What does care custodian mean to you? A friend or acquaintance that visits, runs errands, pays bills, cooks, cleans, administers medications, and takes care of other pressing needs?

No contest clauses served the function of “preventing” a beneficiary from challenging the contents of an estate planning document. Essentially, the no contest clause prevented a disgruntled beneficiary from telling a court that they were come how entitled to more than they were given, or that someone else was given too much, once you were gone.

Trust litigation is often necessary in order to protect a beneficiaries’ rights under a trust. While the word litigation often inspires certain unfavorable reactions, this does not always have to be the case. The definition of litigation is quite broad and can include many different aspects of beneficiary protection.

Operating your business as a sole proprietor or partnership may not offer you the protections you seek. Thinking about your future and the future of your family requires that you consider how you are running and operating your business. Forming a business entity may offer you the protection that you need to build a legacy well beyond tomorrow.

Your colleagues and fellow small business owners may be utilizing lawyers in the operation of their business. If you aren’t using a lawyer to assist you in your business, you may be asking yourself what value or benefit do they derive from this relationship?

When describing our incoming Presiding Judge, would you say: Extraordinary Father; Comic; Educator; Evenly Handed Judicial Officer; OR ... Cat Herder? Now I know Judge J. William McLafferty is going to give me a hard time about that because I may have even promised that I wouldn’t include that byline in my story (but I had my fingers crossed).

You have entered into a business relationship with your partner, fellow shareholder or member of your company and you have been running a successful business for quite some time. You and your fellow owner(s) have a great relationship, everyone works well together. There is a great division of the workload and teamwork provides peak performance for the productivity of your business.