Welcome to the Rilus Law Blog!
One of our core values is empowerment and education is a key component of that. Because we are passionate about estate planning, we provide many free resources to empower our community. Explore the blog to gain a deeper understanding of estate planning, or feel free to reach out to us with questions. You could get all your questions answered in a free one-hour meeting with an experienced estate planning and probate attorney.
Explore all of our posts below, or search for a specific topic here.
Should I Hire an Attorney or Do It Myself?
As an attorney, I commonly get asked: “Is this something I need a lawyer for, or can I do it myself?” The answer depends on several factors.
Here are some questions to help you decide if you should get a professional.
Why You Need Both a Will and a Trust
One of the biggest estate planning myths that we hear all the time in our office is that a last will and testament and a revocable trust are interchangeable. The main difference between a trust and a last will and testament is how your assets are retitled after you pass away.
How to Avoid Probate Litigation?
We all know the Disney Princess story. After the princess’ mother passes away her father remarries. She now has an evil stepmother and a slew of bumbling step-siblings with dollar signs in their eyes.
What is a Fiduciary?
Fiduciary, fiduciary duty, breach of fiduciary duty; what do these terms mean? You may have heard the word or phrase used.
What is Guardianship and Conservatorship?
A few weeks ago, a woman called our office in a panic asking if she could set up power of attorney documents to manage her mother’s finances. Her mother was just placed into an assisted living facility due to advanced Alzheimer’s
What Happens to a Trust After the Last Trustor Passes Away?
We are often asked: “What needs to be done after I pass away, and is this something my children can do themselves? Do they need to hire a lawyer after I am gone?”
How to Choose a Successor Trustee
When families come in to meet with me for their free Personal Family Legal Session, one of the important things we discuss is how to choose a successor trustee, which is the person(s) or company that will administer the plan after the death or incapacity of the trust creator. Every family has a unique set of needs when passing on their legacy, and choosing the right successor trustee is an important part of your legal plan.
Your Rights as a Trust Beneficiary
The other day I received a call from the daughter of a client. Her parents had set up a trust with us a few years back and had appointed her older brother to be in charge of the money after their father had passed and their mother was incapacitated.
Common Questions and Misconceptions About Probate
As an experienced, licensed estate planning attorney, I have seen a lot of poor advice given by a friend of a friend with no legal qualifications whatsoever to be giving advice. Poor legal advice and subsequent poor estate planning can cost you and your family thousands of dollars to rectify.
What to Do When You Have Been Named Executor
People commonly say they are the “executor” of the estate, but what does that really mean? The first step is to determine what your actual role is, and the best place to look is in the legal documents.
What Happens to My Pet if Something Happens to Me?
More than three in five Americans (62%) have at least one pet in their household, and 95% of those pet owners consider their pets to be members of their family. Animals have become our best friends, our companions, and sometimes, the only family we have.
Estate Planning in a Paperless World
Technology has changed the world so much in my lifetime. Before the digital age, I would get my bank statements by mail, now I get them in my email or log in online to check balances.
Still Have Questions or Not Sure Where to Begin?
Contact us today to schedule your free one-hour meeting with an attorney to assess your estate planning needs.