By Lane V. Erickson, Idaho Estate Planning Attorney Alex Trebek, the host of the game show Jeopardy recently died. He hosted the Jeopardy game show from 1984 until his death in November of 2020. It is estimated that his net worth is between $50 – $75 million. While there isn’t…
Articles Posted in Estate Planning
WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU DON’T HAVE A DURABLE POWER OF ATTORNEY?
By Lane V. Erickson, Idaho Estate Planning Attorney I’ve said it many times but as an estate planning attorney I firmly believe that every person can benefit from having an estate plan completed. It doesn’t matter whether you are old and a millionaire, or young and penniless. Every person can…
WHO DOESN’T NEED A WRITTEN WILL?
By Lane V. Erickson, Idaho Estate Planning Attorney The title of this article is an apt question that I’m often asked by clients. But usually the question is asked in a different way. Usually the question is posed as “Do I need a will?” The fact is that almost everyone…
BLACK PANTHER DIDN’T HAVE A WILL, BUT YOU SHOULD!
By Lane V. Erickson, Idaho Estate Planning Attorney Being a huge Marvel Comics fan, I was saddened to hear of the death of Chadwick Boseman. Boseman played the character Black Panther in the Marvel movie world. He was a gifted actor and with the stories that are now coming out…
WHAT COUNTS AS A WRITTEN WILL
By Lane V. Erickson, Idaho Estate Planning Attorney Whenever a client consults with me after a family member or loved one has passed away, one of the first questions I always ask is whether there was a written last will and testament. The reason for this, is that a written…
YOUR PLAN TO PROTECT YOURSELF WHILE YOU ARE ALIVE
By Lane V. Erickson, Idaho Estate Planning Attorney When I meet a person for the first time and mention that I’m an estate planning attorney they usually respond by saying that they’ve been meaning to get their Will done for some time. This is a common response, and an interesting…
UPDATE YOUR ESTATE PLAN
By Lane V. Erickson, Idaho Estate Planning Attorney Life is a wonderful thing, but it also brings many challenges. One of the great things about being an estate planning attorney is that it gives me the ability and the opportunity to look at life from a different perspective. By representing…
WHAT IS AN ANCILLARY PROBATE AND DO I NEED TO DO ONE?
By Lane V. Erickson, Idaho Estate Planning Attorney As with many professions and situations the world of estate planning and probate is filled with many technical terms, steps that need to be completed, and processes that need to be followed, in order for everything to be done right. Having been…
IS PROBATE REQUIRED EVEN WHEN THERE IS A WRITTEN WILL?
By Lane V. Erickson, Idaho Estate Planning Attorney One of the most important jobs I perform as an estate planning and probate lawyer is helping my clients determine when and if a probate is required. While doing this, I often find some misunderstandings exist. For example, some clients erroneously believe…
ARE YOU A SURVIVING SPOUSE? CONSIDER DOING A SPEEDY PROBATE
By Lane V. Erickson, Idaho Estate Planning Attorney I love living in Idaho. Not only is it a picturesque and beautiful state it also has very favorable laws when it comes to estate planning and probate. Additionally, the costs for getting these things done is lower than just about any…