By Lane V. Erickson, Attorney Once you are married, you stay that way legally until a judge signs a divorce decree. If you are separated from your spouse but not divorced and then you die or become disabled, your estranged spouse may still have legal control over you and your…
By Lane V. Erickson, Attorney The world has become a much smaller place. It’s now very common for an individual to own real estate not only where they live but also in other states. If you own land, regardless of what state it is in, there are several things that…
By Lane V. Erickson, Attorney Several times a week our firm will get phone calls asking whether we have the will for a certain individual who recently passed away. Talking with other estate planning attorneys, this is not unique. It seems all too common that even after going to the…
By Nathan R. Palmer Family members and loved ones of Idaho residents who die owning less than $100,000 in assets may not need to probate their loved ones estate. No advanced planning is required. The deceased individual’s assets may be obtained by presenting an affidavit to institutions holding the assets.…
By Lane V. Erickson, Attorney Life insurance can be an important part of your estate planning. This is particularly true if you are the main provider for your family. Life insurance can provide a great level of protection when you have minor dependents such as small children and/or a stay-at-home…
By Lane V. Erickson, Attorney Let’s suppose for a minute that you have taken the advice that we’ve given in this blog several times and you’ve actually completed your estate planning by having a Last Will and Testament prepared. A few years go by and you pull your Last Will…
By Lane V. Erickson, Attorney Most states have specific laws that define when a person becomes a legal adult. The age when this happens can vary between 18 all the way through 21 depending on which state you live in. However, regardless of which state you live in at some…
By Lane V. Erickson, Attorney The purpose of creating a Last Will and Testament is so you can give your property away to those you choose. But the question comes up sometimes about what happens if a gift that is given in a Last Will and Testament no longer exists…
By Lane V. Erickson The story is well-known by now because it’s been all over the news. Apparently a former librarian named Robert Morin who worked at the University of New Hampshire library passed away. In his Last Will and Testament he left a $4 million gift to the school.…
By Lane V. Erickson, Attorney I’m often asked by my Estate Planning clients what the steps in Probate include. I find it helpful for my clients when I explain the process and help them understand the six basic steps involved in a Probate. Here are those steps: 1. Petition for…