Greetings Friends!
I hope everyone is enjoying this beautiful Fall weather.
My newsletter this month is centered around "family" including children and pets, and the "real" cost of do-it-yourself legal services.
The informational seminars I routinely give are now even easier
to attend. Beginning this month I will be hosting a free webinar "Estate Planning 101 for Parents & Families", with other topics to follow in the coming months. For more information and to RSVP for this month's webinar please see the invitation below.
If you haven't already visited my YouTube page, please do so at youtube.com/LorieBurchLaw where you will find some wonderful informational videos. To stay up-to-date with The Law Office of Lorie L. Burch be sure to "Like" our Facebook page. Stay in touch and feel free to email me with any questions.
Very truly yours,
Lorie L. Burch
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Hot Topics In Estate Planning & Probate
"Trusts for Children"
You may have your personal legal documents in order and up to date, but if you have children, it is important to have legal trusts created for them, which will provide additional protection. These legal documents are especially helpful if your child has special needs.
Click the link below to find out more!
Trusts for Children
"Employee Group Legal Benefits Plan"
Companies sometimes provide their employees with a Group Legal Benefits Plan, which offers a variety of legal services. While these programs can be helpful, there are certain things you should know or ask prior to using them.
Click the link below to find out more!
Employee Group Legal Benefit Plans
"Legal Planning for Your Pets"
Is your pet a member of your family? Whether you have cats, dogs or horses, you may have specific wishes regarding their care if something were to happen to you. You have a number of options available to make sure that your animals are taken care of and protected.
Click the link below to find out more!
Legal Planning for Your Pets
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Beware of Online Wills
As you know, I often like to share interesting situations I encounter because so many people can personally relate to them. I know the temptation is to have a quick and "cheap" way to draft a Will, especially if you think your circumstances are "simple." I met with a daughter this week who's dad just passed away and he had done a Will online. I didn't even have to READ it to know it was invalid. Not only did BOTH witnesses sign on different dates, but neither signed on the same date as the father! Such a simple mistake and now they don't have a valid Will to probate. Do you know that means? It's too late to fix and MUCH more expensive to sort out. And remember: if you pay a professional to file and paint your nails, you probably shouldn't try drafting complex legal documents on your own!" |
"Cheap" Can Often Be Very Expensive...
Not only can online wills pose numerous problems, but so can legal document templates sold at various retailers. A good example is a probate case that involved probating a preprinted, fill-in the blank Will purchased from an unnamed office supply store and used by a dear 90 year old woman who apparently either distrusted attorneys, or declined to pay an attorney to prepare her Will. The document failed to conform to applicable Texas law, and failed to name the executor as "independent" under Texas law. Now this failure can be fairly easily overcome at some additional cost if all of the beneficiaries under the Will are all adults and are willing to name and appoint the executor as "independent" (that is, free or independent of court supervision). But in this case, one of the adult beneficiaries was mentally incompetent and legally disqualified from signing any document...
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This newsletter provides information of a broad general nature only.
The information contained in this article does not constitute legal or tax advice.
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