This time of year brings families together to enjoy food, fellowship, and maybe even a little football. Whether your Thanksgiving involves a small gathering of close friends or a large get-together with distant relatives, this is a time to be thankful for all of those loved ones in our lives.…
You have probably been told before that a day signified a certain nationwide event like National Donut Day or National Hot Dog Day. Often these days are used to celebrate and bring awareness to certain areas in life. The same goes for estate planning. October 20-26 marks this year’s National…
With the influx of information on the internet today, you can find just about anything on the web. There are all sorts of do-it-yourself websites and instructional videos that allow you to shoulder the work while cutting the extra costs of hiring someone else. You may turn to a particular…
As a Tennessee probate attorney, I field many different questions from clients and potential clients. Popular misconceptions or “urban legends” are the motivation behind some of these probate questions. Many people will assume a particular fact because they heard it from a friend or family member. However, like many areas…
When thinking about what to leave to loved ones after you have passed away, you may first think of your bank account, car, or house. While many people choose to leave their tangible assets to specific individuals in a will after they have died, more and more people are choosing…
Recently, I have received several inquiries regarding the validity of an out of state will or a will that was drafted outside of Tennessee. Many people want to know whether their will that was drafted in another state like Colorado or Florida has the same effect as a will drafted…
Recently, attorney Jim Higgins appeared on Nashville’s WSMV to talk about what happens when someone passes away without a will. Although there are a number of benefits to having a will in place, it is not the end of the world if you do not have one. The important difference…
Working as a Tennessee estate and probate attorney, I get questions from people all of the time regarding some of the basic issues about my field. Many of the people that I talk with are often worried about specific legal technicalities in estate planning. There are a number of seemingly…
Having an estate plan in place is important for every individual. An estate plan is a set of legal documents that sets forth what you would want to happen to your assets if you were to die or become incapacitated. An estate plan can also establish a decision maker in…
You may or may not have a will in place. In fact, a large portion of the population does not even have a will. Although it is always best to have a will in place for a number of reasons, Tennessee law sets forth where a person’s assets are to…