In this blog, we have been on an Estate Planning 101 series for some time. The recent focus of that broad series shifted into another sub-series in recent weeks: using the timely and newsworthy example of Aretha Franklin to discuss … more

If you die without a will (or a trust or other estate planning) like Aretha Franklin, you may lose the opportunity to nominate a guardian for your minor children. Guardianship Overview A minor is someone under the age of majority … more

If you die without a will (or a trust or other estate planning) like Aretha Franklin, you may lose opportunities to save on taxes. Estate Taxes The estate tax is basically a tax on gifts a person makes in life … more

The Queen of Soul had a voice that was super human.  And that is probably understating it. But she may have shared a very common human trait with most of us: a tendency to put off planning for the future – including getting a … more

The last post discussed the basics of an Advance Directive for Health Care (ADHC) in Oklahoma, which can help in making end of life decisions.  The ADHC is one of at least three basic estate planning documents every person should consider. … more

Under Oklahoma law, every adult should consider planning for end of life decisions and scenarios with an Advance Directive for Health Care. It is not the only item to consider, of course, but it is the second of the three basic documents … more

Before we leave the Durable Power of Attorney and look at another of the three basic documents every estate plan should consider, it is important to emphasize one final, key issue.  That is: having a good Durable Power of Attorney … more

This post continues a closer look at the Durable Power of Attorney (DPOA). The DPOA is one of three documents this Estate Planning 101 series is focusing in on.  These three documents, plus a couple of other important topics, should … more

Recent headlines announced the Attorney General of Washington state bringing a consumer protection lawsuit against a “trust mill” – basically a set of business entities engaged in aggressive, non-customized, and unscrupulous estate planning practices.  Part of the allegations are that someone with the organization would … more

Before we continue looking at the main issues in a Durable Power of Attorney, this blog post stops and focuses on perhaps the key issue in that document and all estate planning documents: who is in charge. Sometimes in estate … more