Which One

Electronic Directives vs. Print Versions

Should you have an electronic or printed copy of your documents? Electronic versions of your health care Advance Directives sounds like a more reliable way to store your documents, right? Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Although having information stored online may seem more convenient and easily accessible than carrying around a paper copy, there are quite a few issues that make this method less reliable than it initially seems. One of the major problems with electronic documents is that doctor’s offices and emergency rooms often use different record systems, making it impossible for emergency room staff to access…

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Terri Schiavo Case

Remember Terri Schiavo – Incapacitated at 20

At 20 years old, Terri Schiavo had a catastrophic collapse. Unfortunately, she did not leave written instructions (a health care directive) expressing how she would like to be cared for if something happened to her. Complicating matters, her family (Terri’s parents vs. Terri’s husband) did not agree on what her wishes would be, so the courts had to intervene to determine what she would want. Terri Schiavo was in her home when sudden cardiac arrest occurred. She was successfully resuscitated but was left comatose. The doctors who examined her believed she would never emerge from her coma. Her husband wanted…

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Debt

Debt Does Not Go Away When You Die

When you die and have debt, your estate pays your debt before your beneficiaries receive any money.  And, if your estate does not have enough money to pay all your debt, that just means that your beneficiaries will not receive anything. When you pass away, all of your assets become part of your estate.  Even if you have a last will and testament, and your estate promises to pay your family member a certain amount of money, your family will not receive any money until after all your debts and liabilities are paid by your estate. Additionally, if there is…

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Troubling Estates

Michael Jackson and Robin William Estates

  Michael Jackson Despite having a cadre of lawyers, his estate plan was riddled with flaws. He had an estate plan, but no one working on that plan put any of his property into the Trust!  His assets were not in trust. Robin Williams He left an estate plan, but it did not include a contest provision, which would have stated anyone who contested the will would risk his or her entire inheritance. The result is an estate hung up in litigation due to lawsuits.  

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Bank Safe Deposit Box

What’s Wrong With Putting Your Docs in Bank Safe Deposit Box?

CONSIDER THIS — …You have a medical emergency; rushed to the hospital.  You can’t communicate with the doctors. …Or, let’s say you go to the doctor for a routine procedure and something goes wrong.  You can no longer communicate with the doctors. No problem, you have an Advanced Health Care Directive.  With that directive your representative can step in and make decisions for you. BUT WAIT, (1) That document is in your safe deposit box at your bank, and (2) Your representative cannot access your safe deposit box. (3) Your bank is closed.  Maybe it’s after banking hours; it’s the…

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Brian Wiggins

Attorney Steals $2.1 Million from Probate Estate

On March 4, 2020, Brian Wiggins, a lawyer from Xenia, Ohio, was arrested and indicted on 55 criminal counts involving stealing about $2.1 million from a probate estate trust.  The owner of the estate died in 2018 and left an estate valued at more than $3 million.  The money was intended to benefit St. Jude’s Hospital and Smile Train charities. Wiggins, 36, is accused of buying houses, cars, boats, jewelry, gambling at casinos in Las Vegas, paying for a family member’s cosmetic surgery, and paying his child support, according to David Hayes, Greene County Chief trial counsel. The February 27,…

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