Following a great deal of speculation regarding the possibility of a will contest, actor James Gandolfini’s will has been filed for probate with apparently no problems among his heirs. The former Sopranos star, whose estate is estimated at $70 million, arranged for most of his assets to transfer to his beneficiaries outside of probate. The [...]
According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, more than 120,000 people in the United States are waiting for an organ and 18 of them die every day. A single organ donor has the potential to save as many as eight lives. In 2012, approximately 2,250 donors were between the ages of 50 [...]
The Alzheimer’s Association estimates that more than five million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease and that by the year 2050 that number could triple. It also claims that one in every three senior citizens today dies with Alzheimer’s or some other type of dementia. What is dementia? Dementia is a broad term used to describe a [...]
Anthony Marshall made headlines again this past summer when the 89-year-old son and heir of deceased philanthropist Brooke Astor was released from jail on medical parole. Otherwise known as the “octogenarian fraudster,” Marshall was convicted in 2009 for crimes connected to the mishandling of his mother’s estate, including tricking her into changing her will for [...]
An Indian court has finally ruled on a decades-old royal dispute involving the estate of Harinder Singh Brar, the last maharajah of Faridkot, which was a tiny kingdom in Punjab before it was absorbed into India in 1947. The dispute pitted the palace officials against the surviving princesses. Brar died in 1989, leaving a wife, [...]
Hurricane Sandy may have caused more damage on Staten Island than in any of the five boroughs of New York City. Houses were destroyed and at least 23 people were killed as the storm tore through the coast. As the cleanup and rebuilding continues, residents should start dealing with replacing important documents and records that [...]
Individuals and couples with very large estates face a number of complications during the probate process. Common issues that arise include: Gathering assets. The executor of a person’s will is responsible for gathering assets for probate. This process is more complicated when there are many types of assets titled in different ways such as property [...]
When a loved one passes away, the emotional rollercoaster you experience is compounded by the paperwork and legal formalities that need to be finalized. Transferring property that once belonged to your parent into your name is a common challenge that arises at this time. The way you transfer property after the death of a loved [...]
Actor Cory Monteith, well-known for playing heartthrob Finn Hudson in the popular TV series Glee, died unexpectedly in June of this year at only age 31. Little has been reported about the future of Mr. Monteith’s estate, estimated as being worth some $2 million. This tragedy underlines the importance of having a will in place. [...]
Each year, the anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy reminds us how fragile life is and how quickly tragedy can strike. The unexpected death of a loved one is a personal tragedy that affects people deeply and permanently. Learning of a loved one’s untimely passing can make people feel lost and overwhelmed. Stages Of Grief In [...]