http://www.deathandtaxesblog.com/ Published by Joel A. Schoenmeyer en-us 2010-03-08T13:14:36-06:00 http://www.deathandtaxesblog.com/2010/03/informality_and_probate.html Informality is the enemy of estate and trust administration. What do I mean by that? I mean that, when a decedent handled his affairs informally prior to death, or when informality reigns following his death, then you can be assured... Probate - Executors and Trustees deathandtaxesblog-1 2010-03-08T13:14:36-06:00 http://www.deathandtaxesblog.com/2010/03/trusts_and_consideration_why_1.html I got this question twice in one day, so that's probably a sign from someone that I should answer it: Why do trust documents typically recite that the trust creator (sometimes known as the grantor) has transferred $10 (or some... deathandtaxesblog-1 2010-03-04T23:52:58-06:00 http://www.deathandtaxesblog.com/2010/03/the_art_of_the_steal.html The Art of the Steal is a new documentary currently playing in limited release in Philadelphia and New York City. Hopefully it will come to Chicago and/or DVD soon. The film focuses on the art collection of Albert C. Barnes,... Movie and TV Notes deathandtaxesblog-1 2010-03-02T12:43:28-06:00 http://www.deathandtaxesblog.com/2010/03/the_cancellation_of_indebtedne.html Here's a (seemingly) new credit card company practice that looks like a scam: A decedent dies in early 2007, and her estate goes through probate. The administrator discovers an outstanding credit card balance of about $17,000, and sends notice to... Income Tax deathandtaxesblog-1 2010-03-01T14:34:00-06:00 http://www.deathandtaxesblog.com/2010/02/wired_magazine_on_disposing_of.html The March 2010 issue of Wired has an interesting article about companies that deal with your online assets after you die. The article says that the companies: ... keep customers' passwords, usernames, final messages, and so on in a virtual... Estate Planning deathandtaxesblog-1 2010-02-25T11:42:11-06:00 http://www.deathandtaxesblog.com/2010/02/credit_reports.html I'm not a financial planner by any stretch of the imagination, but I occasionally come across financial planning tips that might be helpful. So I'm starting a new category of posts, with this one. Have you seen the commercials for... Financial Planning deathandtaxesblog-1 2010-02-24T14:07:51-06:00 http://www.deathandtaxesblog.com/2010/02/more_on_the_astor_trial_1.html I've written a fair amount on the Brooke Astor situation, reviewing the book Mrs. Astor Regrets (here) and talking about the case's conclusion here. But perhaps I was premature. One of the jurors in the case has now come forward... deathandtaxesblog-1 2010-02-22T13:17:46-06:00 http://www.deathandtaxesblog.com/2010/02/scott_lee_cohen_the_estate_tax.html Two stories: 1. On February 2nd, a guy named Scott Lee Cohen won the Illinois Democratic primary for lieutenant governor. You probably know the rest -- this guy had a whoooooole bunch of skeletons in his closet. Cohen, under a... Estate Tax deathandtaxesblog-1 2010-02-15T15:31:05-06:00 http://www.deathandtaxesblog.com/2010/02/more_probate_litigation_becaus_1.html Is it the bad economy, or something else? It seems like I've had a lot of clients walk through my door of late, presenting the same scenario: -Parent died -One sibling "took over" the probate (either because they were named... Probate Litigation deathandtaxesblog-1 2010-02-10T09:54:01-06:00 http://www.deathandtaxesblog.com/2010/02/a_little_advice_for_young_atto.html I was recently asked by a 3rd year law student for some advice on how to succeed upon graduation. Basically, what I told her can be summed up in three words: "find your niche." I realize that this isn't a... Practice Points deathandtaxesblog-1 2010-02-01T09:14:40-06:00