- Who's The Boss? The Fiduciary-Beneficiary Relationship
- What the heck is "bond in lieu of probate"?
- Illinois Pet Trusts: An Introduction
- Refuse or Lose: The Doctrine of Election
- Lenders, Refinancing, and Retitling Assets In Trust: An Open Letter
- Atticus Finch, Estate Planner
- Confusing Terms in Estate Planning and Probate
- Michael Jackson's Estate: An Update
- A Late Reply To Jamie Johnson: Thoughts On Probate Disputes
- Contesting a Will: The Limitations Period
- Life As We Know It: Why am I reviewing the trailer to a new Katherine Heigl movie?
- The Illinois Slayer Statute and Insanity
- The Author Who Played With Fire
- The Kindle, and Dr. Johnson's Naughty Executor
- Statutory Custodial Claims article
- How NOT To Amend Your Will
- Failure To Communicate: A Duty For Attorneys And Clients
- Illinois HB6477: Changes to Illinois Powers of Attorney
- A Will Reading on "30 Rock"
- Charitable Gifts: Points To Ponder
- Small Estate Affidavits: Information Your Attorney Needs
- Trust Funding and Big Banks
- Milwaukee's Best: Captain Frederick Pabst's Letter
- Personal Liability of an Executor or Trustee
- Informality and Probate
- Trusts and Consideration (why $10?)
- The Art of the Steal
- The Cancellation of Indebtedness "Scam"
- Wired Magazine on Disposing of your Online Assets
- Credit Reports
- More on the Astor Trial
- Scott Lee Cohen, the Estate Tax, and Traditional Media Failure
- More Probate Litigation -- Because of the Recession?
- A Little Advice For Young Attorneys
- Property Schedules in Trusts
- Movement in the Cook County Probate Court
- The Ethicist on Switching Guardians
- Trust-Administration Agreements
- 5 Things You Need to Know About the Estate Tax in 2010: #5 (2011 and on)
- 5 Things You Need to Know About the Estate Tax in 2010: #4 (State Death Taxes)
- 5 Things You Need to Know About the Estate Tax in 2010: #3 (Trust Problems)
- 5 Things You Need to Know About the Estate Tax in 2010: #2 (Retroactivity)
- 5 Things You Need to Know About the Estate Tax in 2010: #1 (Capital Gains)
- 5 Things You Need to Know About the Estate Tax in 2010: Introduction
- The Summer Hours
- Her Fearful Symmetry, the Victorians, and Decapitation Provisions
- Audrey Niffenegger's Her Fearful Symmetry and Probate
- Brooke Astor Saga Reaches Conclusion
- Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye, and Probate
- Even More on Dunn v. Patterson
- More on Dunn v. Patterson
- Dunn v. Patterson: A Rant
- 5 Tips for Dealing with Claims: Tip 5
- 5 Tips for Dealing with Claims: Tip 4
- 5 Tips for Dealing with Claims: Tip 3
- 5 Tips for Dealing with Claims: Tip 2
- 5 Tips for Dealing with Claims: Tip 1
- 5 Tips for Dealing with Claims: Introduction
- Wall Street Journal on Will/Trust Programs
- The QTIP, Part 3
- State Death Taxes
- Unpaid Child Support in Probate
- The QTIP, Part 2
- The QTIP, Part 1
- Inheritance Laws and the EU
- More on Will Filing in Cook County
- Will Depository, and Private Vs. Public
- Michael Jackson's Estate, Part 8 -- More on the Allowance
- Illinois Right To Life and "Patient Protection"? Not Really
- Convenience Accounts
- Nipsey Russell's Estate
- Problems with Wrongful Death in Probate
- Living Wills
- The Health Care Debate: Death Panels and Living Wills
- Motions to Substitute
- Obama and Living Wills
- Michael Jackson's Estate, Part 7 -- "Allowance"
- Michael Jackson's Estate, Part 6 -- Will Contest?
- Michael Jackson's Estate, Part 5 -- Estate Taxes and an Insurance Trust
- Citations in Probate: Discharging and Amending
- Michael Jackson's Estate, Part 4: Butterflies
- Debbie Rowe, Michael Jackson, and Custody: Scream
- Michael Jackson's Estate, Part 3: Beat It
- The $8,000 Income Tax Credit for First-Time Home Buyers: Primary Sources
- Michael Jackson's Will -- the PDF
- Michael Jackson's Estate, Part 2: Wanna Be Starting Something?
- Thomas Jefferson: Rogue Executor?
- Contingent Fees in the Probate/Estate Context
- Thoughts on Michael Jackson's Estate
- Five Wishes: A Rebuttal
- Advanced Estate Planning (Estate Planning 102)
- More on George Allen Smith IV Cruise Ship Death
- Handling Your First Illinois Probate Estate - CLE Video Presentation
- Judge Sotomayor on Estates
- Filing a Claim in Cook County, Illinois
- Natasha Richardson's Will
- Unclaimed Property and Probate Estates
- Terry M. Shoultes Probate Litigation -- The Velvet Touch of Probate
- Nina Wang Probate Dispute
- Mediation Services in Probate
- Powers of Attorney vs. The Five Wishes Advance Directive
- Twitter and Facebook
- Chang v. Lederman: Estate Planning Malpractice Case
- Creditors and Trusts -- Society of Lloyd's
- Ethics and Estate/Probate Attorneys
- Cook County Probate -- New Order re. "Expedited" Service
- More on Ethics and Estate Planning
- Estate Planning and Ethics: Who's The Client?
- Mrs. Astor Regrets
- Know What to Ask Before Hiring an Estate Planner
- Reopening (or just opening) a Probate Estate
- Closing a Probate Estate, Part 2
- Closing a Probate Estate, Part 1
- Wall Street Journal Estate Tax Editorial
- Representation, Part 2: Contingent Fee
- Illinois Estate Tax Case
- Representation, Part 1: Beneficiaries
- Loans to Family Members, Part 2
- The Oracle of Oak Park?
- Loans to Family Members, Part 1
- The Estate Planning - Probate Connection
- Creditors and Non-Probate Assets in Illinois
- E-Filing to Come to Cook County
- Professor Layton and the Curious Village
- More on Attorney Fees and Billing Arrangements
- Tough Times and Probate
- Intestacy Reform
- All of Me and Honestly Dearest, You're Dead
- Alternative Billing Arrangements
- More domain names for sale
- Same-Sex Marriage Probate Decision in New York
- Roland Burris: Estate Planner
- Probate in DuPage County, Illinois
- Cook County's "Norris" Rule
- Boot Camp for Executors and Trustees
- Scott Boras and Ethics in Negotiation
- The Residential Real Property Disclosure Act and Fiduciaries
- If I Ran the Cook County Probate Court, Part 2
- Details on Formal Proof of Will
- Obama and the Estate Tax
- Fiduciaries and Power of Attorney
- ACTEC Commentaries on Model Rules of Professional Conduct
- Peter Falk and Guardianship
- Nudge, Shel Silverstein, Smart, and Negotiation
- Transfer of Will
- Illinois Bar Journal Resources
- May a non-resident act as Illinois executor?
- CBGB Probate Dispute
- Renunciation of a Will, Part 2: Procedures
- Renunciation of a Will, Part 1: The Basics
- Cars and Beneficiary Designations
- Receipts and Distributions, part 2
- Slayer Statutes, Attempted Murder, and Updating Your Will
- Receipts and Distributions, part 1
- Paul Newman's Will and Codicil
- Utah, the LDS, and Probate Rights
- Claims and Secured Property in Probate
- Slate article on Inheritance
- Illiquidity and Probate
- Making Gifts in Tough Economic Times
- Other Presidential Candidates on the Estate Tax
- How Much Information Should the Executor Give?
- New Office, and Offices Generally (Advice for Solos)
- More on McCain, Obama and the Estate Tax
- A Rebuttal Re. Probate Investors
- More on Taxes and President, VP Candidates
- Dividing the Estate and Just Buried
- Buckley Probate Mess
- Step-Siblings, Half-Siblings, and Heirship
- A Rant
- Cutting Off Fights Over Your Estate
- Heir Property and The Gridlock Economy
- Client Work Breakdown
- Trusts, Corporate Fiduciaries, and the Bailout
- Wills and Trusts With Incorrect Family Information
- Tax Plan Charts and Graphs
- 2008 Year-End Gifting Made Easy
- Stock Certificates and Probate
- Probate Checklist
- Powers of Attorney: Do You Want to Act as Agent?
- Jurisdiction in Probate
- More on Terminating Independent Administration
- Agents and Reasonable Compensation
- Slayer Statute Applicable To Minors?
- Crazy Article Round-up
- How to File a Will in Cook County
- For Sale: www.probateblog.com
- Coming Soon: Supreme Courtship
- Mary Ellen Bendtsen Will Contest
- African Americans and Heir Property
- Petitions to Terminate Independent Administration
- Jerry Orbach Potential Probate Fight
- Boomsday and the Estate Tax
- Estate of Hale: New Statutory Custodial Claim Case
- Will and Trust Provisions Against Public Policy
- John McCain and Tax Confusion
- Who opens the probate estate? Getting organized
- The Trust Name Game (Trust Terminology)
- McCain and Obama Tax Policies
- 5 Things You Can Do To Save Money and Time on Probate
- The Reverse Mortgage Probate Problem, and Liquidity
- An Update on Small Estate Affidavits
- Small Estate Affidavits and Claims
- Landheer and UPL
- Planning for Couples in a Second Marriage
- Premarital Agreements and Other Areas of Law
- More on Amending Probate Papers
- First Day of School
- Seth Tobias Case Settlement
- More on the Referral Problem -- ADR
- Senator Clinton in Probate Court?
- Conflicts of Interest and Referrals
- Wills and Provisions That Fail
- Tangible Personal Property and edivvyup.com
- Bill Murray's Prenup -- with Extra Top 5 List!
- Foreign Wills
- Jane Bryant Quinn on Prenups
- Podcast #5 - The Estate Tax
- Amending Probate Papers
- Huck Finn and Holographic Wills
- EIN PDQ FAQ
- Intentional Interference with an Inheritance, and the Ellis Case
- Wills with Testamentary Trusts
- Nabokov's Laura and the Disobedient Executor
- Estate Planning 101 -- Health Directives
- Cook County Probate Procedure Changes
- John McCain: The Prenup President?
- Podcast #3 - Living Trusts
- 30 Rock, Dr. King, and The Estate Tax
- Will Contests and Philip Roth's The Ghost Writer
- The Oak Park Ban on "For Sale" Signs -- The Controversy Continues
- Podcast Status
- Pleading Requirements in Will Contests, and Why Litigation Is So Expensive
- Real Estate Transfer Taxes
- Podcast #2
- Estate Planning and Boston's Freedom Trail
- Some thoughts on, what is reasonable compensation?
- The Cronin House and Unique Real Estate
- Powers of Attorney for College Students
- Duty to File ALL Wills?
- If I Ran the Cook County Probate Court
- Podcast #1 Notes
- Podcast #1
- Housing Price Statistics
- Facebook and "My Own Last Wishes"
- Down to "The Wire"
- Update #2: Britney Spears
- Update #1: Anna Nicole Smith
- Podcast delays
- The Agnes Wright Case and Loans vs. Gifts
- The Dirty Secret about Creditors and Claims in Probate
- What I Learned About DNA Testing
- A Peterson Update
- Powers of Attorney and Emergency Consent for Children
- Ernest Hemingway's Parents and the Premarital Agreement
- Title Insurance, Bugs Bunny, and the Brooklyn Bridge
- Re-Opening the Estate
- Uniform Transfers to Minors Act (UTMA) FAQ
- Why I Don't Keep Original Documents for My Clients
- The Return of the Death and Taxes Podcast
- The Petticoat Will, and Beneficiaries as Witnesses
- Specific Gifts and Drafting Flexibility
- Estate of Bantsolas: Land Trusts, Acceptance, and Probate
- Chicago BlockShopper: What Fresh Hell Is This?
- New Developments: Small Trust Termination
- Seth Tobias and the Sex Hex?
- "Let Them Default"?: A (Former) Real Estate Lawyer's Response to the Lending Crisis
- Good News Bad News
- Estate of Talty and Breach of Fiduciary Duty
- Collaborative Divorce
- Selling Real Estate to a Beneficiary in Probate
- Whoopi Goldberg, The Wall Street Journal, and Estate Tax Lies
- Amy Winehouse, Drugs and Alcohol, and Guardianship
- Cincinnati Bengals Probate Fight Update
- Lindenwood U. and Estate Planning Conflicts of Interest
- Gone With the Wind and Trusts
- Larry King and Life Insurance Settlements
- More on Missing Persons and Probate
- The Dangers of Powers of Attorney
- The Case of the Missing Fossett
- Estate Status and Multiple Probates
- Wills for Heroes
- Sorry...
- The Economist on "Death Taxes"
- Living Trust as Guardianship Substitute
- The State's Attorney and Unknown Heirs in Illinois
- Notary Chic and Michael Clayton
- Weekly Roundup
- Follow-up: Amendment to Custodial Claim Statute
- Dependent Relative Revocation
- Insurance and Estate/Trust Administration
- Nixon Peabody Theme Song
- Phelan v. Baskin -- Trust and Will Execution
- Blogging Break
- Leona Helmsley's Will and the "Grave Visiting" Requirement
- Disinheritance (and Possible Undue Influence) in the House of Mirth
- The BiWeekly Disadvantage Plan?
- Probate Notice: Part 3
- Probate Notice: Part 2
- Probate Notice: Part 1
- Probate Investors Go Nutso!
- Barry Bonds, David Wells, and Gift Tax
- Nursing Home and Assisted Living Agreements
- Forms for Opening an Illinois Probate Estate: Part 5 (Orders)
- Forms for Opening an Illinois Probate Estate: Part 4 (Affidavit of Heirship)
- Forms for Opening an Illinois Probate Estate: Part 3 (Copy of Will)
- Forms for Opening an Illinois Probate Estate: Part 2 (Fiduciary Docs)
- Forms for Opening an Illinois Probate Estate: Part 1 (Petitions)
- Probate Attorneys, Conduct Before a Tribunal, and Legal Ethics
- "Big Love" and Irrevocable Trusts
- I Want To Be A Farmer!
- Harry Potter, the Deathly Hallows, and Dumbledore's Will (Minor Spoilers)
- Judge Malak on Citations
- "Fun" Facts about the Gift Tax, Part 4: The End
- "Fun" Facts about the Gift Tax, Part 3: The "Unified" Credit
- "Fun" Facts about the Gift Tax, Part 2: Credits and Exclusions
- "Fun" Facts about the Gift Tax, Part 1: An Introduction
- Big Law Firms and Partner Demotion
- Movie Review: What Rats Won't Do
- Fun Quotes Edition
- Hooters Probate Litigation
- Cochonour Revisited
- Anna Nicole Smith's Will -- An Update
- Donna Tartt, The Secret History, and Trusts
- New Statutory Custodial Claims Bill
- Where Do Clients Come From?
- Joe Jagger's Estate and Wealthy Family Members
- Nancy Drew and the Missing Will
- Proposed Regulations: Estate Tax and Claims
- Probate Forms for Cook and Surrounding Counties
- Jackie O's Will and a Disclaimer Issue
- Power of Attorney/Elder Abuse Case in Cook County
- Cook County Probate Online (Finally!)
- Creditor Frustration
- No Lender Approval for Due on Sale
- Estate Planning for the Widow or Widower
- The Juggle on Estate Planning-Related Topics
- Trust funding and real estate
- Basics of trust funding
- What's a Grantor Trust?
- Privacy and Probate Proceedings
- The Name Game; or, The Benefits of Being a Schoenmeyer
- Trust Flexibility and Tangible Personal Property
- Articles on Small Estate Affidavits, Choosing an Executor
- Notice in Probate
- Claims Vs. Citations
- Dr. Atkins Trust Litigation
- More on Divorce and Estate Planning
- Sibling Agreements About Parental Care
- Estate Disputes Among Fairies
- The Andrew Kissel Estate: Another State v. Federal Problem?
- Per Stirpes vs. Per Capita
- "Little Sweetie" and Probate on Presumption of Death
- Northern Trust Formbook Online
- "The Office" on Negotiation
- The Effect of Divorce on Estate Planning Documents
- Affidavit of Heirship - The FAQ
- TrustManager
- Irrevocable Insurance Trusts -- YOU CAN'T AMEND THEM!
- Introduction to Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts (ILITs) - Part 4
- Introduction to Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts (ILITs) - Part 3
- David Copperfield, Probate Attorney
- Introduction to Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts (ILITs) - Part 2
- Introduction to Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts (ILITs) - Part 1
- What is a Pourover Will?
- Big Firms and Estate Planning: The Horses have Left the Barns
- How NOT to Amend Your Will
- Probate Fees and the Christian Science Monitor
- Problems with Anna Nicole Smith's Will
- Flexibility and Living Trusts
- Equitable Apportionment and the Malik Case
- More on Nonprobate Transfer Bill (Illinois SB 297)
- Nonprobate Transfer Bill (Illinois SB 297)
- 30 Rock on Marital Settlements
- Attorney Fees for Probate: How Do You Want Your Sandwich?
- The List of 53
- Thoughts on Associate Salaries
- Attorney's Bank as Trustee? Just Say No
- 20 Short Facts about 529 Plans (Part 2 of 2)
- 20 Short Facts about 529 Plans (Part 1 of 2)
- More on Boras, Matsuzaka, and the Red Sox
- A Little More on Surety Bonds
- On the Subject of Surety Bonds
- Does Intestacy Law Go Too Far To Protect Parents?
- Say It Loud! I'm Dead and I'm Proud!
- Sonnenschein and the Demise of Big Firm Estate Planning Groups
- Introduction to Powers of Appointment, Part 2: Tax Issues
- Introduction to Powers of Appointment, Part 1
- You and Yours Blawg on Beneficiary Designations
- Organize Your Financial Life in 2007
- Probate Act Project... And on to 2007
- "Shakespeare's Will"
- Billy Graham Potential Probate Controversy
- Seth A. Kaplan on In Terrorem Clauses
- Boras and Matsuzaka vs. the Red Sox
- Researching "This Old House" in Cook County
- Ken Lay's Bequest
- What is Equal?
- What to Do with the Body?
- A List of Oak Park-owned Real Estate
- "Certified" Deed Scam
- Zillow 2.0
- Year-End Gifting Made Easy (2006-2007 Edition)
- Filing a Will in Cook County, Part 2
- Filing a Will in Cook County, Part 1
- Brooke Astor and Guardianship Fees
- Superman Returns - and knows nothing of probate
- Initiating the Probate Process in Cook County, Part 1: Testate Estates
- Medicaid Reimbursement and Estate Claims
- Leopold Bloom, Frustrated Beneficiary
- Ask Amy Tackles Prenuptial Agreements
- Charitable Beneficiaries Play Hardball
- Blogging Break
- Timeframes and Cook County Probate
- Missing Persons and the Illinois Probate Act
- In Terrorem (No Contest) Clauses
- Creditor as Administrator
- Stealing a Decedent's Property
- Death and Taxes the Movie: Stranger Than Fiction?
- The Federal Government and Claims
- Sometimes I Run, Sometimes I Hide, Sometimes I Blog About Britney and K-Fed
- Oops! Britney Did It Again
- North Carolina Estate Planning Blog
- Virginia is For Lovers... Of Dumb Laws?
- Patrick White's Executor and the Decedent's Wishes
- More on Conflicts of Interest
- Representing Spouses in Estate Planning
- Negotiation and the Value of Reasonableness
- Trustees, Loans, and the Duty of Loyalty
- Florida Estate Planners Acting as Fiduciaries
- Rosa Parks and Valuing the Property of Famous People
- Executor Article and Checklist
- A Real Estate Sale in Brentwood
- The Suicidal Estate Planning Client
- Probating a Lost Will
- Probate, Claims and the 2-Year Bar
- Estate of Hoellen and Guardianship Citations
- Still Afoot: Changes to my Website
- Ulysses and Shakespeare's Will
- Should This Man Be a Judge?
- American Family: A Living Trust Scam?
- Storing a Client's Will
- The Evils of Probate?
- Del Close's Skull and the Executor
- PA Elder, Estate & Fiduciary Law Blog
- Porgy, Bess and Ira Gershwin's Executor
- Something's Afoot
- Six Types of Estate Planning
- Cincinnati Bengals Probate Fight
- Commissions in a Slow Real Estate Market
- Intestacy Calculator
- More on Wills and East of Eden
- Real Estate Attorney's Fees
- Heirship and Children Born Out of Wedlock
- An Introduction to Apportionment
- Does one of the M's stand for mediation?
- Caregiver Contracts and Statutory Custodial Claims
- Steps to Take After Death
- Georgia O'Keeffe's Gift
- Update #2: Oak Park
- Update #1: The Wire
- Settling Claims in Probate
- Kirby Puckett, Powers of Attorney and Gifting
- Considering the Corporate Trustee
- Inheritance, Ethics and Classic Lit, Part 2: Persuasion
- "The Wire," Season Four
- Inheritance, Ethics and Classic Lit, Part 1: East of Eden
- Attorney as Executor
- The Dangers of Co-Executors
- Google Book Search
- Countrywide: Not On Your Side
- Do You Want To Be the Executor?
- Realtors and Oak Park's "For Sale" Sign Ban
- The Ethicist on Debts of a Decedent
- Oak Park's Kelo Problem, Part 2
- Oak Park's Kelo Problem, Part 1
- Removal of an Executor/Murder Suspect
- Ronald Lipman on Pooled Trusts
- An Estate Should Be an Open Book
- Ken Lay and Claims Priority
- Putting Together Your "Bye-Bye" File
- Revoking Your Will, Pt. 1
- Gifts to Pets In Action
- Illinois Real Estate Blog
- Artie Shaw and Contracts to Make a Will
- Brooke Astor and Attorneys Who Overreach
- Eleanor Spector Trust Problems
- Google Real Estate Search: A New Tool
- Inheritance Tax
- Litigation Analysis: Risks and Rewards
- Disclaimers and Grabby Hands
- Title Transfer: The "Heart" of Probate
- Hayley Kissel's "Allowance"
- Prepaid Interest and Real Estate Closings
- The Value of "I'm Sorry"
- Deposition Smackdown
- My Office Situation
- This Site: General vs. Specific Information
- Break From Blogging
- Fun with Caselaw
- Introduction to Land Trusts
- Bob Bruss on Probate Property
- Wrongful Death, Settlement Agreements and the Court
- Basic Professional Responsibility and Estate Planning
- The Uniform Probate Act, Death, and Divorce
- Marlon Brando: Messy Life, Messy Estate
- Andrew Kissel and Declining to Act as Executor
- Creditor as Administrator
- The Art of Drafting
- Surviving Spouse and Child Awards
- Warren Buffett's Charitable Gift
- ADR Blogs
- Inheriting Personal Property
- Ruth Lilly Guardianship
- Darrell "Wayne" Perry Probate Litigation
- James Joyce's Literary Executor
- "The Break-Up" and Unmarried Clients
- A Rebuttal From Greg Magnesen
- Sherwin Abrams on Real Estate Taxes
- Melvin Dummar Returns
- Lillian Glasser and Guardianship Costs
- Some Personal Thoughts on the Estate Tax
- The Swift Report on the "Deadly" Death Tax
- Joint Accounts, Convenience Accounts and Donative Intent
- Lower: New Statutory Custodial Claims case
- Ethics and Disclosure
- More Ghostwriting and Websites
- Printers Row Book Fair
- Powers of Attorney and Surgery
- Cloudy with a Chance of Light Blogging
- Follow-up #2: Disinheritance
- Follow-up #1: Gifting a Home
- Coretta Scott King and Lost Wills
- "Big Love" and Guardianship
- FutureShop and the Sale of Estate Property
- Old-Fashioned Probate Litigation
- A New (Not Recommended) Alternative To POAs
- And You Thought Your Family Was Crazy
- Another Reason Not To Gift Residence
- Family Dispute Article
- Estate Planning 101: Introduction to Estate Planning
- Duty To File Will
- Rosa Parks Probate Dispute to Mediation
- Art Show for Urns
- The Office on "Conflict Resolution"
- Bloglet Problems and the Switch to FeedBlitz
- Fiduciary Duty and Non-Probate Assets
- Kirby Puckett's Ashes
- Disclaimers
- Living Trust Schemes and Probate Myths
- "Dear Amy" and Kids Stealing From Parents
- "The Office" and Conflict Resolution
- Disinheriting: How Little is Too Little?
- More on Rosa Parks Probate Litigation
- Illinois Real Estate Blog
- Julius Caesar and His Will
- John Donovan's Estate of War, and Irrevocability
- Madeleine Stockdale: New Jersey Probate Litigation
- Twinkies, Shortstops, and Gangsters: Homes of Famous People
- More Blogs of Interest
- Dealing with Tangible Personal Property
- Life Insurance Made Easy
- New Multi-Board Residential Real Estate Contract
- Will of Richard Nixon
- Marilyn Monroe's Personal Property
- Probate vs. Non-Probate Property: The Trump Card
- Real Estate For Sale Websites
- Take Your Adversary to Lunch
- Different Types of Administrators
- Probate By Mail or Phone
- Estate of Doyle: Powers of Attorney, Revocation, and Guardianship
- The Public Administrator
- Premarital Agreements and Disclosure
- Follow-up on John G. Kenedy Jr.
- Celebrity Prenups!
- Welcome Taxalicious
- The Inheritance Surprise?
- Removing the Representative
- Ralph Haines Probate Litigation
- More on Ghostwritten Blogs
- The New Money Magazine
- Contesting a Will and Statutes of Limitations
- Joan Kroc, NPR, and Charitable Giving
- Trust Construction and Personal Property Case
- ADR-related Blogs
- Pro Se Probate: Some Final Thoughts
- Thoughts on Requiring an Attorney for Probate, and Related Issues
- Blogs and Ghostwriting
- Requiring an Attorney for Probate
- Charles Dickens' Bleak House
- Probate Forms for Chicago-Area Counties
- Estate Planning for Farmers
- Mediation in Estate Planning and Probate: A Survey (Part 3 - Court Links)
- Five Things I Learned From Jury Duty
- Estate Planning After Divorce
- Anna Nicole Smith and the Probate Exception
- Estate Planning For Collectors
- McCartney-Eastman Probate Litigation
- Mediation in Estate Planning and Probate: A Survey (Part 2 - Court Links)
- Mediation in Estate Planning and Probate: A Survey (Part 1 - Articles)
- Gifts to Charity: The Slate 60
- Wills vs. Living Trusts: Now or Later
- Florida: Enabling Bad Estate Planning
- More on Will and Trust Construction: Ambiguities
- The Onion on Personal Property Disputes
- An Intro to Will (and Trust) Construction
- Lillian Glasser and the Second Power of Attorney
- Happy Valentine's Day!
- Attorney's Fees: How Much Do You Charge?
- Faerber and Claims Notices
- Wills - Joint, Mutual, Reciprocal
- zillow.com
- Genealogy and Probate Records
- Guardianships, Alzheimer's, and Love
- More on Wieland, Brown, and Client Trust Accounts
- Client Trust Accounts, IOLTA, and the Takings Clause
- California Estate Planning Practice Blog
- Howard Hughes and the Spammers
- Mediation Nation: DC Baseball and Cicero Home Depot
- Dickens on Pet Trusts, and Thomas Pynchon
- Incentive Trusts
- Claims and Limitations
- Cryonics and Personal Revival Trusts
- John Hodgman on Negotiation
- The Bequests Quiz
- ADR and George Washington's Will
- Chancery and Bleak House
- Sullivan on Estate Planning for Same-Sex Couples
- The Return of J.G. Banks
- Lessons from the Lillian Glasser Case
- Premarital Agreements and Insurance
- Premarital Agreements: A Short Introduction
- More on Lillian Glasser
- Clark Allison on Buy-Sell Agreements
- FLPs and Giving Away Property That Loses Value
- Blogs of Note
- ADR: Basics and Baseball "Final Offer" Arbitration
- Thoughts on the Lillian Glasser Case
- Lawyer Fun
- State Estate Taxes: Problems in '06
- Only in California
- Citation to Discover Information: Cook County Procedures
- More Thoughts on the Lender Report Card
- Lender Report Card
- Slate on Mortgage Foreclosures
- Estate P.A.C.T.: A Service For Preparing Probate Property for Sale
- Good Resource for Illinois Safety Deposit Boxes
- Howard Hughes and the Mormon Will: Final Thoughts
- Howard Hughes and the Mormon Will: "The Investigation," Part 2
- Howard Hughes and the Mormon Will: "The Investigation"
- Howard Hughes and the Mormon Will: Just the Facts
- Howard Hughes and the Mormon Will: Part 1
- Judge Perivolidis on Probate Mediation
- Guardianships, Control and Pressure
- Grieving "Peanuts" and Estate Planning
- Do It Yourselfers, Probate, and Wills
- Beneficiary Designations
- Gifts, Trusts, and the "Generous" Parent
- Year-End Gifting Made Easy
- Offer and Acceptance: Contract Law and Real Estate
- Real Estate Disclosures and Sales "As Is"
- Pride, Prejudice and the Entail
- Rosa Parks and Probate Litigation
- Probate Fees
- Trust Distributions, Part 2: Total Return Trusts
- The Chicago Tribune on Mortgage Fraud
- Trust Distributions, Part 1: Income and Principal
- Probate Litigation Problems and the Kusbach Family
- McAdam Probate Litigation and Attorney-Trustee Conflicts
- Trustee Duties: Total Loyalty
- "Roll Dem Bones": Illinois' New Disposition of Remains Act
- Cheating and Escheating
- Illinois Estate Tax Forms
- Professor Langbein on Connecticut Probate
- Simultaneous Deaths and Morbidity
- Planning for an Inheritance
- Mortgage Foreclosure Alternatives
- Corporate Trustee Succession and Trust Administration
- Scary Estate Planning and Probate Stories, Part 5
- Scary Estate Planning and Probate Stories, Part 4
- Scary Estate Planning and Probate Stories, Part 3
- Scary Estate Planning and Probate Stories, Part 2
- Scary Estate Planning and Probate Stories, Part 1
- Intro to Buy-Sell Agreements
- More on Problems with Charitable Bequests
- Bill Frist and Blind Trusts
- Charitable Bequest Problem: Yale, the Pequot Library, and Christopher Columbus
- The Risky Business of Crazy Mortgages
- More on Anna Nicole Smith's Probate Case
- Changing your Estate Plan
- Abatement
- Change in Guardianship Requirements
- Lapsed Legacies and the Anti-Lapse Statute, Part 2
- Lapsed Legacies and the Anti-Lapse Statute, Part 1
- Frank Lloyd Wright and the Life Estate Agreement
- More on Mortgage Fraud
- Anna Nicole Smith Goes to the Supreme Court
- Probate Finality: Exhuming a Body in Texas
- The Chicago Outfit and Real Estate
- The Estate Tax and Katrina
- The Great MLS Battle
- Preemptive Use of the Slayer Statute
- Advancements
- Real Estate Closings and "The Nice Guy"
- The Importance of Being a Vigilant Creditor
- Gifting to your Attorney
- What the Heck is Ademption?
- Probate Fights: A "Poor Little Rich Boy"
- Home Seller's Blog
- California "Cash Advances" for Beneficiaries
- Out of Town
- Intro to Mortgage Fraud
- Estate Planning for College Students
- Living Trust Fallacies
- James Fenimore Cooper's Will
- Assessments and Privacy
- Handling Small Estates, Part 1
- "Hobo Joe" and Probate Detective Work
- Trust Funding
- An Introduction to Citations
- Slayer Statute Follow-Up
- The Great Wealth Transfer
- A Family Lawyer on Guardians
- Ethics for Estate Planning Attorneys
- Forbes vs. Kinsley on the Flat Tax
- The Rashidi Wheeler Case and Fiduciary Duty
- Using a Will for Non-Probate Property
- Blogging About Blogs, Part 2: Lawyers and Legal Marketers
- Will Contests, Part 3: Melvin Dummar and Howard Hughes' Will
- TOD Accounts in New York
- Will Contests, Part 2: Notice, and the Right to Terminate Independent Administration
- Will Contests, Part 1: Formal Proof of Will
- Blogging about Blogs
- Thoughts about Attorneys as Fiduciaries
- Anna Nicole Smith and the Best. Correction. Ever.
- Fiduciary Duty and the Mikrut Case
- Cook County Public Guardian vs. Preservationists
- The Murdoch Family's Inheritance Fight
- Federal Estate Tax Repeal, Part 11: The Vote Postponed, and The Wall Street Journal Speaks Up
- Federal Estate Tax Repeal, Part 10: NPR Weighs In
- "Unforeseen Circumstances" and the Capital Gains Exclusion
- The Longest Probate
- Realtor Battles in Missouri
- A Bit More on Disclaimers
- Thanks for Nuthin' -- When a Gift Isn't a Gift
- Federal Estate Tax Repeal, Part 9: The Senate Vote Approaches
- Guardianship of a Minor: A Few Basics
- Deciding When a Living Trust Is Appropriate
- ADR Language in Trust Documents: A Problem?
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Probate?
- Living Trusts and Asset Protection
- Privacy for the Pritzkers?
- Very Good New Estate Planning and Probate Blog
- www.taxalmanac.org
- Friendship, or Undue Influence?
- More on the Cochonour Case
- Federal Estate Tax Repeal, Part 8: The Family Farm (Non)Issue
- Resource Page: Local Transfer Tax Information
- Real Estate, Probate and the "Chain of Title"
- Resource Page: Lender/Payoff Letter Information
- Probate and Minor Beneficiaries
- Google Earth and Chicago Real Estate
- Investment Real Estate Case Study, Part 2
- Investment Real Estate Case Study, Part 1
- Two New Real Estate Resources
- Probate Judge Misconduct
- Estate Planning Foulups of the Rich and Famous
- The "Get a Will" Express Leaves the Tracks
- Powers of Attorney and Real Estate Closings
- Gifts of Real Property and the $250,000 Capital Gains Exclusion
- Just Say No - To Acting as Executor or Trustee?
- Spousal Rights in Probate, Part 1
- States Recouping Medicaid Costs
- Scooped! Illinois' New Rule 1.17 (Sale of a Law Practice)
- Estate Planning for Same-Sex Couples
- Safekeeping for your Will
- Tax Prorations and Reproration Agreements
- Fiduciary Responsibility, Even for Judges (kind of)
- Dear Lender or Mortgage Broker,...
- Statutory Custodial Claims, Part 2: Problems
- Statutory Custodial Claims, Part 1: An Introduction
- Terri Schiavo: The Autopsy
- Another Google Maps-Based Real Estate Resource
- An Intro to Guardianships, and The Health Care Surrogate Act
- New Cook County Recorder Site vs. Privacy
- Living Trusts and Multiple Probates
- The Listing Agreement: Keeping Your Eye on the Ball
- Steve Bogira's "Courtroom 302"
- Even the Rich May Not Have Estate Plans
- Brigham Young's Will: SOLD
- Standing to Contest a Will
- Eli Lilly-related Probate Litigation
- Home Funerals/Caskets for Sale
- Decedents, Safety Deposit Boxes, and the Chicken-and-Egg Problem
- New Blog on Probate Litigation
- Funeral Trusts, Part 2: A Checklist
- Federal Estate Tax Repeal, Part 7: More Resources
- Living Trusts, Probate Records, and Privacy
- Guardians and Fiduciary Duties
- Estate Planning for the "Problem Child"
- Bridge Loans: Is There a Better Way?
- Funeral Arrangements for Soldiers
- Are We In a Real Estate Bubble?
- FindLaw Survey: Most Americans Don't Have a Will
- Patti Blagojevich and Realtor Commissions
- Disposing of Personal Property
- Oak Park's Ban on "For Sale" Signs: Unconstitutional?
- Isaac Stern's Bad Executor
- The Law of Averages: Earnest Money
- Chicago Crime and Google RSS
- Ads for Cremation Society of Illinois, J.G. Banks
- Legal Documents and Burial Instructions
- www.deathandtaxesblog.com
- Federal Estate Tax Repeal, Part 6: Judge Posner and Professor Becker
- FSBO (“For Sale By Owner”): Points to Ponder
- Federal Estate Tax Repeal, Part 5: The Media Catches On, and Another Repeal-Related Problem
- Fees for Real Estate Closings, Part 3: My Fees
- Fees for Real Estate Closings, Part 2: Title Insurance and Attorney Agents
- Three Things You Can Do For A Better Funeral
- "Fear Factor" Creator's Will (Satire)
- Jessica Mitford's "The American Way of Death Revisited" (the conclusion of my 2-part review)
- Jessica Mitford's "The American Way of Death Revisited" (part 1 of my 2-part review)
- Fees for Real Estate Closings, Part 1: An Introduction
- Estate Planning Links
- The Mortgage Contingency Provision: Myths and Reality
- Gifting, Part 3: Naming a Joint Tenant
- Federal Estate Tax Repeal, Part 4: Economists Debate
- Problems for the "Death Care" (Funeral) Industry
- Intro to TOD and POD Accounts
- Great Resource for Charitable Giving
- Law Quadrangle Notes on Drafting Errors, Living Wills
- Craigslist + Google Maps = The Future of Real Estate
- The Rabbi on Estate Tax Repeal
- Gifting, Part 2: Tuition and Medical Expenses
- Gifting, Part 1: The Easiest Gifts to Make
- Oprah and the Employee "Gifts"
- More on Slayer Statutes
- Death and Frequent Flier Miles
- Technology Inventory Follow-up
- "Veronica Mars" and Myths of Estate Planning
- Schiavo and the Slayer Statute
- The Town Gift, and Will and Trust Amendments
- Down with the Home Mortgage Interest Deduction?
- Federal Estate Tax Repeal, Part 3
- Client List Analysis
- Federal Estate Tax Repeal, Part 2
- Death and Taxes: The Death of the Federal Estate Tax
- Guardianship Revenge?
- The Case of the Grand Send-off
- Independent Administration: Monitoring the Process
- My Final Word on Advance Directives (for a while)
- "Per Stirpes"
- More Thoughts on Intestacy
- An Intestacy Primer
- Home Sale Contingencies
- Podcast #1: Estate Planning and Disability Issues and the Schiavo Case
- The Pourover Will: Your Insurance Policy
- The Schiavo Case: The Aftermath
- Supervised Administration
- Senator John Heinz III, Probate Privacy and Independent Administration
- Non-Blog Site Update
- Joan Bennett Kennedy Follow-up
- Appraising a Haunted House
- Registering Your Living Will or Power of Attorney
- Buying New Construction
- Alternative Dispute Resolution and Probate Litigation
- Investigating the Professionals
- The Little Princess vs. The Pritzker Trustees
- Fiduciary Responsibility (Even for Priests)
- Bad Mortgage Lenders
- Hunter Thompson's Gonzo Trust and Literary Executors
- Powers of Attorney: The Best Solution?
- Missing the Point of Living Wills
- HIPAA and Powers of Attorney
- Business Succession and DisneyWar
- Confusion, Part 2
- Chicagoland Real Estate Confusion
- Ethical Wills?
- Litigation-Proof Estate Planning?
- Family Settlement Agreements
- Elderly Drivers and Probate Litigation
- Coors Family Estate Litigation
- The Lighter Side of Tax Excuses
- Even More Thoughts on Claims
- More Thoughts on Claims
- Insolvent Estates
- Taking Care of Toto
- The Guardianship of Joan Bennett Kennedy
- Judges, Land Trusts, and Privacy
- Technology Inventory
- Power of Attorney Forms
- The Rogue Economist vs. Real Estate Agents
- A Pour-over Will in Action
- Terri Schiavo: The Real Lesson
- Transfer Tax Information
- Appraisals: Art, Not Science
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Recent Entries
- August 24, 2010 11:25 AM
Who's The Boss? The Fiduciary-Beneficiary RelationshipIf you grew up in the 1980's like I did,... - August 17, 2010 1:40 PM
What the heck is "bond in lieu of probate"?In Illinois, you can avoid a probate proceeding so long... - August 4, 2010 1:05 PM
Illinois Pet Trusts: An IntroductionA line in my baby book reads: "Joel is afraid... - July 27, 2010 9:29 AM
Refuse or Lose: The Doctrine of ElectionRobert S. Held has a nice article in this month's... - July 21, 2010 7:58 PM
Lenders, Refinancing, and Retitling Assets In Trust: An Open LetterDear Lenders, Hey! Hope everything is going well. I just...
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