Estate Planning

How Estate Plans Fail

You aren’t likely to know if your plan succeeds or fails, because you’ll be gone. But you should take steps to ensure success. One reason for estate plan failures is lack of follow through. For your estate plan to be successful, you need to implement the plan; then regularly update the plan.  Throughout your life things change; your plan should be updated to reflect these changes; such as marriage, divorce, kids, house purchase, etc. Also, laws change and your plan should be update accordingly. An estate plan isn’t something that can be completed once and forgotten. An obsolete plan can…

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Veteran

Memphis Attorney Takes Funds from Veterans

Keith L. Dobbs of Memphis, Tennessee, and who was already disbarred by the Tennessee Bar Association for prior bad acts, has been charged with a total of 67 federal felony violations.  One indictment seeks the forfeiture of at least $406,533.00 in criminal proceeds, according to a statement from the Social Security Office of the Inspector General. According to the indictments, Dobbs misappropriated funds from 26 victims who received veteran’s benefits and nine Social Security recipients. Dobbs acted as a fiduciary for these victims because they were unable to manage their benefits due to physical or mental disabilities. The indictments were…

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Stealing from Disabled Person

$250 Per Hour for Mowing Lawn Of Mentally Ill Lady

Austin R. Buttars an attorney in Dublin, Ohio, has been suspended indefinitely by the Ohio Supreme court for overcharging or stealing more than $128,000 from a mentally ill client, including charging his $250 hourly legal rate for mowing his client’s lawn. Buttars has been under an interim suspension since June 2019, after he was convicted of fourth-degree felony theft. The Court conditioned his return to the practice of law on proof that he paid the remaining $66,174 of the $128,674 he took from his former client or that he reimbursed the Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection for any amount awarded…

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Probate Jackal Alert

Be Aware of these Terms & Situations

Guardian Ad Litem A Guardian Ad Litem is a person appointed by the court, usually to help determine whether or not a guardian or conservator is necessary and to determine what is in the best interests of the prospective ward. Once the probate court rules on the evidence, a long-term conservator or guardian is appointed if warranted. The term “ad litem” is Latin. It means “for the suit.” As noted above, guardian ad litems are temporary guardians appointed while the courts evaluate the evidence. Typically, once the probate court appoints a guardian ad litem; soon after a permanent guardian and…

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Revocable Living Trust

Why You May Need a Revocable Living Trust

Everyone should have the basic documents to protect themselves and their family from the clutches of probate.  However, you may also need to have a revocable living trust. A Living Trust is a collection of documents and instruments that keep your assets from going to probate. Instruments can include setting up a land trust, Limited Liability Corporation, etc. A revocable living trust is one of many types of trusts. The “living” aspect refers to the fact that the trust is created while you’re still alive (as opposed to a testamentary trust). “Revocable” designates the trust as one that you, the…

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Aging in U.S.

Over 5 Million Americans Over 65 Living with Dementia

Here are some sobering fact about getting older The number of Americans living with Alzheimer’s is growing — and growing fast. More than 5 million Americans of all ages have Alzheimer’s. In 2020 an estimated 5.8 million Americans age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s dementia. Eighty percent are age 75 or older. — One in 10 10 people age 65 and older (10%) has Alzheimer’s dementia. — Almost two-thirds of Americans with Alzheimer’s are women. — Older African-Americans are about twice as likely to have Alzheimer’s or other dementias as older whites. — Hispanics are about one and…

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Avoid these will mistakes

Top 5 Mistakes to Avoid When Making Your Will

Nearly Half of Americans over 55 Do Not Have a Will.  And, a great number of those that does have a will, have likely made a few simple mistakes, which can lead to your will be contested or made invalid. Make sure you have not made these mistakes: -1-  Not letting family know that you have a will Having a will is useless if nobody knows it exists. Make sure your executor and other trusted family member know where to look for your will when the time comes. Be sure to leave it in a secure place that is still…

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