Legal Wills Blog - May 18, 2013
5 good reasons to write your own Will rather than see a lawyer
I need to preface this article by clarifying what I mean by writing your own Will. I do not mean sitting down with a blank piece of paper, and I do not mean using a blank form kit that you may buy from a bookstore. Either of these approaches is an absolutely terrible idea. No, […]
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“How come your Wills are so cheap?”
This is one of the most common questions we are asked; “how is it that if I go to a professional Will writer – a solicitor or lawyer, they will charge me 20 times your price?”. How do we make your service so affordable? I think the most important factor is our sense of value […]
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Bleak House and your Last Will and Testament
I was recently reminded of the Charles Dickens novel Bleak House, which centres around the court case Jarndyce and Jarndyce. For those of you unfamiliar with the story; it tells of a legal battle over a large inheritance which is dragged on through the court system. In fact, it continues for generations until the case is […]
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My Life Locker
I read a great article last week entitled “10 minute guide to estate planning“. The article starts by framing the problem; everybody knows that they should have their estate planning in place, but only 44% had done anything about it, but then the article strips away the complexities and conveys three simple messages; Get life […]
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Why your next Will probably won’t be your Last Will
It is a mystery why most adults do not prepare their Will. We all know it is an essential document; it describes how the estate should be distributed, it makes somebody responsible to carrying out the directions (the Executor), it may name guardians for children, and set up trusts for minor children. Most importantly it […]
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The difficulties facing an estate administrator
We have written posts in the past about the importance of choosing the right person as Executor of your estate, and discussed the responsibilities that come with this position. There are two specific challenges that face an estate administrator that are constantly brought to our attention at LegalWills. The first is locating the Will. Almost […]
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Understanding Digital Death: Steps to Protect Yourself Online (Guest Post)
The following is a guest post from Will Eve of finder.com.au There’s a growing awareness about the downside of living a life so intertwined with computers. First there was the the personal computer, an instrument that made work easier for so many occupations, but we did get up and walk away from it when our work was […]
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Things can go wrong
Many people have a strange notion that the best time to write their Last Will and Testament is just before they die, and that preparing the document today is unnecessary. We’ve even had people on our Facebook page say that “fortunately, I don’t need a Will yet”. We made reference to this in an earlier […]
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You don’t need much to leave a lasting legacy
We often hear people say that they don’t have a Will because they don’t have much to leave. In a previous article we explained how this excuse is a poor one, as a Will isn’t supposed to come into effect the day it is written, but at some point, hopefully in the distant future. Put […]
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Some quick tips ahead of preparing your Will
We thought it would be useful to give a few tips for anybody contemplating using one of the services offered at LegalWills. We tell people that you can create a Will in around 20 minutes, but there are a few simple things that you can do to make the process smoother. 1. Don’t be intimidated. […]
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News Headlines - May 18, 2013
Reduce Estate Tax By Making Gifts
You can do a lot to minimize your estate taxes before you die. One way is to make some gifts.
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Nightmare On Elm Street
Declining home prices and higher adjustable rate mortgage payments spell big trouble for some borrowers.
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Choosing The Right Financial Adviser
Like hiring a personal trainer, finding the right financial adviser can help whip your finances into shape.
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Pay Death To Go Away
Five ways to turn your wealth into health.
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Insuring The Future
Newlyweds need protection now more than ever.
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Taxes: Estate Planning
You can't take it with you, but you don't have to give it all to the government either.
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Estate Planning
Here are ten things you need to know about estate planning.
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Estate Planning In The Digital Age
If you died, could anyone access your online accounts? Here's how to protect and pass on your digital assets.
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You're Dead, Now What?
An estate plan will help your loved ones avoid delays, legal problems and uncertainty.
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Grandma's Got A Boyfriend, Now What?
The older you are, the more complicated your finances, especially if you're combining households.
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Brookdale Senior Living Announces Acquisition Transaction
NASHVILLE, Tenn., May 15, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Brookdale Senior Living Inc. (NYSE: BKD) today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire seven senior living communities with a ...
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What You Need to Know About Assisted Living Facilities
What do consumers want to know about assisted living facilities?
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Capital Senior Living Corporation to Present at the Deutsche Bank 38th Annual Health Care Conference on Thursday, May ...
Capital Senior Living Corporation , one of the country’s largest operators of senior living communities, today announced that management will make a presentation regarding the Company at the Deutsche Bank 38th Annual Health Care Conference at the Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel in Boston, MA on Thursday, May 30, 2013, beginning at 3:30 p.m.
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Living with lead focus
LIVING with lead will be a hot topic this week as Queensland chief health officer Dr Jeanette Young travels to Mount Isa to coordinate an information session for the public.
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Oakbrook Center welcomes Fixtures Living, award-winning experiential showroom, to Chicago
SAN DIEGO, May 14, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Fixtures Living , an innovative retail concept specializing in premium lifestyle products for the home, has announced plans to open its first experiential showroom ...
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Brookdale to Present at 2013 UBS Global Healthcare Conference on May 20
NASHVILLE, Tenn., May 16, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Brookdale Senior Living Inc. (NYSE: BKD) today announced that management will make a presentation regarding the Company at the 2013 UBS Global Healthcare ...
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Assisted Living Concepts Stockholders Approve Acquisition by TPG
Assisted Living Concepts, Inc. announced that, at a special meeting of stockholders held earlier today, its stockholders voted to approve the previously announced merger agreement with affiliates of TPG. ...
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Living under cancer's shadow
For Claire Cook, the future has long been when, not if, she will get breast cancer.
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In the Living Room, Still No Sign of Google
While other companies, including Microsoft, Apple and Sony, continue to enter the living room with successful consumer electronics that connect the TV to the Internet, Google has continually failed.
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Fixtures Living to Debut in Chicago
San Diego-based lifestyle and home retailer Fixtures Living will open its first showroom outside of California in Chicago.
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Advance Directives Manage End of Life Care Issues and Reduce End of Life Medical Costs
A new article available online in the American Journal of Public Health by two Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health faculty makes a compelling case that end-of-life care issues need to become an integral part of the public health agenda. Dan Morhaim, MD, and Keshia Pollack, PhD, point out that the low rate of completion of advance directives in the minority population can be ...
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Too Few People Have End-of-Life Directives
Too few people have advance end-of-life directives, and the lack is especially apparent in the minority population, according to researchers from Johns Hopkins.
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Chaplain to discuss advance directives today as part of ongoing education series
Chaplain Roger Flowers, or Wesley Medical Center, will lead a discussion and give guidance on advance directives at the Senior Circle Lunch and Learn program at 11 a.m. today in the Glenn Smith Room at Wesley Medical Center.
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Community Calendar
Submit your event at least two weeks in advance by going to events.savannahnow.com. You can also mail to Community Calendar, P.O. Box 1088, Savannah, GA 31402. Announcements are printed daily in the Accent section as space allows.
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Value judgments - Tue, 23 Apr 2013 PST
At 26, Cara Hernandez has her untimely death about as well-planned as it can be. It’s all in her advance directive, instructions for family and doctors to follow if an accident or some other catastrophe leaves her in dire condition and unable to make her wishes known.
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Patients advised: Express treatment wishes in advance
CHICAGO, April 28 (UPI) -- Advanced directives -- documents that spell out the kind of healthcare one wants -- are free and easy to complete, but many put it off, U.S. researchers say.
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Form helps enforce patient's wishes
By Tedford J. Taylor No topic is a less likely conversation-starter than our eventual deaths. Still, there is a lot to talk about.
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If you don’t want to be a prisoner of medical technology, let someone know
By Warren McInnis Hughes When Helen joined her family at her ailing mother’s bedside, she was glad her mother had made her wishes known in writing. She had stipulated that no extraordinary measures be taken if she should enter a crisis stage. That action would resolve any disagreement among her children over decisions regarding her care. read more
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End-of-life care issues need to become integral part of public health agenda, reveals new article
A new article available online in the American Journal of Public Health by two Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health faculty makes a compelling case that end-of-life care issues need to become an integral part of the public health agenda.
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Asheville-area health related events.
MEDICARE CHOICES MADE EASY: 6-8 p.m. today, Fairview Branch Library. Class explains how Medicare works, enrollment process, how to avoid penalties and ways that beneficiaries might save money. Free but call Council on Aging at 277-8288 to reserve your space.
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Legal How-To: Getting a General Power of Attorney
Getting a power of attorney can be important, especially as relatives and loved ones fall ill or become unable to make decisions for themselves. So how do you go about getting a power of attorney?
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Attorney General Holder defends Justice Department subpoena power against news media
Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. on Tuesday defended the Justice Department's use of its subpoena power to monitor the telephone records of editors and reporters at The Associated Press in a leak investigation, but said he was unaware of the details because he had recused himself from the leak ...
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Second court invalidates Obama recess appointment
WASHINGTON (AP) — A second federal appeals court has found that President Barack Obama exceeded his power when he bypassed the Senate to install a member to the National Labor Relations Board.
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Investigation into Former Castle High Treasurer Accused of Misappropriating $142,000
Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller's office took legal action against a former employee of Castle High School in Warrick County who is accused of misappropriating nearly $142,000 in school funds.
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Ouster of IRS official isn't ending investigations
WASHINGTON (AP) — Don't look for the outcry over the Internal Revenue Service's improper targeting of tea party groups to subside with the ouster of the agency's acting commissioner.
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Transfer of immoveable property via power of attorney sales: an analysis
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GOP, Dems challenge Holder over subpoenas to AP
WASHINGTON (AP) — Congressional Republicans and Democrats on Wednesday challenged Attorney General Eric Holder over the Justice Department's handling of the investigation of national security leaks and its failure to talk to The Associated Press before issuing subpoenas for the news service's telephone records.
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'How do I register power of attorney?'
Jessica Gorst-Williams explains how to make registering power of attorney with a bank as quick and painless as possible.
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Former Springfield real-estate agent gets six years for stealing from trust, aunt
A former Springfield real estate agent has been sentenced to six years in prison for stealing money from a trust and from an aunt for whom he had power of attorney.
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Man gets six years for stealing from trust, aunt
A former Springfield real estate agent has been sentenced to six years in prison for stealing money from a trust and from an aunt for whom he had power of attorney.
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PartingWishes.com News Articles
PRESS RELEASE: LegalWills.co.uk Launches DIY Online Legal Will Service
The new, online service from Legalwills.co.uk allows individuals to prepare their will, in the
convenience of their own home, for a fraction of the cost of hiring a lawyer.
A Last Will and Testament - The Worst Excuses For Not Having One
What should every adult have, but nearly three quarters do not?
An up-to-date Last Will and Testament.
Most people do not have a legal Will because of these top 10 excuses.
PRESS RELEASE: A Legal Will Does not Last a Lifetime
Most Canadians do not have a legal Will, but of those that do, most are not kept current.
The process of maintaining one's Will is extremely important, but with a lawyer it can be
inconvenient and expensive. A new online service by LegalWills.ca allows people to
maintain their legal Will conveniently and cost effectively.
Where There's A Will...
The one thing in life that is guaranteed is death, and it is never too early
to start thinking about your last wishes.
Living Wills
Death and dying-it's something that many people avoid talking about. But
refusing to talk about it and make your end of life decisions can cause
you--and your family--more grief and money than you may know.
Everybody's going to die, so we all need
Wills
It may not be a pleasant thought to think about, but it happens. Everyone
will die, and not all of us will die peacefully on our deathbed. It is vital
that everyone, including teens, have a will.
Poll: More planning ahead for death, living
wills
People are more likely these days to plan for their own death or talk to
close relatives about the subject that many have long been inclined to avoid,
a poll found.
The Web of Grief
Mrs. Strom is one of countless bereaved individuals who have turned to the
Internet in their time of grief, using it not only to plan a funeral or
contact relatives, but to pay tribute to a life lost.
Promoting Advance Directives
Society has paid a price for not recognizing the value of advance directives.
End of Life Care
There are a great many care options for the last days of life. Emotional
and philosophical concerns, deciding where to receive care, and legal documents
(such as advance directives, a health care proxy, and a living will) need
to be discussed, decided, and legally secured to ensure you receive the
treatment you want.
Gay Wills: Giving You The Choice
Under current legislation, if you don't make a Will your gay partner has
no automatic right to your estate.
Wills Protect Children's Interests
Your will may be the most important document you ever create for your children.
Remains of Star Trek's 'Scotty' headed for
space
Evidently Star Trek actor James "Scotty" Doohan took the catchphrase "beam
me up" very seriously - his cremated remains will be launched into space
in accord with his last wishes.
Clearing Up Estate Document Confusion
Few topics confuse investors more than figuring out what estate-related
documents they need. Living Wills, Living Trusts, and Powers of Attorney
are just a few of the terms that most find hard to define, let alone understand.
Be specific about your final wishes
What is the difference between advance directives and DNR (Do Not Resuscitate)?
What should I do?
Legal Issues of Elderhood
There are four crucial documents each senior citizen should have: 1. An
updated and valid will; 2. A durable power of attorney; 3. A living will;
4. A durable power of attorney for health care.
Living Wills Can Help In Hard Times
Q: My family and my doctor have been pushing me to sign a living will. I'm
not comfortable signing a living will at this time. Do I really need one,
or is this something I can do without?
Think About Your Estate Planning Checklist
You may think it's too soon to do estate planning. Yet, none of us can predict
the future - so you'll want to be prepared for anything.
Digital Inheritance Raises Legal Questions
As more of our personal lives go digital, family members, estate attorneys
and online service providers are increasingly grappling with what happens
to those information bits when their owners die.
Families Need To Communicate End-of-Life
Wishes
What do "quality of life," "heroic measures" and "dying with dignity" mean
to you? What kind of care would you want if you were unable to speak for
yourself? What are your hopes and fears about the medical treatments you
might or might not receive? What makes life worth living or, conversely,
not worth living?
What Next?
So, you've planned carefully, consulted the professionals and have your
estate plan in order. Have you considered, however, what would happen if
you became incapacitated or died suddenly? Would your spouse, family, attorney-in-fact
or successor trustee know what to do?
Young, Single and in Need of an Estate Plan
Remember that hilarious episode of "Friends" where Ross convinces Rachel,
Phoebe and the others to sit down and write their wills and designate durable
power of attorney to each other in the event something should happen to
them?
Little Things Cause Big Problems After Death
Death and taxes. We can't avoid them. And though we talk about taxes, death
is a subject most of us avoid. We know it's out there and coming this way.
Yet, we don't discuss it.
End-of-life Issues
Few things are more unnatural than talking about the end of one's life.
It is a very uncomfortable topic to discuss with your partner, children,
family and sometimes even your health-care provider.
As a Life Ebbs, the Ultimate Family Quarrel
Many people will put off the writing of a Living Will thinking that their
family will be able to agree on the most appropriate care. Countless press
articles suggest that the 30 minutes or so that it will take to prepare
a Living Will is time very well spent.
Loved ones' ashes can give back to nature
As if shooting them into space or pressing them into artificial diamonds
were not sufficiently offbeat, the deceased can now have their ashes mixed
into concrete to help form ocean fish habitats.
Florida Supreme Court Decision on Schiavo
Legal Case Highlights Importance of Getting Health Care Wishes in Writing
Elder Law Attorneys Offer Nine Tips to a Living Will, Health Care Proxy
and Health Care Power of Attorney.
The Desperate Case of Terri Schiavo
The lengthy legal battle over the fate of Terri Schiavo in Florida has heightened
people's interest in Living Wills and the Healthcare Power of Attorney.
Get Cracking On Will
People, in general, are often hesitant to prepare wills. There's a number
of reasons for this.
Internet Can Help Send Loved One On
Sure, you can buy a car, order flowers, download music, purchase videos,
fill prescriptions and even order pizza and grocery deliveries via the Internet.
But when a loved one passes away, would you log on to a web site such as
PartingWishes.com to send her on the way to the hereafter?
Digital Wills Concept Tested in Australia
People have been known to hide their wills in some pretty unusual locations,
but concealing one in digital form inside a watch may take some beating.
Member wins Six Feet Under DVD set during
"Make A Will Month"
Affiliate websites of PartingWishes.com (www.USLegalWills.com and www.LegalWills.ca)
ran a "Six Feet Under" contest. This contest was to promote the October
"Make A Will Month" at these web sites.
Online memorial adds second site for pets
A Canadian dot-com firm has expanded its business beyond online memorials
for friends and family members to create a site exclusively for honouring
the lives of pets.
PRESS RELEASE: ILovedMyPet.com
Online Pet Memorial Service helps grieving pet owners
The loss of a pet can be one of the most stressful moments of a person's
life. When a faithful companion of 10 years or more passes away, the feeling
of loss can be more profound than the loss of a family member.
Official Launch of the ILovedMyPet.com Web
Site
The web site is dedicated to assisting in the grieving process that follows
the loss of a loved family pet. Visitors can step through a simple
question-and-answer wizard to create a personalized memorial web page as
a tribute and commemoration to the life of their pet.
MyLife™ and MyMemorials™ services now Available
Have you ever wished you knew more about a relative who has now passed away,
their philosophies on life, their experiences, their achievements? Would
you like people to know the real you, after you are gone?
Out there: Remembering the dead
The price of immortality? How's 10 bucks sound? That's how much it costs
to create an online memorial to yourself that family and friends can visit
when you've left this mortal coil.
Create Funeral Plans, Wills at Unique Web
Site
No one wants to think about dying, but failure to do so can leave loved
ones in a bind. A unique Web site, PartingWishes.com, offers a variety of
services to help consumers deal with this difficult topic.
PRESS RELEASE: PartingWishes.com
Launches Unique Internet Estate Planning Services
PartingWishes.com has launched a unique portfolio of services that allows
consumers to communicate their final wishes to loved ones after they have
passed away. The interactive web site includes services for describing funeral
wishes, drafting a legal Will, preparing multimedia messages and creating
online memorials.
PRESS RELEASE: PartingWishes.com
Introduces New Online U.S. Legal Will Service
PartingWishes.com announces a revolutionary new service, enabling consumers
to create and update their Wills over the Internet. Now, from the comfort
and privacy of their own home, all that a consumer needs is an Internet
connection and about 30 minutes to create a custom Will that is legal in
their local jurisdiction.
U.S. MyWill™ Service is now Available
PartingWishes.com is pleased to announce that the
MyWill™ service is now available for our U.S. members. (This service
was made available to our Canadian members earlier this year.)
A Death In The Family Brings Financial Issues
Here's a list of my top financial issues to consider when your spouse or
common-law partner (CLP) dies.
Death Becomes You
Say goodbye to stodgy funerals. Boomers want more colourful sendoffs, something
with flair and personality. Flashy coffins and turning your loved one's
ashes into wearable gemstones are part of a whole new death experience.
Canadian MyWill™ Service is now Available
Who will care for your children? Who inherits your house, your money, or
your prized baseball card collection? At PartingWishes.com we have removed
the obstacles to writing a Will. It is convenient, low cost, and simple.
PRESS RELEASE: PartingWishes.com
Launches Unique Internet Estate Planning Services
PartingWishes.com has launched a unique portfolio of services that allows
consumers to communicate their final wishes to loved ones after they have
passed away. The interactive web site includes services for describing funeral
wishes, drafting a legal Will and preparing multimedia messages.
Divas Divine on Stairway to Heaven
When the coffin lid closes, would you really like the sound of Black Sabbath
to accompany you to your heavenly reward?
Elders' 'Day-At-A-Time' Approach Neglects
Planning
Senior citizens must ensure that their Will, Living Will, Power of Attorney,
funeral plans and healthcare directives are in order.
Family Feud Over Ted Williams Body
The family feud over Ted Williams' body deepened when his Will showed that
he wanted to be cremated, but the executor of his estate said the slugger
later decided to be frozen.
Wills Can Leave a Bitter Legacy
Poor planning, vague bequests may lead to family feuds, lawyers warn.
Stuart Adamson of Big Country dies without
a Will
A number of high profile cases have made headlines in North America which
demonstrate the importance of writing a Will and keeping it up to date.
Same-sex Partners Should Each Write a Legal
Will
News articles highlight the importance of writing a will in same-sex relationships.
PartingWishes.com secures additional funding
PartingWishes.com has secured additional funding from private investors.
The undisclosed amount assures the viability of PartingWishes.com and its
legal, funeral and estate planning services for the foreseeable future.
Estella Warren tries to communicate her final
messages
On a commercial flight in June, Planet of the Apes movie star Estella
Warren was so convinced that the plane was about to go down, that she felt
compelled to document her final messages.
More Than Half of Americans Don't Have a
Will, Says New Survey by FindLaw
According to a recent survey, 59% of American adults don't have a will,
giving them little control or input into issues, such as what will happen
to their assets and any minor children, after they die.
MyMessages™ service goes live
PartingWishes.com unveils the MyMessages™ service, which allows members
to prepare multimedia messages to be delivered to designated friends and
family members after they have passed away.
CBC's Market Place attacks the Canadian Legal
Will Kit (also known as the Canadian
National Will Kit, the Canadian National
Will Guide, and the Complete Canadian
Will Guide)
Consumer affairs TV show 'Market Place' attacks a product called the
Canadian Legal Will Kit, and questions the use of all Do-It-Yourself
Will kits.
Complete Strangers May Get a Share of Your
Estate
Another case demonstrating the consequences of dying without a Will has
been reported in California. This time the California Supreme Court reluctantly
decided that a widow whose husband died without a Will must share his property
with his half siblings, even though he never knew of their existence.
PRESS RELEASE: PartingWishes.com
Launches Online Funeral and Estate Planning Services
PartingWishes.com has launched their online funeral and estate planning
services web site. This innovative Internet site allows members to
create and maintain their Funeral wishes,
Last Will and Testament,
Living Will,
Power of Attorney, and other advanced
directives securely online from the convenience of their web browser.
PartingWishes.com is now online!
The initial launch of the web site includes services such as the "MyFuneral",
"MyKeyholders", and "MyWalletCards" services. |