Market Watch:  Two chores that most people gladly put off: The first is writing a will—and the second is updating it to reflect changed circumstances. Either way, it’s crucial to name the right executors.Regarding the first chore, my client roster includes recalcitrant individuals who’ve yet to write their wills. I regularly remind them how badly things could turn out if they fail to do so. For instance, their assets might wind up with individuals whom they never intended to benefit or they consider less deserving of their largess than others.

Financial Advisor Magazine:  “Almost all clients begin thinking at some point about how they are going to be remembered when they’re gone. Many think specifically about the legacy they will be leaving. But legacy is an odd thing. I would argue that the concept is somewhat selfish. We wish to direct it, but we actually have little control over it. Various people in our lives often get to determine how we will be remembered, basing it somewhat on their interactions with us but mostly on their own views of the world.”

Fox News:  “A Colorado woman’s house was ransacked last week after throngs of people were reportedly led to believe it was the site of an estate sale. Mary Andrews told the Daily Camera she left her Longmont home unlocked Friday and, when she returned, she found people walking out with things from inside.“

JDSUPRA:  “Perhaps encouraged by the recent decision in Marasse Estate, we have another recent case from the Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench addressing an estate’s ability to claim spousal support and its liability to pay spousal support.  Stalzer v Stalzer, 2018 ABQB 191 is reassurance to estate planning and family law practitioners that a person’s obligation to pay spousal support to their deceased ex-spouse’s estate is not a general rule of law and was specific to the drafting of the various agreements in play in Marasse.”

The New York Times:  “For parents, deciding how to divvy up their assets can be an incredibly onerous task. This is especially true for those with substantial wealth and multiple children or beneficiaries to consider. A common mistake parents make when undertaking estate planning is focusing too much on legal issues while ignoring family dynamics.”

JDSUPRA:  “With all the changes in the new tax laws, some people may be hesitant to move forward with an estate plan. It is important, however, to keep in mind that most clients will not be subject to the federal estate tax and therefore the changes to the federal estate tax laws do not impact planning.“

The New York Times:  “Pre-need funeral planning allows individuals to take care of details concerning their funeral and body disposition as a means to prevent the burden from falling on family. Pre-need planning enables you to decide whether you want to be cremated or buried, the type of funeral service you want, and even what attire you want when buried.“