Usually, a slayer statute question is straightforward because the person accused of the killing is also the person named to inherit. This one may not be. Nick Reiner has asked a Los Angeles probate court for access to a Trust his parents created for him when he was a baby, and the distribution he seeks reportedly came due before they died. That timing raises a harder question than the headlines suggest, while also reminding us of something far more ordinary that every Estate Plan should address.
legal education
Is Your Estate Plan Living in the Past? 10 Signs It May Be Time for an Update
An Estate Plan can be signed, stored, and still be outdated. Major life changes, old beneficiary designations, unfunded Trusts, and outdated incapacity documents can all create problems when the plan is needed most. Read on for ten signs that your Estate Plan may be living in the past.
Still Fighting: The Estate Planning Legacy of Shannen Doherty
Shannen Doherty spent years fighting breast cancer with courage and candor. In her final days, she also fought to finalize her divorce – signing the settlement just one day before she died. More than a year later, her estate is still fighting to enforce it. Shannen’s story is a powerful reminder that even the best-laid plans can unravel when the wrong people are involved – and that naming the right Trustee may be the most important decision you ever make.
Declare Your Independence From Intestacy
Every Fourth of July, we celebrate the right to determine our own destiny. Yet many Americans leave some of life’s most important decisions to state intestacy laws by failing to create an Estate Plan. This Independence Day, learn why declaring your independence from intestacy may be one of the most meaningful gifts you can leave for the people you love.
When Estate Planning Documents Say One Thing—and Mean Another
Two recent conversations at Summit, one about blended family planning and one about trust language, highlight a challenge that shows up more often than attorneys might expect: clients and even attorneys sometimes read estate planning documents more literally than the drafters intended. This article explores how terms like “equal” and “irrevocable” can create real confusion and why helping clients understand how a plan actually functions matters just as much as how carefully it was drafted.
Spring Summit 2026: Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler
The best Estate Planners stay current on the latest trends. The American Academy of Estate Planning held its semi-annual conference providing education and learning for and inspiring excellence in its Members.
See Larger Map Get Directions