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Mackay Dressler Law Firm

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Wills

What Should a Will Include?

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  With a will, you have the power to dictate how you want your estate to be divided up after you die. Although the major items included typically range from bank accounts and stocks to houses and cars, wills can even address to whom you want to give personal items, such as jewelry or furniture, […]

The Limitations of Wills

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  Many people create a will to convey in writing how they want their estate to be handled when they die. A properly executed will tells the court how to divide your assets and transfer them to your named heirs. A will can also include instructions to appoint a guardian for the care of minor […]

Contesting a Will: What To Know

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Contesting a will is more common than you might think, but legal standing, valid grounds, and potential consequences all play a role in determining whether a challenge is worthwhile. Therefore, it’s essential to understand who can contest a will, the reasons for doing so, and what the process entails. Only certain individuals and institutions have […]

Why a Will May Not Be Enough

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  A will has no legal power until it is admitted to probate and a personal representative is appointed by the court. But courts don’t act on their own after your death; someone must file the necessary paperwork. This is a built-in delay that can slow down the process significantly. Further, probate is a public […]

Can a Will Be Contested?

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  Did you know that your family and/or friends have the right to contest your will during probate proceedings? They are even entitled to challenge the validity of your will and various aspects of the inheritance left behind. As you can imagine, this can become very complex very quickly. If you believe a will inaccurately […]

What’s the Story on Gift Taxes?

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In brief, the IRS is not imposing a tax on the sweater you gave to Uncle Arnold for Christmas or those Amazon and Visa gift cards you gave your nieces. The IRS only starts taxing gifts when they surpass a certain dollar limit each year and during your lifetime. And gift taxes generally only hit […]