We’re celebrating Nation Estate Planning Awareness Week at CHEN Law!
We’re celebrating National Estate Planning Awareness Week at CHEN Law!
Blog
WHY YOU NEED A TRUST - EVEN IF YOU AREN’T RICH
A trust fund — or trust — is actually a great estate planning tool for many people with a wide range of incomes who want to accomplish a specific purpose with their money.
3 Pitfalls To Avoid When Buying An Existing Business
Whether it's your very first or your fifth company, if you're looking to start a new business venture, you have two options: 1) build your own from scratch or 2) buy an existing one. And while many entrepreneurs dream of building their own company from the ground up, the reality is, launching a b...
Wills v. Trusts
Wills and trusts are two of the most commonly used estate planning documents, and they form the foundation of most estate plans. While both documents are legal vehicles designed to distribute your assets to your loved ones upon your death, the way in which they work is quite different. From wh...
DON’T FORGET TO PROTECT YOUR FURRY FAMILY: ESTATE PLANNING FOR YOUR PETS
It's sad but true that many pets end up in shelters after their owner dies or becomes incapacitated. In fact, the Humane Society estimates that between 100,00 to 500,000 pets are placed in shelters each year for exactly this reason, and a large number of these animals are ultimately euthanized. ...
Britney Spears’ Nightmare Conservatorship Underscores The Vital Importance Of Incapacity Planning—Part 1
Since the age of 16, when she burst onto the charts with her debut single, “...Hit Me Baby One More Time,” Britney Spears has been one of the world's most famous and beloved pop stars. Yet despite her massive fame and fortune, Britney, who is now 39, has never truly had full control over her own ...
3 VITAL ESTATE PLANNING DOCUMENTS FOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES
If you have a child claiming their diploma, now is the time to prepare them for life after leaving the nest.
What's In A Name? Frequently Asked Questions About Trademarks
When it comes to your company's identity, nothing is more vital to your company than your name and logo. By developing a catchy name and snazzy logo for your business, you can quickly get your company recognized, remembered, and respected.Once you have come up with a winning name and logo, you wi...
Almost Three Years After Her Death, Aretha Franklin’s Poor Estate Planning Continues To Haunt Her Family—Part 1
Nearly three years have passed since Aretha Franklin, known as the “Queen of Soul,” died from pancreatic cancer at age 76. At the time, her total fortune was estimated to be worth up to $80 million. Yet due to poor estate planning, the late singer's children have yet to see a dime of their inheri...
Legal Gangsters: Netflix’s I Care a Lot Uncovers the Dark Side of Legal Guardianship—Part 2
The Netflix movie I Care a Lot provides a dark, violent, and somewhat comedic take on the real life and not-at-all funny dangers of the legal (and sometimes corrupt) guardianship system. While the film's twisting plot may seem far fetched, it sheds light on a tragic phenomenon—the abuse of senior...
Legal Gangsters: Netflix’s I Care a Lot Uncovers the Dark Side of Legal Guardianship—Part 1
The Netflix movie I Care a Lot provides a dark, violent, and somewhat comedic take on the real life and not-at-all funny dangers of the legal (and sometimes corrupt) guardianship system. While the film's twisting plot may seem far fetched, it sheds light on a tragic phenomenon—the abuse of senior...
4 Tips for Running a Business With Your Spouse—Without Ruining Your Marriage
Going into business with your spouse or romantic partner can be an amazing opportunity—but it can just as easily be an absolute nightmare. Regardless of how amazing your love life may be, there's no guarantee you'll be equally compatible in a working relationship. And if things don't work out, it...
Avoid Adult Guardianship- and Elder Abuse by Effective Estate Planning, Part 2
In the first part of this series, we discussed how some professional adult guardians have used their powers to abuse the seniors placed under their care. Here, we'll discuss how seniors can use estate planning to avoid the potential abuse and other negative consequences of court-ordered guardians...
Use Estate Planning to Avoid Adult Guardianship—and Elder Abuse
Elder abuse can take a wide variety of forms, but we think the worst of the worst is caused by unscrupulous adult guardians appointed by a court to care for seniors who are no longer able to care for themselves. And though you may not want to believe such a thing could happen, you need to know th...
Avoid Adult Guardianship—and Elder Abuse by Effective Estate Planning
Elder abuse can take a wide variety of forms, but we think the worst of the worst is caused by unscrupulous adult guardians appointed by a court to care for seniors who are no longer able to care for themselves. And though you may not want to believe such a thing could happen, you need to know th...
Aretha Franklin Dies Without a Will and Leaves Her Family to Deal With Court and Conflict
Aretha Franklin, heralded as the “Queen of Soul,” died from pancreatic cancer at age 76 on August 16, 2018 at her home in Detroit. Like Prince, who died in 2016, Franklin was one of the greatest musicians of our time. Also like Prince, however, she died without a will or trust to pass on her mult...