How to Work With Your Intellectual Property Lawyer

Intellectual property law is a daunting challenge to even the most seasoned business person. How does one choose the right way to protect your most coveted assets; your intellectual property? Here are a few pointers that can help.

FAQ: Intellectual Property Protection

This is a guide to intellectual property protection

Wills, Trusts and Durable Powers of Attorney

Information on wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and estate planning in California.

How To Create A Creditor Debt Management Program

Creditor protection is a concern for most professionals, small business owners and others potentially susceptible to personal liability during their lifetime or after death.

Introduction to Estate Planning

Estate planning is the creation of a comprehensive financial plan to provide for your spouse and heirs upon your passing.

Advance Health Directive: The Living Will and The Power of Attorney

A living will, also called will to live, is one type of advanced health edict, or advanced health care principle. It often goes along with a specific type of power of attorney or health care alternative. These are legal tools that are usually witnessed or notarized.

8-Tactics on Easy Estate Planning

Should you hire a professional to handle your estate planning?

Sample Last Will And Testament

A will or testament is a document by which the testator regulates the rights of others over his property or family after death. In a strict sense, a will is a general term, while testament applies only to dispositions of personal property. A will is also used as the instrument in a trust. A sample of last will and testament provides a standard format, which gives a basic guideline for writing a last will and testament.

Probate Auctions on E-bay

Whenever a person dies and leaves behind debt creditors, the administrator or executor of that person’s estate faces certain challenges in quickly selling real and personal property in order to satisfy creditors. The probate process is long and drawn out, and every shortcut available should be sought in order to shorten the amount of time that property is tied up in the process. Recently, with the great success of E-bay, people have discovered a quick and efficient way to unload property in order to satisfy debts. Not only has E-bay made the general premise of auctioning easier, it has also made it more understandable and desirable to the masses.

Revocable Living Trust: Six Point Yearly Checkup

It's a Living Trust! A yearly checkup is a good idea to keep abreast of changes in assets, trustees and addresses. Unless this is done in the proper manner your expense and effort at setting up a trust may not result in your current wishes being honored and may result in an avoidable probate.

What if a Trust Beneficiary Doesn't Want the Money?

Question: My father passed away in April 2006. I have distributed the funds according to the Trust except for approximately $28,000 that is to go to my niece (my father's granddaughter). She has not returned her W9 as she is hesitate to receive the money because of the fact that she is on SSI. I want to close the Trust account and be able to file the necessary taxes the beginning of 2007. Have you ever heard of a similar situation? What do you suggest I do so that I can put closer to this. J.P.

Living Will - A Must

The living will is often called the will to live and is an advance healthcare directive, or a Directive to Physicians. This document sets out your wishes related to the kind of medical treatment which, should be extended or withheld if you lose your ability to communicate those wishes.

What is a Living Will, and Why You Should Inquire about One Today

Modern advancements in medicine have made it possible for us to live longer than ever before. While these advancements have substantially extended our lives, such an extension may not be desirable because it may lower our quality of life and result in a loss of our dignity. Since all competent adults have the right to make their own medical decisions, you may want to tell your doctor now not to take heroic or extraordinary means to prolong your life in the future if you become ill and there is no hope for your eventual recovery. You can do this by preparing a living will.

Importance of Living Wills

The concept of a living will was first put forward by Louis Kustner in the year 1969. Available statistics indicate that less than a quarter of the American population has a living will. However, an overwhelming number of people have responded to the idea of having one created. This can be attributed to the awareness, interest and even outrage generated by the Teri Schiavo incident, which managed to occupy the front pages of newspapers across the country for several weeks. A controversy was created when the court passed the final verdict, ordering her life support systems to be removed. It has been argued that what happened to Teri Schiavo was unfair and that she should have had a say in her medical treatment. This event acted as an eye opener to several people.

Living Will Formality

Living wills do not require any mandatory legal forms to be filled; however, in order to cement your position, a living will can be supplemented with a traditional will and a health care power of attorney. A health care power of attorney is a legal document that appoints a person of your choice as your authorized agent, usually referred to as a health-care proxy, who can make medical decisions for you when you are not able to. A living will can also be accompanied by records and accounts of medical history, for the doctor to be able to get a fair idea of the patient's background.