Legal insights and updates from our attorneys.
March 1, 2024
Estate planning is an indispensable tool, not solely for the affluent or those contemplating retirement. It is a critical process for every adult, enabling the appointment of guardians for minor...
Read more →October 25, 2020
Estate planning—it is an incredibly important tool, not just for the uber wealthy or those thinking about retirement. On the contrary, estate planning is something every adult should do. Estate...
Read more →May 20, 2020
On December 20, 2019, President Trump signed the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act (SECURE Act). The SECURE Act, which is effective January 1, 2020. The Act is the most...
Read more →May 6, 2020
In light of the current pandemic, many Americans are becoming aware of the importance of creating or updating their estate planning documents. With the extension of some states’ stay in place orders,...
Read more →November 17, 2016
The Utah legislature recently adopted the Uniform Power of Attorney Act (the “Act”). The Act became effective on May 10, 2016, and makes some significant changes to current Utah law. With its...
Read more →May 24, 2016
Powers of Attorney are powerful and potentially risky documents. A person signing a power of attorney (the “Principal”) is delegating certain authority listed in the power of attorney to another...
Read more →April 16, 2016
Many states have taxes designed to get in on the gifting of property during lifetime and at death. Not so in Utah. The Beehive State has no estate or gift tax. However, the federal estate and gift...
Read more →June 30, 2015
Despite everyone’s best efforts, sometimes there is a disagreement over the decedent’s estate and final wishes. Sometimes these arguments are over personal property and sometimes over sentimental...
Read more →June 30, 2015
A trust is an entity (like a corporation) established to hold and manage property. It has its own separate existence apart from the grantor or creator of the trust. Trusts can be established during...
Read more →June 25, 2015
Q: What is Probate? A: Probate, simply put, is the process of appointing a surrogate (a substitute) to act on behalf of another who cannot act for themselves. For example, when a person dies owning...
Read more →June 20, 2015
Medical science can keep a person alive almost indefinitely, even when their quality of life has severely deteriorated. For reasons both personal and financial, most opt out of prolonging life under...
Read more →June 18, 2015
Aging adults sometimes transfer their property outright to children in order to avoid using their life’s earnings on long-term medical care. My advice? Don’t do it. There are a myriad of pitfalls to...
Read more →June 15, 2015
Probate, simply put, is the process set up by the legislature and carried out by the court which provides for the transfer and management of the property of a deceased, incapacitated, or minor...
Read more →June 13, 2015
A trust is an entity (like a corporation) established to hold and manage property. It has its own separate existence apart from the grantor or creator of the trust. Trusts can be established during...
Read more →June 12, 2015
A will is simply a written directive to the probate court as to how property is to be distributed at death, who should be the personal representative (previously called an executor) to manage the...
Read more →June 10, 2015
Asset protection planning is like insurance. You can structure your affairs so that many of your assets are much more difficult to reach by potential creditors. Most asset protection planning...
Read more →June 5, 2015
Adoption is the process of changing the legal parent of a child. The process usually involves petitioning the court for approval of the adoption, obtaining consent from all necessary parties,...
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