First Steps for Personal Representatives
When a person dies, all property the person owned that didn’t have a co-owner or designated beneficiary doesn’t automatically pass to someone else—there needs to be a legal change of ownership. The person who does the work to make sure these legal changes happen is called the Personal Representative here in New Mexico.
If you’re named as a PR, here are the first steps you will need to take to start the process.
Three Pitfalls of Beneficiary Designations
In many cases, beneficiary designations are a good tool to get property where you want it to go in a simple and cost-effective manner. But before you decide to use those designations as your sole estate planning option, make sure you consider these potential pitfalls…
Five Myths About Probate
Losing a loved one can be a scary time for a million reasons, but going through the probate process shouldn’t be one of them. Let’s bust a few myths so you can sleep better at night.
Advance Directives for Mental Health Treatment
This week’s blog post won’t be relevant for everyone, but for those for whom it is, the topic couldn’t be more important. A psychiatric advance directive, known as an Advance Directive for Mental Health Treatment in New Mexico, gives a person living with a long-term mental health disorder the ability to set the rules to be followed if and when the disorder flares up. You
Virtual Estate Planning
Can you do the entire estate planning process from the comfort of your own home? You bet. We’ve honed our virtual estate planning process so we can craft the perfect estate plan for you without you ever stepping foot into our office. If you have mobility issues, live hours away from our office, or just don’t want to come into the office, we can still get you and your family protected with a well-crafted virtual estate plan.
Do You Actually Need a Trust?
One of the most common estate planning questions we hear during a consultation is whether the person we’re talking to needs a revocable trust or just a will. That’s a great question.
Estate Planning for everyone From Gen Z to Baby Boomers and Beyond
Whether you’re Gen Z, a millennial, a Baby Boomer, or a member Silent Generation, you need some kind of estate plan. What that plan is depends entirely on you and your situation. Read on to find out more.
Talking to your Parents about Estate Planning
If a holiday get-together sparked thoughts in your mind about what will happen when your parent becomes disabled or dies, you may be wondering how you start that delicate conversation with them. Below are some tips to consider before you start talking.
Estate Planning for Unmarried Couples
Married couples enjoy many legal benefits just by virtue of being married. Unmarried couples don’t enjoy any of those benefits. Estate planning can help protect each of you.
Those First Few Days
A short guide to what to care about and not care about during the first few days, from both a legal perspective to get you ready for probate and a practical perspective to ease your nerves.
What is Estate Planning, Anyway?
You can think of estate planning as the ability to write your own rules on topics that are important to you.
There is a legal framework that lays out general rules on these topics, but you are entitled to change those rules to better suit your individual situation.
That’s a lot of power.
Yes, You Need an Estate Plan (Even if You Think You Don’t)
An overview of estate planning - and why you need one, too.
Litigation vs. Uncontested Divorce vs. Mediation
There are many decisions to make when a couple decides to separate – separation of assets, financial decisions, child support, custody agreements… the list can feel endless. Whether you and your spouse agree on issues will determine whether you decide to have a contested divorce (aka litigation), go to mediation, or have an uncontested divorce.
COVID-19: Your Legal Support
In a global pandemic, normal life changes dramatically. As we all come to terms with the evolving world around us, it is important to focus on what we can control, and how to manage the aspects of daily life that must continue. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, know that we are still committed to our promise to be a law firm that cares about you. Please reach out to let us know how we can ease some of the confusion in your life during this time.