A Totten’s Trust (also called a “poor man’s trust”) is essentially the same thing as a Pay on Death (“POD”) bank account.  (The name “Totten’s Trust” is taken from a 1904 New York case involving a person with this name.)  Using a POD account, a person was able to place proceeds into an account, and,
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It seems that most people are aware of prenuptial agreements, especially those considering marriage.  However, even though many people have heard about prenuptial agreements, there are still many common misunderstandings about these agreements, including the following: Prenuptial agreements are only for celebrities or the wealthy.  Statistically, about 50% of all marriages will end in divorce
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For many divorcing parents, child custody is the most contentious and fought-over aspect of the divorce process.  Children are the most important aspect of life for most parents, and it’s difficult to imagine not having them with us every night. In most cases in which minor children are involved, one parent will have primary (physical)
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In some divorces, the parents of one of the divorcing spouses may be willing to help contribute to the cost of legal fees on behalf of their son or daughter.  Frequently, such a contribution may be made because the son or daughter does not have sufficient assets, or because there are grandchildren involved.  If you
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Thanks to recent changes in Indiana law, the answer to both of these questions is yes for all but sex on violent offenses. What are the requirements to seal an old conviction in Indiana? At least one (1) year after an arrest for which there was no conviction, a petition may be filed to expunge
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Specialized Driving Permits replaced Hardship Driving Licenses on January 01, 2015. How do I get a permit to drive to and from work when my driving license is suspended? Can even a Habitual Traffic Violator (HTV) get a Specialized Driving Permit to drive to and from work? Most people with suspended driving licenses, including Habitual
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Long ago, Courts often followed the practice of awarding custody of children of tender years to the mother and teenage children to the parent of the same sex. Today, and for many years now, Indiana Courts determine custody based upon the best interest of the child. There is no presumption in favor of either parent.
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Probate is the process by which your assets are distributed to your heirs after your death. Only assets in your own name, with no joint owners or named beneficiaries, pass through probate. Joint and pay on death bank and brokerage accounts pass directly to the joint owner or the named beneficiary by operation of law
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What do I do when mom or dad die and I am named the executor or executrix under the Will or the successor trustee? Or there is no Will and I seek to be appointed the personal representative? Your first step is to contact an attorney. At our firm, we have been assisting individuals for
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What do I do if I think my sibling is mishandling my parent’s estate or trust and will not tell me what is going on? Secrecy breeds distrust. Often times that distrust is warranted. If you find yourself in this situation, call us as soon as possible so that we may take appropriate action before
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