Preparing for the future through an estate plan and a will are great ways to ensure your wishes are followed and your estate is settled.  When creating your plan, you will have to select individuals, like an executor of an estate, to work on your behalf. What is an Executor of an Estate? An executor of your estate, also known as a “personal representative,” is an individual who you give the power to manage your…

Stepparent adoptions can be complex proceedings. Courts generally try to preserve the biological parent-child relationship. However, when this is not in the best interest of the child, stepparent adoptions are allowed. Each stepparent adoption has two parts. The first involves an effort to “terminate” the rights of one of the biological parent and the adoption itself. A voluntary verses contested termination can make a large impact on the difficulty and expense of the case. Voluntary…

In a divorce, dividing assets can be difficult and time consuming. It is important to create an asset inventory, often called a “balance sheet.” This document will outline the parties’ assets and liabilities. Every divorce balance sheet will look different but it is essential to not overlook assets. Common assets include bank accounts, houses, cars, recreational vehicles, life insurance policies, and cash. However, the balance sheet may also include some easily overlooked assets such as…