Tag Archive for: what is a will

Understanding Electronic Wills [Episode 131]

Attorney-CPA Joe Cordell and co-host Jill Enders discuss the innovations and intricacies involved in electronic wills. They currently exist in the state of Florida, and given the prevalence of esignatures, this digital innovation adds convenience to the state planning process. Joe highlights how maintaining locatable documents is an essential part of the process, after a will is drafted, as well as talks about the legislative efforts involved in instituting and regulating electronic wills.

Joe breaks down the formalities of execution for wills and how it can seem unnecessarily ceremonial. He highlights how attestation will play a factor in the execution of the will and how formalities will not necessarily go away. Joe and Jill also talk about the possibility of hackers attacking these electronic wills and how necessary protection of servers is going to be with these documents.

Joe emphasizes how a will should be a component, but not the center of a comprehensive estate plan, as well as how beneficial trusts can be in an estate plan.

Then, Joe and Jill are joined by roving celebrity reporter and online editor Dan Pearce, as they discuss lead singer of The Cars, the late Ric Ocasek and the issues surrounding his estate plan.

Navigating Family Dynamics in Estate Planning [Episode 126]

Attorney-CPA Joe Cordell and co-host Jill Enders discuss the legal ramifications of having estate planning documents in place. Joe describes the role of the attorney and how they go about creating a comprehensive estate plan that reflects the wishes of the client.

They talk about clients who may have a controlling kid who wishes to manage the situation. Joe and Jill highlight how there are situations where the controlling kid’s intentions are pure and situations when they are not. Joe dives into the burden of proof in proving undue influence and also describes a case involving a $3 million estate involving children disputing decisions involving estate planning documents. Legal actions and appeals still are occurring in the case.

Then Joe and Jill are joined by online editor and roving reporter Dan Pearce to discuss a case occurring in Florida, where an administrative assistant of a skilled nursing facility in Florida was arrested for misusing the funds of a patient, of whom she was their agent with a Power of Attorney in place.