Estate planning – Louisville KY Personal Injury Lawyer

The Lost Art of Personal Connection in Legal Practice: A Reflection After 50 Years

Estate planning, Persoanl Injury / Bixler Howland

In today’s world of automated phone systems and digital gatekeepers, something as simple as answering your own phone has become a remarkable differentiator in professional service. This truth hit home recently during a lunch meeting with a long-term client and our spouses. As we were wrapping up what had been a delightful meal, my client […]

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The Hidden Dangers of Online Legal Forms

Estate planning, Legal Documents / Bixler Howland

Get the help you need with Online Legal Forms Years ago, I practiced with a well-regarded family law attorney who spoke regularly at educational seminars for other lawyers. At those seminars, he would hand out copies of the forms he used in litigating divorce cases. He had developed these forms over the years, and they

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Dispelling the Myth About Estate Taxes

Estate planning, Legal Documents / Bixler Howland

There appears to be a misconception among financial planning professionals and accountants about the impact of “estate” or “inheritance” taxes on a decedent’s estate. Some professionals have suggested that an irrevocable trust will help avoid such taxes. In some limited circumstances that may be true. However, you only need to try to avoid taxes if

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Dispelling the myths of probate: Understanding Wills, Trusts, and Probate

Estate planning, Legal Documents, Probate / Bixler Howland

The word “probate” in legal terms simply means “the legal process that gives recognition to a will and appoints a personal representative who will administer the estate and distribute assets to the intended beneficiaries.” It is true that a trust can avoid probate—maybe. Many clients who buy a revocable trust, for thousands of dollars, find,

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Dispelling Probate Myths: A Legal Perspective

Estate planning, Legal Documents, Probate / Bixler Howland

Here is that personal injury trial attorney talking about “probate” and “testamentary documents again.” No, I don’t hold myself out as an “Eldercare Lawyer”. What I can tell you is that I understand, after 47 years of practicing law, the intersection between litigation and estate planning. Because I litigate- represent people who have been injured

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Drafting Testamentary Documents

Estate planning, Legal Documents / Bixler Howland

I have discussed durable power of attorney and other testamentary documents before. Last week I received a call from a client for whom I had prepared wills, power of attorneys and living wills years ago. She is now a financial advisor and has a client who needs a will, durable power of attorney, living will

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The Pitfalls of “Self Help”: Why Legal Expertise Matters

Estate planning, Legal Documents / Bixler Howland

In an era of boundless information and digital resources, the allure of self-help has become stronger than ever. From drafting wills to handling personal injury claims, many believe they can navigate legal complexities without the guidance of an attorney. Yet, as experience has shown time and again, the path of self-help often leads to unexpected

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