Year: 2014

Even in a Colorado probate proceeding that seems relatively straightforward, disputes can arise. Sometimes the disputes are strictly legal in nature, such as whether a decedent’s will is valid under Colorado law. Other times, conflicts arise over more nebulous issues, like whether the distribution of assets in a probate proceeding is “fair” or if there was “undue influence” upon the decedent. Continue reading →

Most Colorado residents consider estate planning a means of providing for loved ones after their death, but it’s also an effective way of continuing to support causes in which you believe. With the assistance of an experienced and knowledgeable Colorado estate planning attorney, it is possible to provide for favorite charities, care for loved ones, and minimize taxes at the same time. One way to do this is by establishing a charitable trust. Continue reading →

In the wake of a loved one’s death, heirs often find themselves managing a variety of assets. One type of asset that deserves special attention is the “qualified plan.” A qualified plan, or qualified retirement plan, is an employer-sponsored plan that meets certain criteria established by the IRS. Examples of qualified plans include pensions, profit-sharing plans, money purchase plans, cash balance plans, SEP-IRAs, SIMPLEs, and 401(k) plans. Continue reading →

While most people intend to create an estate plan, or to update one they’ve already created, in reality, some people die without an ideal estate plan in place. Post-mortem is Latin for “after death,” and post-mortem planning is simply that: planning after death to maximize tax-saving opportunities, and minimize complications, for both the deceased person’s (decedent’s) estate and for the beneficiaries of the estate. Post-mortem planning needs of a Colorado estate will depend on a number of factors, including the size of the estate and any pre-existing estate plan created by the decedent. Continue reading →

Although all adults should have an estate plan, the first time many people seriously consider making an estate plan is when they have children. Of the many benefits of estate planning, protecting one’s children is among the most important. Continue reading →

In the hours and days after a loved one’s death, grief is the dominant emotion. In the weeks and months that follow, that grief can be exacerbated by the stress of sorting out the estate, particularly if the deceased did not have an estate plan. Continue reading →

One of the most daunting aspects of probate and estate administration in Colorado is understanding what pleadings need to be completed, how to draft them, when they must be filed, and who must be served. Having an experienced Colorado estate administration attorney help with the process takes most of the pressure off of a personal representative. Continue reading →

Increasingly, couples are choosing to live together without getting married. Living together involves mingling not only a couple’s personal lives, but sometimes their financial lives as well. Unfortunately, if tragedy strikes, Colorado law does not automatically protect cohabiting couples in the same way that it does married ones, no matter how committed to each other they may be. Continue reading →

What is Estate Administration?
Estate administration is the process of overseeing the disposition of a deceased person’s assets—their estate. The complexity of Colorado estate administration depends on the amount and type of property in the estate, whether there is a valid will, and whether any will contests or disputes among heirs are expected. In Colorado, there are three types of estate administration: Continue reading →

The internet has made a lot of things simpler than they used to be: research, communicating, even shopping. But just because something is simpler doesn’t necessarily mean it is better. One such thing is the creation of legal documents, including one’s last will and testament. Continue reading →