A dad warned his kids not to dispute his will. Hoping for a share of their father’s property, three adult children defied the warning and took his estate to court. The result busts four major inheritance myths... 22 Jul

Australian Will Dispute Case Busts Four Major Inheritance Myths

When valid, no contest clauses can be a powerful tool for discouraging estate litigation. Typically, these clauses threaten to disinherit beneficiaries who challenge the validity of the testator’s final will... 18 Mar

Can a Beneficiary Be Disinherited Over a Successful Litigation?

Conditional bequests are provisions in a will that make an inheritance contingent on a beneficiary fulfilling specific requirements. These conditions must be clear, possible, and not violate public policy or the law to be valid.  08 Sep

Conditional Bequests: Criteria for Legal Validity

Following the death of Ozzy Osbourne, headlines turned to an alleged change to his will, in which Ozzy stipulated that his widow, Sharon, is to receive a dozen black roses a week for the rest of her life... 14 Aug

Ozzy Osbourne’s “Black Roses” Request

Ever wonder what someone does when they want to keep their estate in the family, but hate all their current relatives? American lumber baron, Wellington Burt, came up with a 'spiteful' solution... which kept most of it 'tied up' for 91 years! 11 Aug

The “Spite Clause”: American Lumber Baron Wellington Burt

Spendthrift trusts help ensure that beneficiaries can’t squander their inheritance. They can also serve to protect assets from creditors. Rather than allowing the beneficiary to receive a lump sum, the trustee releases the money incrementally. 07 Aug

Spendthrift Trusts: What Are They and How Do They Work?

Truly Wild Inheritance Stories: From Entire Towns to Century-Old Denim 12 Apr

Truly Wild Inheritance Stories: From Entire Towns to Century-Old Denim

It is best to customize a will or trust to your specific situation. Sometimes you want more say in how or when your beneficiaries will acquire and use your assets. For this reason, several clauses are commonly included in wills or trusts... 02 Apr

Types of Clauses Commonly Included in Wills or Trusts

If you wish to restrict the flow of inherited money to your child, you can do so through your will or trust. While there are legal limits on conditional gifting, you are generally free to structure an inheritance the way you would like. 07 Feb

Bequests with Strings Attached: Are Conditional Gifts a Good Idea?

The history of estate planning includes some remarkably strange and fascinating bequests that challenge our understanding of inheritance law and human nature. 08 Jan

Unusual Bequests Continue to Evolve, Fascinate, and Challenge

Estate planning for an irresponsible child is a lot of work. Fortunately, estate planners may exert influence over how heirs spend their inheritances. Keep reading to find out the best ways to protect an irresponsible child’s financial future... 19 Nov

Strategies: Estate Planning for Irresponsible Children

A will can be used to provide certain types of conditional gifts in Massachusetts. With that being said, it is generally not the best option for doing so. Trusts are generally far better Estate Planning tools for this purpose... 08 Nov

Massachusetts: Can You Leave Conditional Gifts in Your Will?