Families generally worry about whether a beneficiary will continue to qualify medically. The reviews that most often disrupt benefits examine something else entirely. Social Security spent 2026 making those reviews faster and more automated, and the problems they identify are administrative rather than medical. Two Developments Worth Noting In March 2026, the Social Security Administration
SSA Is Reviewing SSI Resources More Closely Read More »
Guardianship removes a person’s legal authority over their own affairs. For many years it was the first protective measure families and their attorneys considered. A series of developments in 2026 makes clear that the legal system now expects less restrictive alternatives to be evaluated first. What Changed This Year In February, the American Bar Association
Courts Are Moving Away From Guardianship Read More »
Most couples who plan for long-term care are anticipating a nursing facility. A federal provision scheduled to expire in September 2027 addresses the opposite circumstance, in which the spouse requiring care remains at home. Should that provision lapse, certain families will face a decision they do not face today. What the Protection Does Since 1988,
Spousal Protections for Home Care May End Read More »
The Murdoch Family Trust held roughly 40% of the voting stock in Fox Corp. and News Corp. Under its terms, control of those voting shares was to pass in equal parts to four of Rupert Murdoch’s children upon his death: Lachlan, Prudence, Elisabeth, and James. Rupert sought to amend the trust so that Lachlan would
What the Murdoch Trust Opinion Revealed Read More »
Donor-advised funds have become one of the most widely used charitable vehicles in the country, and the word “advised” carries more legal weight than many donors realize. A lawsuit filed in early 2026 illustrates the distinction clearly. The Dispute Philip Peterson’s father established a donor-advised fund with WaterStone, a Colorado Springs nonprofit, in 2005. His
A Family Sued Over Its Own Charity Fund Read More »
On July 1, 2026, Florida began allowing protected series limited liability companies. The structure lets a single parent company hold several assets behind separate liability walls. It is a genuine advance for owners of multiple properties, and it fails quietly when the recordkeeping is not maintained. What the New Structure Does Governor Ron DeSantis signed
Florida’s New Series LLC Shield Has a Catch Read More »
Valuation discounts are a legitimate planning tool. They are also one of the few areas where the right structure at the wrong moment leaves a family in a worse position than no planning at all. A federal appeals court made that point in June 2026. What Happened in the Fields Estate Anne Milner Fields inherited
Why the Fields Estate Lost Its Discount Read More »
A power of attorney is among the most consequential documents a person can sign. It grants another individual the authority to move money without seeking approval first. A recent arrest in Gaffney, South Carolina, illustrates what can happen when that authority is placed with the wrong person. What Investigators Allege South Carolina Attorney General Alan
Agent Charged in Gaffney Nursing Home Theft Read More »
Jimmy Buffett spent three decades building his estate plan. He still left behind a trust arrangement that put his widow and his longtime accountant on opposite sides of a courtroom. The case deserves attention because the same structure shows up in far smaller estates every week. A Marital Trust With Two People in Charge Buffett
The Jimmy Buffett Trust Fight Explained Read More »
Most people never think about the register of wills until someone in the family dies. That office holds the original will, opens the estate, and keeps the permanent record of everything that follows. In Anne Arundel County, the 2026 race for the position arrived after several years of turmoil inside the local probate system. The
Anne Arundel’s Register of Wills Election Read More »
