Article offered by Our Wills Probate Attorney serving Tampa, Clearwater and St Petersburg Florida, Joseph Pippen.

1.           don’t need a will because of joint ownership.”

FALSE — If you both die or one of you becomes incapacitated, you have waited too late to prepare your estate plan.

2. “My child’s name is on all of my bank accounts.”

HORRIBLE PLANNING — If the child is sued, goes through divorce proceedings, or is involved in an accident, you could lose the account.  A general rule is never to own assets jointly with a child.

3. “I have to discuss my will or trust with my children before I proceed.”

WHY?  It’s your money, and you should plan your estate according to your wishes.  Children could be your worst advisors.  A properly drawn trust is of great benefit to your children and yourself.

4. “I feel fine.  Why do I need a will?”

RIDICULOUS — I once had a lady ask me if I would visit her in the hospital to prepare a will.  I answered that I would, and she then informed me that she would call me back because she wasn’t sick enough yet!  Some people delay their estate planning until it’s too late.  She died four months later without a will.

5. “I will work on my estate plan as soon as . . .”

YOU NAME IT:         I paint my house;

                                    I return from my trip;

                                    I make my funeral arrangements;

                                    I decide what to do with my pets;

                                    I decide who gets what;

                                    I feel better;

                                    I finish my taxes, etc.

            I’ve heard every reason in the world to delay implementing an estate plan.  There is no time like the present to get your affairs in order.  Estate planning is a very important part of preserving your assets for loved ones and providing yourself guardianship planning.  Why not enjoy the peace of mind and satisfaction of having it completed and knowing that you have preserved as much of your estate as possible, plus saved yourself from ever having to go through a guardianship proceeding.  Why delay?

call us for a will today or to review a complete estate planning program for you.

Our lawyers and Attorneys  have  expertise in all legal matters. We have attorneys to help you in most Florida and Georgia Cities and Counties.

let us introduce you to the different legal categories to help you decide what type of lawyer you need. Lawyers have specific legal categories that the concentrate on and are more experienced in. Review these legal categories. Below you will find some tips on talking to your lawyer and being prepared for your initial consultation.

• Admiralty Lawyers, Aviation Lawyers – a distinct body of law which governs maritime questions and offenses. It is a body of both domestic law governing maritime activities, and private international law governing the relationships between private entities which operate vessels on the oceans. It deals with matters including marine commerce, marine navigation, shipping, sailors, Jones Act, fishermen, Cruise ship Injuries,Boating accidents,Fisherman's claims,maritime lien claims,long shore and boat builder claims,Marine law  Maritime injury law    and the transportation of passengers and goods by sea. For an Admiralty Maritime  Injury law attorney call a a a Attorney referral Service.

• Adoption Lawyers – a process whereby a person assumes the parenting for another and, in so doing, permanently transfers all rights and responsibilities from the original parent or parents. Unlike guardianship or other systems designed for the care of the young, adoption is intended to effect a permanent change in status and as such requires societal recognition, either through legal or religious sanction. For an Adoption Lawyer call Attorney Referral Service

• Alternative Dispute Resolution – includes dispute resolution processes and techniques that act as a means for disagreeing parties to come to an agreement short of litigation. Despite historic resistance to ADR by many popular parties and their advocates, ADR has gained widespread acceptance among both the general public and the legal profession in recent years. In fact, some courts now require some parties to resort to ADR of some type, usually mediation, before permitting the parties' cases to be tried

• Animal Bites Dog Bite lawyers of Florida and Georgia — Plaintiff – specific dog bite laws are on the books that provide protection for dog bite victims and their families. Though litigation and lawsuits involving a dog bite, pit bull attack, Rottweiler attack or Doberman Pinscher attack may seem relatively straightforward, the issues in a dog bite or animal attack case are exceedingly complex and often involve questions of legal liability, insurance coverage and damages. An animal bite may result in scarring and disfigurement  or even Wrongful death. Animal bite attorneys are personal injury lawyers. If you or a loved on has been injured by an animal attack or bite  call 1 800 733-5342  for a personal injury attorney right away.

• Bankruptcy Help, Foreclosure Defense Lawyers – Bankruptcy in the United States is a matter placed under Federal jurisdiction by the United States Constitution (in Article 1, Section 8, Clause 4), which allows Congress to enact "uniform laws on the subject of bankruptcies throughout the United States." The Congress has enacted statute law governing bankruptcy, primarily in the form of the Bankruptcy Code, located at Title 11 of the United States Code.  A Bankruptcy attorney can assist with debt relief issues such as garnishments,judgements,credit card debt, chps 7,11 and 13 bankruptcy,student loans,creditor harassment, and medical bills.  If you are past due on your mortgage payments a loan modification, foreclosure defense and  filing bankruptcy thru a bankruptcy lawyer can help. For support and assistance call the bankruptcy lawyers of Attorney Referral Service.  Call our debt relief foreclosure defense helpline today. 1 800 733-5342

• Business & Commercial Law – the body of law that governs business and commercial transactions, incorporations, Buying and selling,contracts,taxplanning collections,Parnerships, and all litigation.

• Child Support lawyers of Florida and Georgia- child support or child maintenance is the ongoing practice for a periodic payment made directly or indirectly by an "obligor" to an "obligee" for the financial care and support of children of a relationship or marriage that has been terminated, or in some cases never existed. A marital family lawyer handles child support issues. Call our attorney referral service for a marital family  custody divorce lawyer.

• Civil Rights – The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a landmark piece of legislation in the United States that outlawed major forms of discrimination against blacks and women, including racial segregation. Civil rights  covers the handicapped and handicapped access violations.

• Construction Lawyers - a body of law that deals with matters relating to building construction and related fields. It covers a wide range of legal issues including contract law, bonds and bonding, guarantees and sureties, liens and other security interests, tendering, construction claims, and related consultancy contracts.

• Consumer Protection, lemon law Lawyers - Consumer protection laws are designed to ensure fair trade competition and the free flow of truthful information in the marketplace. The laws are designed to prevent businesses that engage in fraud or specified unfair practices from gaining an advantage over competitors and may provide additional protection for the weak and those unable to take care of themselves.  Lemon law usually covers new cars bought from a dealer. A lemon low price car is normally best handled in small claims court.

• Contract transactional  Lawyer – a contract is a legally enforceable agreement between two or more parties with mutual obligations. The remedy at law for breach of contract is "damages" or monetary compensation. If you feel a contact has been  violated call today for a consultation with a contact law attorney.

• Corporate business Lawyer - the law of the most dominant kind of business enterprise in the modern world. Corporate law is the study of how shareholders, directors, employees, creditors, and other stakeholders such as consumers, the community and the environment interact with one another under the internal rules of the firm. AAA Attorney Referral Service has qualified experienced business corporate lawyers.

• Criminal Defense Attorneys of Florida and georgia – deals with the body of rules that defines conduct that is prohibited by the state because it is held to threaten, harm or otherwise endanger the safety and welfare of the public, and that sets out the punishment to be imposed on those who breach these laws. A criminal defense lawyer defends individuals accused of a crime in State or federal court. This includes : felonies,misdemeanors,parole probation violations, DUI, federal charges,medicare fraud, homicide, and all criminal related charges. If you have been arrested or feel you may be arrested for a stare or federal charge call now to speak to a criminal defense lawyer. Protect your rights. Talk to a criminal defense lawyer now. Call to speak to one of the criminal lawyers of AAA Attorney referral Service.in Florida or Georgia today. Criminal defense for DUI, felonies, misdemeanors, parole,probation,Federal and State charges, Professional license defense,Pain Centers pain pills,and all criminal defense.

• Custody & Visitation Rights  Marital Family Law Attorneys- Marital family law attorneys help with custody and visitation rights. Call today to speak to one of  AAA Attorney Referral Services  Family law attorneys of Florida and Georgia to discuss your custody,and visitation rights. Other practice areas include:Pre-nuptials, grand parent rights,post divorce problems,paternity,step-parent adoptions,name change parental kidnaping and Juvenile law.

• Divorce Lawyer, Marital & Family Lawyer  of Florida and Georgia- an area of the law that deals with family-related issues and domestic relations including: the nature of marriage, civil unions, and domestic partnerships, issues arising throughout marriage (including spousal abuse, legitimacy, adoption, surrogacy, child abuse,  grand parental rights, visitation, pre-nuptial agreements ,juvenile law and child abduction), and divorce. Call now and speak to a Divorce lawyer for and attorney in Miami, Fort Lauderdale,Boca raton, west Palm Beach,Orlando, Jacksonville, Tampa .Atlanta,Decatur, Norcross,Roswell Marietta and thru-out Florida and Georgia  Call the divorce lawyers of Attorney Referral Service

• DUI / DWI  Drunk Driving, Driving under the influence DUI Defense Lawyers of Florida and Georgia- all states have enacted per se laws that prohibit operating (or in some jurisdictions merely being in physical control of) a motor vehicle while having a specific blood alcohol content (BAC) level. An experienced criminal defense Lawyer will defend your rights if you are arrested for a DUI/DWI. It is imperative to call immediately as a DUI can effect your record, driving ability and earning capacity. AAA Attorney referral service Criminal defense lawyers are experience in assisting Doctors,Truckers and Professionals accused of Drunk driving DUI/DWI.  Protect your rights and call for a DUI/Criminal defense LAWYER NOW.

• Elder Law Lawyers- an area of legal practice that places an emphasis on those issues that affect the growing aging population.

• Employment Law Attorneys – the body of laws, administrative rulings, and precedents which address the legal rights of, and restrictions on, working people and their organizations. Wrongful dismissal, wage and hour claims,unpaid overtime, equal pay claims,non compete claims and whisle blower claims come under labor and employment law.

• Estate Planning Medicare Planning Lawyers of Florida – the process of anticipating and arranging for the disposal of an estate. Estate planning typically attempts to eliminate uncertainties over the administration of a probate and maximize the value of the estate by reducing taxes and other expenses. If you require assistance in estate planning call AAA Attorney referral service for an estate planning lawyer who can help you with wills, trusts, guardianships, probate disputes and living wills

• Health & Health Care Lawyers - the federal, state, and local law, rules, regulations and other jurisprudence affecting the health care industry and their application to health care patients, providers and payors, and vendors to the health care industry.

• Immigration & Naturalization Lawyers – governs the legal status of people, in matters such as citizenship. permanent residence, business and professional visas,family petitions,deportation hearings,student visas, arrests and all immigration matters. Immigration laws vary from country to country, as well as according to the political climate of the times. AAA Attorney Referral Service lawyers cover the USA including Florida, Georgia and Texas. Texas lawyers are in Houston, Dallas and San Antonio including offices in Arizona.

• Insurance Law ,Insurance bad faith- practices of law surrounding insurance, including insurance policies and claims.

• Intellectual Property Law – the law under which owners are granted certain exclusive rights to a variety of intangible assets, such as musical, literary, and artistic works; discoveries and inventions; and words, phrases, symbols, and designs.

• International Lawyers - the rules of law relating to the function of international institutions or organizations, their relations with each other and their relations with States and individuals. International lawyers may also practice immigration law.

• Landlord / Tenant Lawyers - a part of the common law that details the rights and duties of landlords and tenants. It includes elements of both real property law (specifically conveyances) and contract law.

• Legal Malpractice – a type of negligence in, which the professional under a duty to act, fails to follow generally accepted professional standards, and that breach of duty is the proximate cause of injury to a plaintiff who suffers harm.

• Lemon Law  consumer protection- laws that provide a remedy for purchasers of cars in order to compensate for cars that repeatedly fail to meet standards of quality and performance.

• Litigation & Appeals – an appeal is a process for requesting a formal change to an official decision.

• Medical Malpractice lawyer inFlorida Negligence Lawyer in Georgia- professional negligence by act or omission by a health care provider in which care provided deviates from accepted standards of practice in the medical community and causes injury or death to the patient, with most cases involving medical error. Medical malpractice may result from emergency room errors,misdiagnosis,nursing errors, surgical errors, anesthesia errors, surgical errors, medication errors and can cause wrongful death. If you believe a loved one was harmed due to medical malpractice call today for a medical malpractice lawyer.

• Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer in Florida,In Georgia – a general term used to describe certain types of harm to older adults who reside in assisted living facilities. Nursing home negligence can result in bed sores, fractures, incorrect medications, and wrongful death. If you believe a loved one has been injured due to negligence call us immediately for  a nursing home abuse lawyer. When a loved one is abused in a nursing home and a wrongful death occurs it is easy to feel helpless and guilt ridden. learn your rights. Call for an experience Nursing home negligence lawyer today. 1 800 733 -5342 AAA Attorney Referral Service Georgia Florida Nursing Home Abuse helpline

• Patents, Trademark, Copyright - a set of exclusive rights granted to the author or creator of an original work, including the right to copy, distribute, profit from and adapt the work.

• Personal Injury, Wrongful Death Lawyers of Florida and Georgia - provide a legal remedy to those who claim to have been injured, physically or psychologically, as a result of the negligence or wrongdoing of another person, company, government agency, or other entity.This includes accident injury trauma and wrongful death claims. Major disasters such an air plane or aircraft crashes, train crashes and transit accidents are in this category as well as school bus accidents. Disaster victims of Air, train, bus and boat accidents wil file claims with a personal injury lawyers. Boating accidents may need apersonal injury lawyer with knowledge of maritime law.

• Premises Liability ,poor security and Injury in Florida or Georgia— the liability for a landowner for certain torts that occur on the real property.

• Probate & Estate Administration – the legal process of administering the estate of a deceased person by resolving all claims and distributing the deceased person's property under the valid will.

• Products Liability Lawyer  in Florida and georgia – the area of law in which manufacturers, distributors, suppliers, retailers, and others who make products available to the public are held responsible for the injuries those products cause. Medical products,Drugs and devices such as The Transvaginal mesh,Depuy Hip Replacement and Actos,Yaz,Fosamax are expample of these.

• Real Estate Lawyers – the body of regulations and legal codes which pertain to such matters under a particular jurisdiction and include things such as commercial and residential real property transactions. This includes purchases,sales,condo homeowner, and breach of contact. Call for a real estate lawyer today.

• Mortgage Modification, loan modification Lawyers - a process where the terms of a mortgage are modified outside the original terms of the contract agreed to by the lender and borrower (i.e mortgagor and mortgagee). In general, any loan can be modified.  There are many new laws and options available. Call Our loan modification helpline and discuss your options with a loan modification lawyer.

A loan modification is an option if you are behind in your mortgage payments. Call our Loan Modification Helpline to  learn about loan modifications today

• Sexual Harassment – generally defined as intimidation, bullying or coercion of a sexual nature, or the unwelcome or inappropriate promise of rewards in exchange for sexual favors.

• Taxation Lawyer – the codified system of laws that describes government levies on economic transactions.

• Toxic Torts lawyers of Florida and georgia – a special type of personal injury lawsuit in which the plaintiff claims that exposure to a chemical caused the plaintiff's injury or disease. Toxic mold,Asbestos,Benezene exposure, chemical, and toxic fumes are expamples. A  current action for Mesothelioma is a toxic tort,

• Torts, Personal Injury lawyers of Florida and Georgia – a wrong that involves a breach of a civil duty owed to someone else. It is differentiated from a crime, which involves a breach of a duty owed to society in general. Though many acts are both torts and crimes, prosecutions for crime are mostly the responsibility of the state, private prosecutions being rarely used; whereas any party who has been injured may bring a lawsuit for tort.

• Class Action Lawsuits – a form of lawsuit in which a large group of people collectively bring a claim to court and/or in which a class of defendants is being sued. This can include but is not limited to:pharmaceutical Industry ,Orthopedic devices, Banks,wage  and hour claims. Current class action lawsuits include: Avandia, Fosamax, Depuy hip replacement,Zimmer Duran cup, and Tylenol. Nationwide Attorneys for Class Actions.

Transit and Aircraft Disaster Lawyers of Florida and Georgia- Airplane crashes,Commercial, non- commercial and international Aviation disasters, Train wrecks, Boating and cruise accidents, aircraft accidents, bus accidents, school bus accidents  usually  cause severe injuries and wrongful death. These injuries usually require intensive medical care and years of rehabilitation to recover from. All  major accidents and injuries will include severe psychological distress and years of post traumatic stress syndrome.A attorney specializing in these major events should be consulted.

• Trademarks – a distinctive sign or indicator used by an individual, business organization, or other legal entity to identify that the products or services to consumers with which the trademark appears originate from a unique source, and to distinguish its products or services from those of other entities.

• Trusts – a trust is a relationship whereby property (including real, tangible and intangible) is managed by one person (or persons, or organizations) for the benefit of another. Lawyers in Florida , Georgia, Arizona and California

• White-Collar Crime Lawyers in Florida or Georgia – defined as "a crime committed by a person of respectability and high social status in the course of his occupation". White collar crime is usually federal charges and must be defended by an attorney admitted to federal court.

Mortgage fraud,medicare fraud,rico,money laundering, conversion of funds, internet related crimes,stock market fraud ,trading and illegal churning,real estate fraud, and  banking fraud are all white collar crimes which our federal criminal defense lawyers defend.  Call our Federal criminal defense legal team today.

• Wills – a legal declaration by which a person, the testator, names one or more persons to manage his/her estate and provides for the transfer of his/her property at death. We have lawyers in Florida Georgia California and Arizona

• Worker’s Compensation Lawyers of Florida and Georgia – a form of insurance that provides wage replacement and medical benefits for employees who are injured in the course of employment, in exchange for mandatory relinquishment of the employee's right to sue his or her employer for the tort of negligence. If you have been hurt on the job call today for a Workers compensation lawyer. Truck and cab drivers have the highest percentage of on the job injuries. Workers compensation lawyers of Florida, Georgia, Colorado, Tennessee, North and South Carolina,New York New Jersey, Colorado, Michigan and California.

• Wrongful Death Lawyers if Florida and Georgia — Plaintiff – a claim in common law jurisdictions against a person who can be held liable for a death. The claim is brought in a civil action, usually by close relatives, as enumerated by statute. Wrongful death may result from severe auto accident,truck accidents and transit disasters.  Any serious injury can result in a Wrongful death as well as medical malpractice. A wrongful death claim is usually handled by a personal injury lawyer.

About  Attorney Referral Service Florida and Georgia Lawyers

About Our Attorneys: Our attorney members are graduates of accredited schools of law, have concentrations in almost every field of the law, and have handled cases in Federal, Appellate, and Supreme Courts. Many are bilingual. We continuously screen our members with the Florida Bar to assure that they remain in good standing before making attorney referrals so that we can find a lawyer best suited to your needs. A A A  Attorney referral Service meets the Georgia and Florida requirements as a Bonafide Lawyer Referral Service.

How Attorney Referral Service Started in 1997

An Msw Social Worker  is the energy behind ATTORNEY REFERRAL SERVICE. She did her undergraduate internship at a facility for the criminally insane in Matteawan New York and family court in downtown Brooklyn, New York  and worked as a director of a geriatric facility in upstate New York  for 3 years. She understands the frustrations of a crisis situation. One of our core understandings is that life has become so complex that virtually everyone needs to consult with a lawyer at some time. In short, a well-chosen Attorney can be one of your greatest assets. Attorney Referral Service Client Connect program will help you locate a lawyer.

 Attorney Referral Service Helps you Find a Lawyer

Life has become so complicated that almost everyone may need to get advise from a lawyer at some point.  A well chosen lawyer can be one of your greatest assets. A lawyer can help protect your rights,serve as a financial and business adviser,or act as your trusted ally.

It is not only those  in trouble who need a lawyer,it could be  someone with a family issue, or who is involved in a complicated dealings with others. The key is finding a lawyer. That is what  Attorney referral service' mission. Each Florida or Georgia attorney is personally interviewed.After dialing the toll free number  you explain your situation to one of the counselors and an appropriate attorney is selected for your specific legal problem. An attorney referral service is an excellent way to find a Florida or georgia  lawyer. The attorney is immediately contacted with your information, phone number and email address. They respond quickly.

How To Get The Most Out Of Your Lawyer

Now that you have been introduced to a way of finding an attorney,here are some tips on how to get the most from your attorney:

Be truthful,accurate and honest. Remember three things–your  lawyer works for you he/she is not your judge. If you fail to disclose a potentially damaging fact and the fact is later brought out, your lawyer cannot respond to something he/she is ignorant of and has not had the  opportunity to prepare for. Your lawyer is bound by the rule of confidentiality not to disclose the content of your discussions.

• .Let your lawyer guide you, but you are the boss.

• .Keep in contact. You should receive copies of all relevant documents. At the same time,don't become a pest.

• .Respect your lawyers advise. If you do not have confidence in the lawyer's judgment consider getting a new lawyer.

Using a lawyer to help you with a specific problem or get general advise can prove invaluable. A trusted lawyer can be your greatest ally and confidant.

When do you need a lawyer? More often then you may think. Of course, there are obvious situations when a lawyer is essential, if you have been sued or if you have been accused of a crime. But there are many other situations where a lawyer can help you take actions to prevent a problem from arising in the future.

Life has become so complex that virtually everyone needs to consult with a lawyer at some time. In short, a well chosen lawyer can be one of your greatest assets. And that is when an attorney referral service like  Attorney Referral Service can help. A lawyer can help protect your rights,serve as a financial and business adviser,or act as your confidant.

So it is not only people who are in trouble who need a lawyer,it is someone with a family, or who is involved in a complicated dealings with others. The problem is finding a lawyer. That is what An Attorney referral service is all about. Each attorney is personally interviewed by phone or in person.After dialing the toll free number for Attorney referral Service you will explain your situation to one of the counselors and an appropriate attorney will be contacted to respond . attorney referral service  is an excellent way to find a lawyer.

Now that you have been introduced to a way of finding an attorney, Attorney referral service offers some tips on how to get the most from your attorney based on over ten years of talking to lawyers and clients:

    Be truthful,accurate and honest to your lawyer. Remember three things–your lawyer works for you:he/she is not your judge. If you fail to disclose a potentially damaging fact and the fact is later brought out, your lawyer cannot respond to something he/she is ignorant of and has not had the opportunity to prepare for. Your lawyer is bound by the rule of confidentiality not to disclose the content of your discussions.
    Let your lawyer guide you, but you are the boss.
    Keep in contact. You should receive copies of all relevant documents. At the same time,don't become a pest.
    Respect your lawyers advise. If you do not have confidence in the lawyer's judgement consider getting a new lawyer.

Using a lawyer to help you with a specific problem or gor general advise can prove invaluable. A trusted lawyer Referral Service can be your greatest support in a time of confusion or crisis.

If you have doubts about when to choose a lawyer, remember….an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. But if you failed to take the ounce of prevention don't despair, for as Sir W.S Gilbert so aptly said:"The subtleties of the legal mind are equal to the emergency". Call  Attorney Referral Service.

Attorneys  in Georgia for people injured on ther job. Workers compensation lawyers in Atlanta, Jonesboro, Albany, Columbus, Savannah, Macon and all of Georgia.

What You Need to Know

Under Georgia Workers Compensation  law  employers who employ three or more employees must provide workers compensation coverage for their employees.  Employees injured on the job are entitled to payment of their medical bills and income benefits for any lost time more than seven days.  In most cases, workers compensation benefits are the only source of recovery for an employee and they cannot file a separate lawsuit against their employer.  For injured employees who also had a pre-existing permanent impairment, under certain circumstances, employers may be entitled to reimbursement from the Subsequent Injury Trust Fund for a portion of workers compensation benefits paid.

What is workers Compensation

Workers' compensation is an accident insurance program paid by your employer which may provide you with medical, rehabilitation and income benefits if you are injured on the job.  These benefits are provided to help you return to work.  It also provides benefits to your dependents if you die as a result of a job related injury.

You are Protected

If you get hurt or sick because of work, your employer is required by law to pay for workers' compensation benefits. Workers' comp insurance provides six basic benefits: medical care, temporary disability benefits, permanent disability benefits, supplemental job displacement benefits or vocational rehabilitation and death benefits.

Workers' compensation is the nation's oldest social insurance program: It was adopted in most states, including California, during the second decade of the 20th century. It is a no-fault system, meaning you don't need to prove your injury was someone else's fault in order to receive benefits.

Workers Compensation lawyers work on a contingency basis

Maritime Lawyers of Attorney Referral Service

The Maritime Injury lawyers  of the Maritime Injury lawyer Helpline represent individuals who have been injured while working offshore.Jones Act injuries is the main focus of the helpline. If you or a loved one was injured on a boat, ship, rig or platform, our maritime lawyers can help you

Doctors and other medical professionals with medical partnerships, lawyers, engineers, dentists. Executive VPs, CEOs or CFOs, psychologists, accountants, stockbrockers, professional athletes, entertainers, bankers, politicians and other professionals who have special interests that must be protected in divorce especially when it comes to their practices, assets and equity. Some of the special our divorce lawyers are experienced with in working with professionals include:

•     Valuation of your business.
•     High-earner child support.,
•     visitation rights.,
•     father rights.,
•     Investment of marital assets into a business,
•     Contribution of stay-at-home parent to a spouse who obtained a professional degree
•     Spousal support,
•     asset protection,
•     Equity distribution,.
•     High asset divorce.,
•     Division of retirement accounts.,
•     Tax implications of divorce.,

Attorney referral Service Divorce lawyers are experienced in the in specific needs of high asset Divorce and represent doctors, lawyers, accountants, executives, business owners, professional athletes, and other professionals who are going through a divorce. We understand  confidentilaity and protection of your reputation and public image,

The Divorce process is a difficult and stressful experience. If one of the parties is a professional this may be even more stressful due to the pressures of a demanding profession. Financial issues are can be of particular concern as well as visitation and custody rights. These can become  an issue especially when a demanding job takes you away on businees trips or keeps you long hours in court or at the hospital. Iime away from the children for long hours can be a strong factor and It may be hard to make a case in a custody battle.

Financial issues can be of particular concern for someone who has spent years building a practice or a profession. There is a value assigned to your practice or business. Very often professional experts are brought in to asses your net worth. The current and future value of the medical practice will be considered.

Attorney Referral Service Divorce for professionals division lawyers have represnented a wide range of medical specialties, including family medicine, surgery, psychiatry, plastic surgery, dentists and other health care professionals.  Your reputation, and your practice are at stake. There is usually property and assets.

Divorce Wars is a show that reveals  what happens when high powered people divorce.. CNBC’s “Divorce Wars” takes you to the battle for control, power and revenge that comes when couples fight in a Divorce. Professionall people suddenly find themselves powerless as they discover how their wealth, profession and reputation can be a liability.

Divorce attorneys for professionals will:

• Look at the Tax consequences of Proposed Settlements
• Estimate Maintenance Needs for alimony negotiations
• Analyze Long Term Cash Flow and Net Worth for settlement negotiations
• Compare and Contrast Settlement Proposals look at many options
• Develop Alternate Settlement Proposals that may nenefit you
• Negotiate strong and hard on your behalf
• Protect your rights

If you are a professional going thru a Divorce in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, West Palm Beach, Orlando, Jacksonville, Tampa, Clearwater, and the greater Atlanta Georgia area contact our Divorce for professionals lawyers today.

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It is a well known fact that Divorce goes up after New Years. This Attorney Referral Service has been watching divorce patterns in Florida and Georgia since 1997 and we get an increase of Divorce callers within the week or two following New Years. Here is what Attorneys and organizations are saying:

One Divorce lawyer always makes sure he is at his desk and ready to take calls after the holidays.

“I’ve had people who were lined up the day after Christmas,” said Roane

January is the busiest month of the year for divorce lawyers. And it’s hardly ever a case of: “I didn’t like your present, I want a divorce,” Roane said.

Reasons for the rush are varied, said Diann Landers, a divorce lawyer who said she met with six new clients in the first two days of the year — despite taking half a day off.

Some are parents who want to avoid the anxiety a separation will cause their family over the holidays, said Landers, who has been practicing law for 35 years. Others want to make a change at the outset of the new year.

“I hesitate to think they’re saying, ‘It’s Jan. 1 and this is my New Year’s resolution,’” Landers said. “I think it’s more likely that people hesitate to do anything during the holidays.”
 

Another Divorce lawyer Randy said most parents don’t want to drop the divorce bombshell on their kids between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day.

“I think it’s also a case of making one more run at it over the holidays,” said Velzen, who chairs the Grand Rapids Bar Association’s Family Law Section. “But when you add the holiday stress to an unhealthy relationship, it can make it worse.”

Roane said some couples don’t want to be alone on Christmas, even if it means spending the holidays in a bad situation.

According to local court records, actual divorce filings don’t peak until March and April. That’s because it takes time to assemble a case once the decision is made.

According to Kent County Circuit Court records, there were 296 divorce filings last March, followed by 268 filings in April. In Ottawa County, filings also peaked in March with 108.

Less popular were November and December, with 213 and 166 filings in Kent County. Filings also were lowest during November and December in Ottawa County, with 67 and 48.

Landers said the spring peak also may have to do with the cost of filing and moving out of the house.

“A lot of people start to do things at the beginning of the year but wait until they get their income tax refund before they actually get started,”

Landers said. “It takes money to start a case.”

A lawyer may request a retainer that’s anywhere from $1,000 to $5,000 to get a case started, Landers said. “With kids, you’re probably looking at $500 in court costs and processing alone,” she said.

    Stressed couples wait until Christmas is over
    Festive season often amplifies troubles
    "Christmas is sometimes the final straw"

Relationships Australia regional manager Grant Pearson said his organisation spoke to a lot of families who were stressed in anticipation of the festive season.

"Because society has this idea that everyone will be happy and friendly … families have that expectation, but that's not the reality," he said.

Mr Pearson said this time of year also had the ability to amplify unresolved issues already brewing. "Christmas time in itself won't break up relationships," he said.

"Families are carrying a lot of stresses or issues into the Christmas period and then that couples with society's idea of everyone being in a happy family."

But, if the silly season falls short of expectation, Mr Pearson advises families to stop reacting and take responsibility rather than focusing on attributing blame.

UnitingCare Wesley Adelaide advocacy and communication manager Mark Henley said Christmas and the New Year period were the busiest times for families presenting with stress.

"People get together where there is strain and try to make out, often to the kids, that everything is OK," he said. "But a fews drinks and people's capacity to show restraint diminishes and things can get ugly."

Mr Henley said children were often the vulnerable players within the family unit as parents attempted to hide their conflict.

He said children generally had a good barometer for family stress and often blamed themselves.

King an Albany lawyer  says couples with children are also reluctant to divorce prior to the holidays for fear of spoiling what should be a happy time for kids. “Who wants to leave their children with a miserable memory of the holidays?” Once the New Year has passed, the lull in holidays and events makes it easier to get a divorce on track.

Despite the pressures a poor economy can place on a marriage, Roane and Velzen say hard economic times actually reduce the number of couples seeking divorce.

“It’s counterintuitive. I would expect that as the economy turns around, more people will be filing,” Velzen said.

“It’s not just the attorney’s fees,” Velzen said. “They can’t afford to set up two households and the extra expense that comes with it.”

In rare cases, a couple may choose to live separately in the same house, Velzen said. “Some people are coming up with solutions that are not at all healthy,” he said.

Roane said some clients decide to postpone divorce because their assets or the value of their business has dropped in value.
In some cases, their home is worth less than the mortgage debt or the pension fund has dropped in value and there is little to fight over.

Sometimes, clients review their divorce options annually to gauge whether their unhappy marriage is worth the cost of exiting, Roane said.

“Sometimes they do, sometimes they don’t. I’ve had people who have been talking about it for 10 years.”

Posted on December 27, 2011 by Eric
The New Year's Resolution Divorce

For the last few years, I have posted on the phenomenon of the New Year's Resolution Divorce.  For whatever reason, this post has struck a chord and has been both well received and cited by other bloggers.  As such, given that the new year is near, I thought I would share that piece again.

    Over the years, I have noted that the number of new clients spikes a few times of the year, but most significantly right after the new year. Out of curiosity, I typed "New Years Resolution Divorce" into Google and got 540,000 results in .29 seconds. While not all of the search results were on point, many were extremely interesting. It turns out that my intuition about this topic was right and that there are several reasons for it.

    One article on Salon.com put divorce up there with weight loss on New Years resolution lists. Also cited in this article was that affairs are often discovered around the holidays. Another article linked above attributed it to "new year, new life". Another article claimed that the holidays create a lot of pressures at the end of the year that combine to put stress on people in unhappy or weak relationships. Family, financial woes, etc. associated with the holidays add to the stress. Turning over a new leaf to start over and improve ones life was another reason given. This seems to be a logical explanation for a clearly difficult and perhaps heart wrenching decision.

It is after New Years and you are thinking Divorce. Call The divorce dept of Attorney Referral Service for a Divorce lawyer.

 Attorney Referral Service, Lawyer Referral Service  has been helping people locate lawyers since 1997. Our Florida Attorney Referral Service Lawyers have offices in Miami, Boca Raton, Orlando, West Palm Beach, Tampa, Fort Lauderdale, Clearwater, St Petersburg, Jacksonville, Sarasota and Fort  Myers, Winterhaven, Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, St. Lucie, Osceola, Orange, Lake, Volusia, Polk, Duval, Martin, Seminole, Pasco, counties and thru out Florida.

What is a Florida  Attorney Referral Service according to the Florida Bar

(c) Definition of Lawyer Referral Service. A "lawyer referral service" is:

(1) any person, group of persons, association, organization, or entity that receives a fee or charge for referring or causing the direct or indirect referral of a potential client to a lawyer drawn from a specific group or panel of lawyers; or

(2) any group or pooled advertising program operated by any person, group of persons, association, organization, or entity wherein the legal services advertisements utilize a common telephone number and potential clients are then referred only to lawyers or law firms participating in the group or pooled advertising program

Georgia Attorney Referral Service  Lawyers with offices in Macon, Valdosta, Marietta, Atlanta, Augusta  Jonesboro, Decatur, Gainesville,and Roswell. The Georgia Lawyer referral service will assiit a potential client who contacts the lawyer referral service by directing them to a lawyer who practices in the area of law that is most appropriate for their situation.

Our Nationwide Attorney Network has., Attorneys in Washington D.C., New York, California, New Jersey, Colorado, Tennessee, Texas, Arizona, Massachusetts, North and South Carolina and Michigan.

• Have you or a loved one been involved in an auto  accident and suffered serious injuries in Florida or Georgia? Have you been a victim or a transit or aviation disaster accident? Has your child or a loved one been Injured do to the negligence of another? Call A A A Attorney Referral Service for a Personal Injury Lawyer. Are you a victim of a pharmaceutical or orthopedic device class action? Get the justice and compensation with  you deserve.Our Florida and Georgia Personal Injury Wrongful Death lawyers have proven records of high settlements.
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• Are you in danger of losing your home? call A-A-A Attorney Referral Service now for a foreclosure defense lawyer. Do not wait. Time is of the essence.
• Arrested?  Accused of a crime? Call now ! We will find a Florida or Georgia Criminal defense lawyer with years of experience for you. Our Criminal lawyers are admitted to Florida and Georgia state and federal Courts. They are ex-prosecutors and public defenders with years of trial experience.  Attorney referral Service is your one stop Florida and Georgia  source.
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 A A A Attorney Referral Service  is here to help with all of life's legal  situations which call for the assistance of a caring professional. Our lawyers are here for you. Since 1997  Attorney Referral Service has carefully selected lawyers. We have been protecting the rights of  Florida and Georgia  people for over 10 years

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 ATTORNEY REFERRAL SERVICE COVERING FLORIDA AND GEPRGIA  WILL HELP YOU FIND A LAWYER

With so many websites, billboards, advertisements and solicitations by lawyers, how can  you POSSIBLY  know which Attorney to choose? Are you inexperienced in making such a difficult choice? Our Lawyer Referral Service  can help you! Our caring staff is here 24 hours seven days a week.  Attorney Referral Service has been helping the people since 1997.

Workers' Compensation Law In  Florida
An estimated 100,000 Floridians annually are injured on the job and apply for workers' compensation benefits. The majority of these people sail right through the state's workers' compensation system, receiving payments for their medical bills and back wages. Others, however, are not so lucky. For one reason or another, they become mired in an increasingly complicated and costly bureaucracy. Florida, like many states, has struggled with its workers' compensation program, trying to balance the interests of injured workers, employers, and insurers, all while containing costs.

Workers' compensation law is complicated and frequently subject to change. If you have any questions concerning workers' compensation, particularly if you are an injured employee whose employer has refused to pay benefits, you should consult an attorney.

Workers' Compensation: The Basics
Workers' compensation is a state program requiring employers to have an insurance policy covering employees for work-related injuries. Should an employee be injured on the job, the employer or the insurance company will provide payments for medical care and lost wages due to the injury. Though the employer (not the employee) pays the insurance premium, the cost of workers' compensation is ultimately passed to the consumer in the form of higher prices for goods and services.

The notion of the employer, and eventually the public, paying for employee work-related injuries originated in Germany during the latter half of the nineteenth century. Among the chief proponents of a German workers' compensation program was Bertha von Krupp of the famed German manufacturer, Krupp Works. Krupp had long believed that taking care of workers was in the best interest of business and in 1884 successfully persuaded Chancellor Otto von Bismark to support workers' compensation for all of Germany. Ironically, Krupp is also known for her namesake, "Big Bertha," the enormous canon that pounded England from the European mainland during World War I.

Workers' compensation did not come to the U.S. until about 1910 when New York and Massachusetts adopted their programs. Florida adopted its program in 1935. The advent of workers' compensation relieved injured employees from having to sue their employer to collect any sort of damages. Earlier, an employee had to prove (usually unsuccessfully) that the employer had negligently failed to provide a safe work environment. Under workers' compensation, however, employees are usually entitled to collect benefits regardless of fault. That is, even if an employee is responsible for his or her own injury, as long as the injury occurred on the job, the employee is usually covered by workers' compensation. The only catch to the program is that in most cases, workers' compensation benefits are the only form of remedy. After receiving benefits, an injured employee cannot sue his or her employer for further monies.

Who Is Covered
Generally, Florida law requires that all employers with four or more employees must have workers' compensation insurance coverage. Only employees are eligible for benefits. Broadly defined, an employee is anyone under appointment or contract for hire, oral or written, full or part-time. This includes aliens (lawfully or unlawfully employed), minors, and prisoners on work-release programs. Not included in this definition are independent contractors (such as bands, orchestras, and theatrical performers hired for a limited engagement, or anyone who is not subject to the control and direction of the employer), domestic servants in private homes, volunteers (in a non-governmental entity), professional athletes and motor sport teams, and casual laborers (hired for a specific job which does not exceed 10 days).

An employee's injury must arise "out of and in the course of employment" to be covered by workers' compensation. Basically, this means that the injury has to occur while the employee is involved in some activity directly related to his or her job. For example, an employee injured at the job site performing tasks at the direction of his or her employer is clearly covered. An employee who is injured on a business trip is covered, so long as he or she is engaged in employment duties. An employee is also covered during most work-related recreational events or during emergencies where the employee leaves work intending to save life or property. An employee is not covered when traveling to or from the place of employment, except if the employer asks the employee to perform a special duty on the way. Employees injured during work breaks when no work is being performed may also not be covered, depending on the circumstances.

Available Benefits
Workers' compensation entitles an employee to all reasonable and necessary medical care related to the injury. This includes visits to an approved health care provider, surgery, hospital and dental care, prescription drugs, braces, crutches, and other medical supplies ordered by an approved physician. An injured employee may also be entitled to payment for lost wages. If, as a result of the injury, the employee is unable to return to work after more than seven days, the employee is entitled to a portion of the lost income. An employee is also entitled to lost wages benefits if he or she is able to work, but earns less than 80 percent of his or her pre-injury wages, or has suffered a permanent loss of a bodily function as a result of the injury.

If an employee dies as result of a work-related injury, the employee's spouse, dependent children or dependent parents are entitled to death benefits of up to $100,000 (with certain exceptions).

Injured employees unable to return to work may be entitled to rehabilitation and training provided by the Division of Workers' Compensation, Bureau of Rehabilitation and Medical Services. The employer or insurance carrier may also provide these services voluntarily. In addition, the Bureau of Rehabilitation and Medical Services offers reemployment services to injured workers, such as help in finding a job, writing resumes, vocational testing, and counseling. As an incentive for employers to hire workers unable to return to regular work, the state's Preferred Worker Program reimburses employers the cost of a disabled employee's workers' compensation insurance premium for up to three years.

Reporting an Injury and Collecting Benefits
If an employee is injured on the job, he or she must notify the employer within 30 days of either the date of the injury, the date when the injury's effects first become apparent, or the date when a medical expert first discovers the injury. Failure to meet this deadline may threaten the right to benefits.

After an employer has been notified of an injury, the employer or insurance carrier is obligated to provide the necessary medical treatment. The employer or carrier has the right to authorize the treating physician, but cannot coerce or threaten the employee in the selection of a physician. Any employer or carrier violating this rule is guilty of a second degree misdemeanor.

The earliest an injured worker can expect to receive payments is within three weeks of the injury. This is possible if the injury is reported to the employer immediately and to the insurance carrier shortly thereafter. The carrier is required to send a payment within 14 days of being notified that the worker has been disabled for more than 6 days. Workers' compensation benefits are not considered taxable income.

An injured employee may lose the right to receive benefits if the employer has implemented a drug-free workplace program and the employee tests positive for drugs. Benefits may also be jeopardized if an employee fails to follow safety rules and is consequently injured.

When an Employer or Carrier Refuses Benefits
If the employer or the insurance carrier refuses to pay for medical care, lost wages or other matters, an injured employee should call the Division of Workers' Compensation (see the Resources section for more information). The Division of Workers' Compensation will attempt to remedy the problem through an informal resolution process. However, if that does not work, the employee will have to file a claim for benefits. If an injured worker has not yet consulted an attorney, it would be wise to do so at this point. Properly filing a claim can be complicated and mistakes may threaten a worker's right to benefits.

If both parties refuse to settle the dispute, a hearing will be held before a judge of compensation claims. At the hearing, both sides present their cases and the judge has 30 days to render a decision. The judge has the authority to require the losing party to pay the winner's court costs, including attorneys' fees. Appeal of the compensation judge's decision must be directed to the First District Court of Appeal in Tallahassee.

Employers are prohibited from discharging or threatening any employee for asserting a valid claim for workers' compensation benefits. However, employers are not required to hold an injured employee's position until they can return to work.

A final point: filing a false claim for workers' compensation benefits is a third degree felony and has serious consequences.

                                                                           Resources
Employee/Employer Rights In Florida. Jason Vail, Self-Counsel Press, Bellingham, WA, 1993.

If you have questions concerning workers' compensation, call the Division of Workers' Compensation (Employee Assistance Office) at (800) 342-1741 or any of the Florida Employee Assistance Field Offices listed below.

• Cocoa (407) 634-3596
• Daytona Beach (386) 323-0906
• Fort Lauderdale (305) 467-4686
• Fort Myers (813) 278-7091
• Gainesville (904) 599-2017
• Jacksonville (904) 798-4372
• Miami (305) 377-5965
• Orlando (407) 423-6458
• Panama City (904) 747-5424
• Pensacola (904) 494-7111
• Tallahassee (904) 488-7700
• Tallahassee (904) 922-6390
• Tampa (813) 930-7545
• West Palm Beach (407) 640-2850

Workers Compensation Lawyers of Attorney Referral Service are experienced in all aspects of Florida Workers Compensation law. If you were injured on the job, benefits denied, medical bills unpaid or need any help with your Workers Compensation Claim the lawyers of Attorney referral will help you on a contingency basis. You will have no out of pockett expense.  Remember the goal of your emoployer and the insurance company is to pay you as lttle as they can and get you back to work. Their gopals may not be in your best interest. You need an aggressive experienced Workers Compensation klawyer on your side. Call Attorney referral Workers compensation lawyer team today.

What Happens if You Die Without A Will?

If you die intestate (without a will), your state's laws of descent and distribution will determine who receives your property by default. It is important to have a wills probate lawyer draw together a will for you to avoid problems. These laws vary from state to state, but typically the distribution would be to your spouse and children, or if none, to other family members. A state's plan often reflects the legislature's guess as to how most people would dispose of their estates and builds in protections for certain beneficiaries, particularly minor children. That plan may or may not reflect your actual wishes, and some of the built-in protections may not be necessary in a harmonious family setting. A will allows you to alter the state's default plan to suit your personal preferences.

What a Will Does

A will provides for the distribution of property owned by you at the time of your death in any manner you choose (subject to the forced heirship laws of some states that prevent disinheriting a spouse and, in some cases, children). Your will cannot, however, govern the disposition of properties that pass outside your probate estate (such as certain joint property, life insurance, retirement plans, and employee death benefits) unless they are payable to your estate.

Wills can be of various degrees of complexity and can be utilized to achieve a wide range of family and tax objectives. If a will provides for the outright distribution of assets, it is sometimes characterized as a simple will. If the will establishes one or more trusts, it is often called a testamentary trust will. Alternatively, the will may leave probate assets to a preexisting inter vivos trust (created in your lifetime), in which case it is called a pour over will. In either case, the purpose of the trust arrangement (as opposed to outright distribution) is to ensure continued property management and creditor protection for the surviving family members, to provide for charities, and to minimize taxes.

Aside from providing for the intended disposition of your property to spouse, children etc., there are a number of other important objectives that may be accomplished in your will.

* You may designate a guardian for your minor child or children if you have survived the other parent and, by judicious use of a trust and appointment of a trustee, eliminate the need for bonds and supervision by the court regarding the care of each minor child's estate.

* You may designate an executor of your estate in your will and eliminate the need for a bond; in some states the designation of an independent executor will eliminate the need for court supervision of the settlement of your estate.

* You may choose to acknowledge or otherwise provide for a child (e.g., stepchild, godchild, etc.) in whom you have an interest, an elderly parent, or other individuals.

* If you are acting as custodian for the assets of a child or grandchild under the Uniform Gift (or Transfers) to Minors Act, you may designate your successor custodian and avoid the expense of a court appointment.

Good planning can also enhance your support of religious, educational, and other charitable causes. Free legal Shields' lawyers Attorneys of Florida,Georgia,Arizona and California can assist you with the protection a will provides for your loved ones
What A Will Does Not Do

A will does not govern the transfer of certain types of assets, called nonprobate property, which by operation of law or contract pass to someone else on your death. For example, real estate and other assets owned with rights of survivorship pass automatically to the surviving owner. Likewise, an IRA or insurance policy payable to a named beneficiary passes outside the will. Speak to a Wills Probate lawyer to learn more

How to Execute a Will

Wills are signed in the presence of witnesses and certain formalities must be observed. A later amendment to a will is called a codicil and must be signed with the same formalities. In some states, the will may refer to a memorandum disposing of tangible personal property, such as furniture, jewelry, automobiles, etc., which may be changed from time to time without the formalities of a will. In many states, a will that is formally executed with the signatures notarized is deemed to be self proved and may be admitted to probate without testimony of witnesses or other additional proof.

Types of Non-probate Property:
Jointly Owned Property

If you own property with another person as joint tenants with right of survivorship, that is, not as tenants in common, the property will pass directly to the remaining joint tenant upon your death and will not be a part of your probate estate. (It will, however, be a part of your taxable estate.) Frequently, people (particularly in old age) will cause bank accounts or securities to be placed in the name of the owner with one or more children or trusted friends as joint tenants with right of survivorship. This is sometimes done as a matter of convenience to give the joint tenant continuing access to accounts to pay bills.

It is important to realize that the ownership of property in this fashion often leads to unexpected or unwanted results. Disputes, including litigation, are common between the estate of the original owner and the surviving joint tenant as to whether the survivor's name was added as a matter of convenience and/or management or whether a gift was intended. The planning built into a well-drawn will may be partially or completely thwarted by an inadvertently created joint tenancy that passes property to a beneficiary by operation of law, rather than under the terms of the will.

Many of these problems are also applicable to institutional revocable trusts and "pay on death" forms of ownership of bank, broker, and mutual fund accounts and savings bonds. Effective planning requires knowledge of the consequences of each property interest and technique.

Trusts

The term trust describes the holding of property by a trustee (which may be one or more persons or a corporate trust company or bank) in accordance with the provisions of a written trust instrument for the benefit of one or more persons called beneficiaries. A person may be both a trustee and a beneficiary of the same trust. A trust created by your will is called a testamentary trust and the trust provisions are contained in your will.

If you create a trust during your lifetime, you are described as the trust's grantor or settlor, the trust is called a living trust or inter vivos trust, and the trust provisions are contained in the trust agreement or declaration. The provisions of that trust document (rather than your will or state law defaults) will usually determine what happens to the property in the trust upon your death.

A living trust may be revocable (subject to change and terminated by the settlor) or irrevocable. Either type of trust may be designed to accomplish the purposes of property management, assistance to the settlor in the event of physical or mental incapacity, and disposition of property after the death of the settlor of the trust.

Trusts are not only for the wealthy. Many young parents with limited assets choose to create trusts either during life or in their wills for the benefit of their children in case both parents die before all their children have reached an age deemed by them to indicate sufficient maturity to handle property. This permits the trust estate to be held as a single undivided fund to be used for the support and education of minor children according to their respective needs, with eventual division of the trust among the children when the youngest has reached a specified age. This type of arrangement has an obvious advantage over an inflexible division of property among children of different ages without regard to their level of maturity or individual needs at the time of such distribution.  Speak to a free legal Shield lawyer or Attorney about a trust in Florida, Arizona or California
Annuities and Retirement

Call The  will probate estate planning team attorney lawyer connect service at 800 733-5342.

Benefits

You may be entitled to receive some type of retirement benefit under an employee benefit plan offered by your employer or have an Individual Retirement Account (IRA). Typically, a deferred compensation or retirement benefit plan will provide for the payment of certain benefits to beneficiaries designated by the employee in the event of the employee's death before retirement age. After retirement, the employee may elect a benefit option that will continue payments after his or her death to one or more of the designated beneficiaries. Certain spousal annuities are mandated by law and may be waived only with the spouse's properly witnessed signed consent. The various payment options will be treated differently for tax purposes. Any person entitled to retirement benefits should seek competent advice as to the payment options available under his or her retirement plan and the tax consequences of each.
Life Insurance

If you own life insurance on your own life, you may either

(a) designate one or more beneficiaries to receive the insurance proceeds upon your death, or

(b) make the proceeds payable to your probate estate or to a trust created by you during your lifetime or by your will.

If the insurance proceeds are payable to your estate, they will be distributed as part of the general estate in accordance with the terms of your will or, if you die without a will, the distribution will be according to the applicable laws of intestate succession. If the proceeds are payable to a trust, they will be held and distributed in the same manner as other trust assets and may also be free of creditors' claims. Insurance proceeds that are payable directly to a minor child will generally necessitate the court appointment of a legal guardian or conservator. This can be avoided by having a trust designated as beneficiary or a custodial account under the state-transfers-to-minors law.

Insurance plays an important role in estate planning and should be coordinated with all other aspects of your estate plan. The laws pertaining to the taxability of insurance proceeds are complex, however, so it is important that all matters pertaining to life insurance be carefully reviewed with your attorney and insurance advisor.
How to Execute a Will

Call The attorney connect service for a lawyer attorney to learn about how to execute a will at 800 733-5342

Wills are signed in the presence of witnesses and certain formalities must be observed. A later amendment to a will is called a codicil and must be signed with the same formalities. In some states, the will may refer to a memorandum disposing of tangible personal property, such as furniture, jewelry, automobiles, etc., which may be changed from time to time without the formalities of a will. In many states, a will that is formally executed with the signatures notarized is deemed to be self proved and may be admitted to probate without testimony of witnesses or other additional proof.
Organ and Tissue Donation

In many states you can include in your advance directive your preference to become an organ or tissue donor at the time of death. State law varies, and you should check with your attorney. Even if your state is one in which your driver's license contains an organ or tissue donor statement, you need to express this by letting your health care proxy, your family, and your physician know your desire to become a donor. In some states you also need to be registered as an organ and tissue donor.

Many people prefer to keep their legal documents private. With end of life issues, however, communicating your wishes is essential. An advance health care directive is the first step in this process. But, you also need to discuss your preferences with others. Take the time to discuss these issues with the person you appoint as your health care proxy. Talk to your physician. Make sure your family knows how you feel about end of life issues. The more these individuals know, the easier it will be for them to fulfill your wishes.

Call The attorney connect service at 800 733-5342 for the will probate estate Planning lawyer Attorney