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From the Headlines: Famous Actors Die Without a Will By Melinda Gustafson Gervasi December 29, 2020 The year 2020 stoked our awareness of immortality.  The entire world became painfully aware that even the young, strong and healthy could fall victim to Coivd-19.  Yet, while there was a spike for estate planning services, 62 percent of Americans still do not have a will .  And it is not just the average American without these essential documents; the wealthy and famous are members of this group of procrastinators.   At age 43, Chadwick Boseman (most recently known for his role as The Black Panther ) died after a several year battle with cancer.  He died without an estate plan.  Then on November 27, 2020,  Tony Hsieh (age 46) died due to smoke inhalation.  He also died far too young, and without an estate plan. Intestate, when you die without a will, means that state legislation and a judge's oversight will dictate where your probate prop...

 A North Star in Estate Planning December 24, 2020 By Melinda Gustafson Gervasi Estate planning attorneys spend a lot of time listening to their clients, or at least they should.  I use a flat-fee system with my estate planning clients. Doing so gives them the freedom to talk without one eye on the clock, fearful of the almighty billable hour.  And talk they do.  Telling one story here, expressing a concern there, circling back to a fact they overlooked.  During our first meeting to talk I have a completed client questionnaire, but the conversation breathes much more life into the clients wishes than a few sheets of paper. Quite often a client will open up to me which allows me to see that the client has several priorities.  This can be problematic.  Priority, defined means one thing is more important than other things.  When you have multiple priorities in estate planning the path to final documents can be convoluted, overwhelming, and sometimes ...

 It's The House With The Creepy Santa -- Estate planning during a pandemic December 18, 2020 By Melinda Gustafson Gervasi Pivot.  It may be "the word" of 2020.  And pivot we did.  Being and estate planning and probate attorney during a global pandemic has been challenging, rewarding, and ever changing.  When I started my practice in 2005, I never imagined that in my 15th year of solo practice I would be holding client meetings outdoors at my home office with my spouse as the witness.  Yet, that has become a reality.  I pivoted away from a conference room, offers of fresh coffee, witnessing by my administrative staff, and closing with a Frango Mint to go.  Instead I now commonly say ".....go North on Whitney Way through the intersection of Whitney and Mineral Point Rd., then make a U-turn at Marathon.  Go about 10 houses South on Whitney.  Our house is the white ranch with a yellow front door and a creepy 1980s (possibly older) plastic Sa...