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Lessons From Fisk: Limits on Testamentary Freedom By Melinda Gustafson Gervasi November 24, 2024 There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humor. ― Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol Seeking a dose of laughter to offset the heaviness of world news and the increasingly shorter days of sunlight?  If you have Netflix, you may enjoy the Australian ABC comedy that first aired in March of 2021, Fisk .  Starring Kitty Flanagan as Helen Fisk, it is a witty comedy set in the law office of Gruber & Gruber, a small (shabby) suburban office that focuses on estate planning and probate.  Recently I laughed my way through all six episodes of Season One.  I enjoyed them so much that I rewatched them with my husband.  With hyperbolic scenarios, the show explores accurate aspects of my everyday work life.  Today, and for the remainder of the calendar year, my weekly blog post will examine each episode and a take-away for the viewer se...

How to Get Your Elderly Parents Talking About End-of-Life Issues - Use a Book to Spark Conversation By Melinda Gustafson Gervasi November 17, 2023 "Seriously Mom, maybe you could try read something a little less depressing.  What is this?" Wisecracked my 13 year old daughter as she passed my home desk one evening.   "Oh, that.  It's a book I've read already.  Gail gave it to me as sort of a gag 50th birthday gift.  Gail's sort of doing Swedish Death Cleaning and thought I'd be a good place to re-home the book." Image by M. Gustafson Gervasi, the author's 50th ice cream birthday cake The book is the graphic novel, a memoir technically, by Roz Chast, titled Can't We Talk About Something More Pleasant .  Released in 2014 it was a National Book Award Finalist, and it may be just the thing to take with you when you go home for the Thanksgiving Holiday or if you are hosting this year, set it out on the coffee table.  The book caught the curiosity...

Middle Class Philanthropist - How Anyone Can Leave a Legacy By Melinda Gustafson Gervasi November 10, 2023 Ten years ago I published a small book, designed to be read in an afternoon while enjoy a mug of coffee or a cup of tea.  The intent behind Middle Class Philanthropist: How Anyone Can Leave a Legacy was to inspire the average American to be philanthropic when creating or updating an estate plan. Much is written about philanthropy in November because the 15th of the month is National Philanthropy Day . All too often the stories of giving involving multi-millionaires donating sums most of us cannot wrap our minds around.  But there is another path to philanthropy, one any of us can take.  I hold the core belief that anyone can leave a legacy. It does not require excessive wealth when directed with intention and purpose.  If you want to leave this world with a final gift, here are a few options noted in my book: Designate an In Lieu of Flowers charitable cause....

3 Situations When A Living Revocable Trust May Make Sense By Melinda Gustafson Gervasi November 3, 2023 America is made up for fifty different states.  Laws related to estate planning and probate are written at the state level.  That means there are fifty different sets of laws and regulations governing end-of-life matters.  It is critical to know the ins and outs of the laws of the state you reside in when creating an estate plan because terms, fees, and responsibilities can vary greatly.  For example, the cost of going through probate in Wisconsin is quite low compared to an estate in California.  More specifically, under Wis. Stats. 814.66 the fee assessed on a probate estate is 0.2 percent.  In contrast, according to online research the fee in California is more complicated and costly: In California, statutory probate fees are based on the gross value of the estate and are as follows: 4% on the first $100,000; 3% on the next $100,000; 2% on the next $80...