Author: William Gall

How Courts Decide Alimony Duration and Payment Size

How Courts Decide Alimony Duration and Payment Size

Custody management tool Custody X Change says that according to recent studies, typical alimony outcomes range from $0 up to about $1,381 per month depending on the state. If you’re going through a divorce and wondering how much the average alimony payment is, you need to know the key considerations involved. Marriage length, financial needs,...

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Building a Legally Sound DEI Program

Building a Legally Sound DEI Program: A Practical Guide for Employers

Managing people in today’s workplace involves much more than overseeing tasks and productivity. Employers must also navigate a complex legal landscape to ensure their policies and practices comply with anti-discrimination laws. As organizations grow and workforce demographics become increasingly diverse, the need for thoughtful and legally compliant approaches becomes even more critical. The stakes are...

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7 Types of Surveillance and Smart Security Technologies Reshaping 2025

7 Types of Surveillance and Smart Security Technologies Reshaping 2025

Modern security has evolved into a multi-layered system where surveillance is no longer limited to cameras or patrol guards. Today’s threats demand a smarter, more connected approach that blends physical presence, artificial intelligence, biometric identification, and cloud-based platforms. Businesses, governments, and organizations now depend on surveillance not only to prevent incidents but also to enable...

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What You Should Know About Divorce, Custody, and Support Laws

What You Should Know About Divorce, Custody, and Support Laws

According to the National Survey of Family Growth, the refined divorce rate in the United States is approximately 14.9 per 1,000 married women. And when there is divorce, usually, child custody and support laws follow. Decisions about legal family matters are not easy and need to be carefully considered. For all you know, this could...

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When You Can Legally Seek an Annulment

When You Can Legally Seek an Annulment

The first-marriage divorce rate in the U.S. in 2024 is estimated to be 40% to 50%, which is a very slow decrease from the same rate in the past decades. The forecast for 2025 is that one marriage in every two in the U.S., or roughly 41%, will conclude with a divorce. Divorce still continues...

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The Documents You Need Certified for a Green Card Application

The Documents You Need Certified for a Green Card Application

For many international students and alumni, graduation marks more than the end of college life. It also signals the beginning of long-term plans in the United States, whether through employment, marriage, or family-based immigration. Yet as simple as a Green Card application may sound, it involves more than providing your diploma or résumé. One of...

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Unique Areas of Law You Can Study at University

Unique Areas of Law You Can Study at University (Beyond Criminal and Corporate Law)

When most students picture a career in law, they instantly think of crowded courtrooms, corporate boardrooms, or dramatic legal battles. But the legal world is far wider and more diverse than the familiar tracks of criminal law or corporate law. Universities today offer an incredible range of niche and meaningful legal specialties fields that shape...

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What Compensation Covers in Birth Injury Lawsuits

What Compensation Covers in Birth Injury Lawsuits

Birth injuries affect 7 of every 1,000 children born in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). And for family members, to see their child’s health in peril can have an emotional toll. Birth injuries can also have lasting physical and financial concerns for the family. And for such...

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How to Handle Trust Administration After a Loved One’s Death It is a surprising fact that in the US, 55% of the populace lives without any estate planning documents. They lack a will, trust, or even a proper legal plan. Just about 31% of adults have the most basic of wills, and 11% of adults have a trust established. The experience of managing a trust can at times be overwhelming and difficult, especially when one is going through the grief process. One of the worst things that can happen to a person is losing their loved one and then having to manage a trust with all its emotional and legal affairs. The said scenario can be extremely devastating but it can be handled better if one fully understands the circumstances of the estate and the law. The process could involve notifying heirs, paying off debts, determining the value of the estate, and filing the correct tax forms. According to trust administration lawyer Andrew M. Meinzer, after all the grants of the deceased's will and the terms of the trust are carried out, the trust administration may dissolve. In this case, an attorney will see to it that the act is performed in a lawful manner. Let’s discuss how trust administrators should perform their roles for the benefit of the beneficiaries of the trust. Understanding the Role of the Trustee When someone dear to you dies, knowing what the trustee does is important. You may wonder what the person's duties are and how they can help you now. The trustee is the one who gets the trust's assets, and they are the ones who will see to it that these are disposed of as per the deceased's wishes. They'll pay the debts and taxes, then give the rest to the beneficiaries. You must communicate with the trustee, who can guide you through the process. The benefit of trust becomes evident at this time. If you set up your trust correctly, you can easily transfer assets without going through probate. The process saves time and money on court fees. It also protects privacy, reduces the chance of fights between heirs, and gives clear directions for managing assets and distributing them out. With this legal tool, you can be certain that your loved one's wishes will be carried out quickly and with care. Keep in mind that you are not by yourself; the trustee's position is to assist you through this era by keeping your loved one's memory alive. Rely on them and do not hold back on your inquiries. Gathering Necessary Documents Prior to engaging in the trust administration process, you need to gather the required documents. Search for the trust agreement, as it describes your role and the desires of the deceased. You will also require the death certificate, as it is proof for banks and other institutions. Retrieve all relevant financial statements, property deeds, and insurance policies for the trust. Identification items should be brought along and these could be an ID and a social security card. If you have these items organized, the whole process will be easier for you, and you will feel more connected to the work you are doing. One thing that should be emphasized is that the gathering of these documents is not just a matter of paperwork but a matter of honoring your loved one’s memory and assisting in their wishes coming true. Notifying Beneficiaries and Other Interested Parties Notifying the heirs and all other potential interested parties is such an important thing in the administration of a trust and this step requires a great extent of precision and attentiveness to detail in order to be executed properly. When informing others about the death of a loved one, it is best to do so gently, as this situation is emotionally difficult for everyone involved. The relatives should have the news among the first. They should be informed of their rights and future expectations. Be ready for inquiries and give help as they digest the news. Open and polite communication will allow the entire process to be less intimidating. Managing Trust Assets When you begin to handle the role of managing trust assets, it is very important to do the job carefully and clearly. The first step is to put together all the financial documents, such as bank statements, property deeds, and investment records. Go through the trust agreement to get a good understanding of the assets and the obligations that come with them. Regularly contacting financial institutions will help you effectively manage the assets. Trust income and expenses should be documented separately. The meticulous keeping of records for all transactions is very helpful, and by being transparent it will create confidence with the beneficiaries of the trust. You are preserving a loved one's legacy, and through your careful management, you can make everyone feel included. Distributing Trust Assets According to the Terms of the Trust After trust assets are managed properly, then the next step is to distribute them as per the trust document. Implementing the desires of your loved ones will not be an easy task, but it will be a significant part of the process of trust administration. It is required to go over the trust document very carefully to get a complete picture of the exact distributions that are provided for each heir, along with the stipulations that are connected to the properties. The beneficiaries must be informed at all times and may even be given the opportunity to converse with one another. This openness not only prevents but also helps with family conflict issues and builds trust among all parties. If there are issues that you do not understand, seek help from a legal or trust professional. You should act according to your loved one's wishes, not only because it is a legal requirement but also to pay them respect and bring the family closer together.

How to Handle Trust Administration After a Loved One’s Death

It is a surprising fact that in the US, 55% of the populace lives without any estate planning documents. They lack a will, trust, or even a proper legal plan. Just about 31% of adults have the most basic of wills, and 11% of adults have a trust established. The experience of managing a trust...

Read More

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