Clients can overlook providing for their pets upon their deaths.  Pet trusts are a viable means of ensuring the post-mortem  care of pets.  Ohio has a statute which provides for the creation of pet trusts.  Kentucky does not have a specific statute but the objective of providing care for pets can be accomplished via other means.

A few tips about dealing with the personal items of parents.  Having seen families fight over furniture and jewelry, I agree with “go slow” and “be diplomatic.”  I would also add “remember it is just stuff” and “your relationship with your siblings is more important than any item.”

This is a bit tawdry.  A man who is being sued in a wrongful death case previously created a trust to benefit his 2 minor children.  He has now adopted his 42 year old girlfriend so she can be a beneficiary of 1/3 of the trust.  Assuming they remain a couple, she may use the trust assets to support herself and him even if he is forced to pay a large damage award in the lawsuit.  My trust documents are designed to prevent this because they provide that an adoptee must be younger than 18 to be considered a beneficiary.

Because powers of attorney are so powerful, and eyed suspiciously by financial institutions, it is better to have an attorney prepare one than use a standard off the shelf form.

I typically see a funeral bill of $10,000 for my clients.  Here are  a few quick tips to reduce funeral costs – shop around, remember that the funeral home exists to make money, and that a reasonable casket can be purchased for $400 – $600.