Family Law Archives - Moak & Moak, P.C. -Attorneys At Law

May 12, 2025

INHERITANCE RIGHTS OF ADOPTED, HALF-BLOOD AND STEP CHILDREN

When assisting families with real estate that has belonged to a family member, commonly there are questions about siblings which were either adopted, stepchildren or children from outside the marriage. Therefore, in this week’s column I will explain how each of these scenarios may affect inheritance rights. The inheritance rights of adopted children are protected …

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June 17, 2024

Should You Have a Caregiver Agreement?

It was recently brought to my attention that while many adult children are serving as caretakers for their aging parents, very few receive reimbursement for their time or trouble. I am not surprised by this and personally feel this is one’s obligation to their parents. Many children and grandchildren feel that helping their aging relative …

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March 4, 2024

Danger of Adding Others to Your Accounts

Many folks I have counseled tell me they have added a trusted adult child to their financial accounts. Their reasoning is that it gives the child access to help them. That is a perfectly reasonable step to take, but it is important to consider the ramifications, especially as it may affect federal deposit insurance for …

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April 6, 2023June 9, 2023

Neglecting Your Estate Plan

Risk of Neglecting Your Estate Plan The information in this column is not intended as legal advice but to provide a general understanding of the law. Any readers with a legal problem, including those whose questions are addressed here, should consult an attorney for advice on their particular circumstances. Life is unpredictable and certain events …

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March 30, 2023June 9, 2023

What is Hospice Care?

The information in this column is not intended as legal advice but to provide a general understanding of the law. Any readers with a legal problem, including those whose questions are addressed here, should consult an attorney for advice on their particular circumstances. Hospice care is a type of health care that patients with terminally …

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March 22, 2023June 9, 2023

DECEDENTS?

DECEDENTS? The information in this column is not intended as legal advice but to provide a general understanding of the law. Any readers with a legal problem, including those whose questions are addressed here, should consult an attorney for advice on their particular circumstances. What are DECEDENTS? Often we in the legal world forget there …

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March 9, 2023June 9, 2023

Think of Your Health Care Needs in Advance

Think of Your Health Care Needs in Advance The information in this column is not intended as legal advice but to provide a general understanding of the law. Any readers with a legal problem, including those whose questions are addressed here, should consult an attorney for advice on their particular circumstances. For most people, thinking …

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September 30, 2022

Choose your Children’s Guardian Wisely

After reading a story about a grandmother who lied to a court (did not disclose she had been convicted of theft 4 times) in order to be appointed Guardian and Trustee. Then proceeded to embezzle $50,000 from her granddaughter (she spent granddaughter’s life insurance proceeds on beer, liquor and cigarettes), I thought it would be …

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June 21, 2021

Frequently Asked Questions About Guardianships

While I am an advocate for the use of a Power of Attorney to avoid guardianships, I realize there are times when a guardianship cannot be avoided. Therefore, in this week’s column I will address some of the more frequently asked questions regarding guardianships. How does one go about initiating a guardianship? Any interested party …

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September 14, 2020September 30, 2022

Steps to Help Get Started on Estate Planning

You need an estate plan. This is true even if you don’t have a lot of assets. It’s also true if you’re young, or if you don’t have close family members. Estate planning means preparing for the inevitabilities of life. People get sick or hurt, and you need a plan in place to determine what …

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