Prenuptial agreements or premarital agreements which are prepared using a mediator and the mediation process. Using prenuptial or premarital mediation to draft an agreement allows the couple to determine the…

A private contract that defines certain issues within a marriage (which hasn’t yet taken place), typically spousal support and property division, as well as certain provisions in the event of…

Child (or child of a deceased child) who is either not named in or not provided for in a will but who are entitled to a share of an estate.…

* A legal instrument authorizing one to act as the attorney or agent of the signer. See also durable power of attorney.

Legal authority to decide who shall receive property held in a trust.

A will which automatically deposits money or assets into a trust. Property left through a will must go through probate before it can “pour over” into the trust.

A private contract that defines certain issues within a marriage (which has already taken place), typically debt, spousal support and property division, as well as certain provisions in the event…

A private contract that defines certain issues within a marriage (which has already taken place), typically debt, spousal support and property division, as well as certain provisions in the event…

All property except for land or real estate. Personal items, cash, investments, cars, etc.

If no parent is available to raise your child, another adult must be legally responsible to do so. This person is called the child’s personal guardian.

If your estate is worth more than the amount of the personal estate tax exemption for the year of your death, your estate will owe taxes unless other exemptions or…

Constance Arons’ book, The Good Divorce, was one of the first (and most enduring) books to illustrate how a peaceful divorce might be possible. Allowing yourself to grief the end…

Also called a pay on death account. Bank account which balance will be paid upon the owner’s death to the person specified as the pay on death beneficiary.

The written court orders which outline how often and when the children will be with each parent and how child-focused decisions will be made. Parenting plans typically include decision making…

An income replacement– like alimony or spousal support –that may be awarded under a contract theory rather than an alimony law. The difference is that palimony is for people who…