Surprise! You Cannot Easily Disinherit Your Spouse

by Eileen Kerlin Walsh | Jun 20, 2025 | Blog, Common Questions, Education, Estate Planning, Healthcare Decisions, Kerlin Walsh Law, News, Wills & Trusts

Believe it or not, it is not easy to disinherit your spouse in the United States. In many states and the District of Columbia, you cannot intentionally disinherit your spouse unless your spouse agrees to receive nothing from your estate in a prenuptial,...

The Deaths of Gene Hackman and His Wife

by Eileen Kerlin Walsh | Jun 20, 2025 | Blog, Common Questions, Education, Estate Planning, Kerlin Walsh Law, News, Wills & Trusts

When investigators entered the home of legendary actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Machiko Arakawa, in a gated community outside Santa Fe, New Mexico, on February 26, 2025, they found the couple dead under mysterious circumstances. Following their investigation,...

Are You Saving Enough for Retirement?

by Eileen Kerlin Walsh | Jun 20, 2025 | Blog, Common Questions, Estate Planning, Kerlin Walsh Law, News, Wills & Trusts

Retirement is supposed to be a carefree period of enjoyment and fulfillment. However, retirement has become a daunting prospect for many Americans, full of anxiety and financial uncertainty. Longer lives and rising costs make the idea of retiring in one’s 60s...

Want to Disinherit Someone? This Is What You Need to Know

by Eileen Kerlin Walsh | Jun 20, 2025 | Blog, Common Questions, Education, Estate Planning, Kerlin Walsh Law, News, Wills & Trusts

Disinheritance—the intentional exclusion of a family member, usually a child or spouse, from receiving part of your estate after your death—is more common than you might think. It is also easier than you might think to disinherit a loved one, with a couple of notable...

How to Minimize the (Voluntary) Federal Estate Tax with Portability

by Eileen Kerlin Walsh | Jun 20, 2025 | Blog, Common Questions, Estate Planning, Kerlin Walsh Law, News, Wills & Trusts

Most people may be surprised to learn that the federal estate tax is considered by some to be voluntary. Estate planning attorneys used to say, “You only pay if you do not plan.” The relatively recent introduction of portability provides yet another planning tool...

Do You Go By Different Names? Ensure That Your Estate Planning Attorney Knows

by Eileen Kerlin Walsh | Jun 20, 2025 | Blog, Common Questions, Education, Estate Planning, Kerlin Walsh Law, News, Wills & Trusts

What is in a name? If you are a beneficiary or a creditor of an estate, or if you are setting up an estate plan, your name means a great deal. It is not unusual for a person to go by different names, such as the name we are given at birth and the names we choose for...