Editor’s note: This is the second of two blog posts exploring probate: what it is, how it works and what Kentucky law has to say about this process. You can read the first in the series here.
By Leah Morrison, Attorney
English, Lucas, Priest and Owsley, LLP
Leah Morrison, attorney
Probate is one of those things that people universally dismiss as an unduly burdensome process. In fact, many clients tell me they need a will or estate plan so that they can avoid probate.
Outside of the small estate scenario that we explored in the first blog post, Kentucky law provides additional mechanisms for avoiding probate. Not everyone has a Will. Perhaps most often people do not want to write one because they don’t want to think about dying, or they plan to write one and simply put it off. Some purposefully choose intestacy. Even without any planning not all assets owned by the decedent are subject to the probate process. Probate assets include everything the decedent owned in his or her individual name.
These can include:
bank accounts;
brokerage accounts;
real estate held in the decedent’s individual name or in a tenancy in common;
vehicles;
furniture;
jewelry; and
an interest in a partnership, corporation, or limited liability company. Read More
By Kurt Maier, Partner
English, Lucas, Priest and Owsley LLP
Who hasn’t enjoyed a great ride at an amusement park in the summer months? It’s a staple of summer fun and entertainment for children, teens and adults. Your trip to an amusement park should be free of worry about accidents and injuries, but it’s becoming all too common to see serious injuries inflicted because of careless operation of amusement park rides.
There certainly are well-maintained amusement parks, and there are also those that are not. You probably won’t be able to tell which one you’ve chosen by looking at them.
Kentucky amusement parks have certainly had cases of serious injuries. The one that almost everyone remembers is the 2007 incident at Six Flags in Louisville (which has since closed). A 16-year-old girl was riding the Superman Tower of Power ride when a cable wrapped around her feet and severed them. The girl’s family sued the park.
At the Louisville Zoo, a small train designed for parents and their children crashed. One man had his leg pinned under the train and had a series of eight surgeries to repair the damage. He had missed 18 months of work at the time of the lawsuit. A small child had disfiguring face injuries, and many others were injured in other ways. The claims were eventually settled. Read More
Gaines Penn Attorney Gaines Penn recently joined the Board of Directors of Orchestra Kentucky, a non-profit organization providing musical performances in Bowling Green. Orchestra… Read More
By Rebecca Simpson, Partner
English, Lucas, Priest and Owsley, LLP
Rebecca Simpson
Another school year has nearly come to a close, and kids are eager for the fun and freedom of summer.
For parents, however, balancing work, camps, childcare and vacation can prove complicated and stressful. These complications and stresses weigh particularly heavy upon parents who are separated or divorced. Coordinating schedules can create tension and conflict, making summer planning an enormous challenge.
While every family situation is unique, and no simple solutions exist to resolve all of the complications that can accompany raising children in separate homes, these “Six Rules of Summer” offer guidance regarding issues that commonly arise during summer co-parenting. Read More
Rebecca Simpson Attorney Rebecca Simpson will present at the 2018 ABA Family Law Section Spring Conference in Nashville, Tenn., in May. Her presentation, given with… Read More
