Waters Sullivan LLC

Estate hijacking happens more often than most people realize.

A family member gains control of an estate and starts moving assets. Maybe to themselves, maybe to accounts nobody else knows about, and all before other heirs understand what's happening.

By the time families catch on, the estate has often been depleted. But depleted doesn't mean gone.

Alabama probate courts can freeze assets, remove a bad-faith administrator, order a full accounting, and hold wrongdoers personally liable.

If something feels wrong about how an estate is being handled, the sooner you act, the more options you have.

waterssullivan.com

Shoutout to our paralegal Cassie, who spent her time off hiking Angel's Landing at Zion National Park.

For context: Angel's Landing involves chains bolted into a cliff, a 1,500 foot drop on both sides, and zero room for second-guessing yourself.

Congratulations to Cassie & crew, both for making it out alive, and for finding something even more stressful than work to do on vacation.

(...talk about needing your estate planning done prior to vacation 😅💦)

Three questions we get every April, right around tax season:

"Do I need to update my estate plan if my financial situation changed significantly this year?"
Generally, yes. Substantial changes in assets, new accounts, real estate, or business interests can affect how your estate is distributed.

"My accountant mentioned I might have an estate tax issue. Is that a legal or accounting problem?"
Both. Estate tax planning sits at the intersection of tax law and estate law. Your CPA and your estate attorney should be talking to each other.

"I just inherited money. Does that change my estate plan?"
It might. Inherited assets have their own titling and beneficiary considerations, and they may affect Medicaid planning if that's relevant for your family.

We're happy to be the legal half of that conversation.

waterssullivan.com