About John Devendorf, Esq.
John Devendorf is a graduate of UCLA and holds a J.D. from Seton Hall University School of Law, where he was a Distinguished Scholar, recipient of the ALI-ABA Scholarship and Leadership Award, and a participant in the Immigrant Workers’ Rights Clinic and special delegation to Haiti.
A licensed attorney for more than a decade, John transitioned to a career as a legal content writer and editor after an externship with the IRS, a judicial clerkship, and practicing at a civil litigation firm in Princeton, New Jersey. John now lives in Portland, Oregon, where he enjoys writing, international travel, and escape rooms.
Articles written by John Devendorf, Esq.
Security Deposit Refunds: State Deadlines To Return My Money
Every state sets its own deadline for returning a security deposit, and those timelines are not always what tenants expect. Knowing where your state falls can make the difference between waiting patiently and recognizing when something is off. Understanding these deadlines puts you in a position to act if your money is being held too long. For legal help getting your security deposit back, speak with a landlord-tenant lawyer. What Is a Security Deposit? A security deposit is a payment landlords …
Aging Parent Estate Planning: Strategies To Start the Talk
Managing a person’s property and assets after they pass away is a burden that surviving family members must deal with. Estate planning can help ease that burden. The following article offers helpful information and strategies for discussing estate planning with loved ones before it's too late. For more information, talk to a local estate planning attorney. How To Talk to Your Parents About Estate Planning Talking about end-of-life care is difficult at any age. Younger people often put off …
Pour-Over Will Guide: Purpose and When To Use One
A pour-over will is a catch-all for assets you don’t directly allocate in your estate planning documents. Using a pour-over will ensures that assets not already in your will or trust are moved into a trust. The probate court must verify the assets before they go to the trust. Without a pour-over will, your heirs may have to go through the probate process for minor assets and property, which could have been avoided. If you are using a living trust, your estate planning attorney will …
Life Insurance Payouts: How Estates Process Death Benefits
Life insurance policies pay out when you pass away, including death benefits to designated beneficiaries. Naming beneficiaries under your life insurance policy will provide death benefits without going through probate. These benefits can help provide for your family members and loved ones in a time of need. If you do not name your life insurance beneficiaries, the payout will be delayed while it goes through probate. For more information about how estates process death benefits for life …
Will Contests: Who Has Legal Standing and How To File
When a family member or loved one dies, you may expect to get something in their will. If you’re not named as a beneficiary or only get a small inheritance, you may suspect something is wrong with the will. You can challenge the will if you can prove there was undue influence, fraud, or forgery. But to challenge a will, you need legal standing. Standing refers to your legal right to bring a lawsuit or file a claim in court. To have standing, you must have some connection to the case, …
Bank Account Inheritance: What Happens To Your Cash at Death
When you die, the cash in your bank account is inherited through your estate, right of survivorship, or beneficiary designation. For a joint account, the asset transfer is automatic to the joint owner. A bank or trust account with a payable on death beneficiary gets a non-probate direct inheritance. After the estate executor notifies the bank with a death certificate, an account freeze prohibits further withdrawals. Without a will, accounts transfer by intestate succession to a surviving spouse …
Estate Plan Cost: Pricing Strategies and What To Expect
An estate plan provides for your wishes after you die and can also address what happens if you become incapacitated. Making an estate plan can take the burden off your family and loved ones while saving them time and money in the long run. An estate plan should address your individual needs. This article provides information about the costs of an estate plan and your legal estate planning options. For more information about what to expect with an estate plan, talk to a local estate …
Revocable vs. Irrevocable Trusts: Key Differences To Know
A trust is an important part of a comprehensive estate plan. The most common types of trusts are revocable and irrevocable trusts. A revocable trust can be changed at any time during the grantor's lifetime. By contrast, once an irrevocable trust is established, the grantor cannot make changes. There are key benefits and drawbacks for each type of trust. Understanding the key differences can help you choose the best trust for your estate plan. For legal advice about finding the right type …
Original Will Storage: Where To Safely Keep Legal Documents
To safely store your will and estate planning legal documents, you must enlist a bank safety deposit box, filed with your estate planning attorney in a law office vault, court registry with the county clerk, or in a fireproof safe. You should file your documents physically and securely to ensure their integrity. The named executor and probate court will need the original document to carry out the decedent's final instructions, and not all states recognize digital backups. Without the original …
Estate Planning for Singles: Why and How To Start
An estate plan is a way for you to decide what happens to your property after death. Even for single people without a partner or children, a comprehensive estate plan can provide for friends or charities. You can also determine who will make medical and financial decisions on your behalf if you are unable. Without an estate plan, the state decides who gets your property. A basic estate plan is simple and inexpensive. Single people should also revisit their estate plan regularly or after …
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