About Steph Weber
Steph Weber is an award-winning journalist specializing in healthcare, business, and law. She has written for Physicians Practice, Medscape, and Rheumatology Network and created content for several other industry publications, companies, and colleges. As a frequent Super Lawyers contributor, she enjoys drilling down complex legal topics into bite-sized, actionable advice for readers and interviewing the nation’s leading attorney voices, highlighting their most memorable achievements and lessons learned. She lives in Northern Indiana.
Articles written by Steph Weber
Is a Living Trust Right for You?
Why the estate planning option can have distinct advantages over a willA living trust is an estate planning tool that, like a will, allows people to make end-of-life decisions about what happens to their assets and belongings after death. What’s the difference between the two? Generally, a will transfers assets to beneficiaries upon death, whereas a living trust first houses the assets while the individual is alive, then distributes them after their passing. The grantor—the person creating the trust—could oversee the assets if they choose, and several …
All in the Family
An inside look at the legalities of surrogacyAfter many years lagging behind most of the nation, New York, thanks to a recent law, has made it easier to expand a family through gestational surrogacy. The Child-Parent Security Act, which took effect in 2021, created a path for establishing parental rights for those using assisted reproductive technology to have children. Before that, New York was one of only a few states that forbade hiring someone to carry a child, says Alexis L. Cirel, a family law attorney and partner at Warshaw …
Is a Living Trust Right for You?
A living trust is an estate planning tool that, like a will, allows people to make end-of-life decisions about what happens to their assets and belongings after death. What Is the Difference Between a Living Trust and a Will? What’s the difference between these two legal documents? Generally, a will (short for “last will and testament”) accomplishes the distribution of assets to beneficiaries and dependents (such as minor children) upon death. By contrast, a living trust first houses the …
Advocacy, Class Actions and Food Trucks
Beth Terrell takes on cases and causes for those without a voiceBeth Terrell is in the midst of another sleep-deprived 80-hour week, handling depositions for a multimillion-dollar discrimination suit against the University of Washington Police Department. She is representing five Black officers who allege they experienced severe racial discrimination while working at the university. Most of their accounts date back to 2017. Raised in rural Idaho, Terrell got a degree in philosophy and political science from Gonzaga, then headed for Northern California in …
When Fences Don’t Make Good Neighbors
How to deal with a boundary-stomping neighborFor many people, owning a home is a dream come true. But when neighbors encroach on your turf, it can become the stuff of nightmares. “Property rights are very personal,” says Brendan Sweeney, a real estate attorney at Sweeney Law in Fort Lauderdale. “People become focused on their property lines and obsess about them.” Fueled by high emotions, the disagreements can steamroll into “litigation on steroids.” Know Your Boundaries If you suspect a neighbor is …
When Fences Don’t Make Good Neighbors in Florida
For many people, owning a home is a dream come true. But when neighbors encroach on your turf, it can become the stuff of nightmares. “Property rights are very personal,” says Brendan Sweeney, a real estate attorney at Sweeney Law in Fort Lauderdale. “People become focused on their property lines and obsess about them.” Fueled by high emotions, the disagreements can steamroll into “litigation on steroids.” Know Your Property Boundaries If you suspect a neighbor is …
Product Wars
What to do when something you’ve purchased is more harmful than helpfulMost products are designed to make consumers’ lives easier or safer. When the opposite happens—and injury or irreparable harm results—a lawsuit against the manufacturer may become necessary. “Product liability cases commonly involve medical devices, automobiles, aviation, and retail products such as defective coffee machines,” says Marie Napoli, a personal injury attorney and founding partner at Napoli Shkolnik in New York City. She says injuries can be wide-ranging: …
What To Do When You’re Injured by a Product in New York
Most products are designed to make consumers’ lives easier or safer. When the opposite happens—and injury or irreparable harm results—a lawsuit against the manufacturer may become necessary. “Product liability cases commonly involve medical devices, automobiles, aviation, and retail products such as defective coffee machines,” says Marie Napoli, a personal injury lawyer and founding partner at Napoli Shkolnik in New York City. She says injuries can be wide-ranging: “Traumatic …
Justice Shall Be Done
The cases Robert McCampbell worked as a U.S. attorneyRobert McCampbell has been a business litigator for most of his 40-year career, with two notable exceptions: From 1987 to 1994, he served as an assistant U.S. attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma, as well as chief of the office’s financial fraud unit; and, following the 2000 presidential election, he returned to assume the district’s top spot, U.S. attorney. “One of my friends at the district office called me and said, ‘What if you tried to come back and get appointed?’” …
Are There Alternatives to Bankruptcy?
Alternatives to bankruptcy include debt settlement, debt consolidation, and debt refinancing. Credit counseling helps to create a management plan and identify debt restructuring alternatives. Contact creditors for an informal workout or negotiated payoff. A deed in lieu of foreclosure or a short sale can avoid foreclosure. You can keep your property with a forbearance agreement or loan modification. You can negotiate a tax settlement under a hardship program with the state or IRS. Asset …
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