Jonathan J. David

Jonathan J. David is a runner, sports enthusiast, and University of Michigan alum, with a passion for reading and writing. He has been practicing estate planning, business, and real estate law for over 30 years and has been writing his column “Legal Ease,” for over 20 years. His favorite quote is his own: “It doesn’t take a village to write — just a reliable dictaphone and transcriber.” Learn More about Jonathan.

JONATHAN'S ARTICLES

• Is a Trust Still a Trust by any Other Name? Confusion Can Ensue (September 2017)

 

• So That’s What Those Legal Terms Actually Mean (July 2015)

 

• Why You Need a Will in Addition to a Revocable Living Trust (May 2015)

 

• How to Make Your Eventual Executor Less Stressed Out (April 2015)

 

• Separate Trusts? It’s Both Complicated and Crucial – Be Sure You Understand What You Need (February 2015)

 

• Little Questions, Important Answers (August 2014)

 

• Choosing Correct Power of Attorney for a ‘Control Freak’ (July 2014)

 

• Sticky Insurance Questions Need Action (May 2014)

 

• Working With and Through All Those Niggling Details (November 2013)

 

• Dividing Up Estate Assets – Some Easy Steps, Some Complicated Ones (February 2013)

 

• Myth vs. Reality of Wills, Trusts and Powers of Attorney (December 2012)

 

• Coping with Disabilities and Poor Health for Sound Legal Planning (November 2012)

 

• Updating Your Estate Plans When Changes Happen (July 2012)

 

• The Four Must-Have Estate Planning Instruments (June 2012)

• Why Lack of Proper Planning Can Be Devastating (November 2017)

 

• The Power – Or Not – Of the Agent for Your Power of Attorney (October 2017)

 

• You’ve Got to Name Names to Make Your Wishes Clear (August 2017)

 

• Financial Elder Abuse: Sometimes It’s All in the Family (July 2017)

 

• Avoiding Probate: You’re Both Wrong; Here’s What You Can Do Right (June 2017)

 

• All in the Family (May 2017)

 

• When Good Intentions Go Bad (April 2017)

 

• You Can Give Your Estate to Anyone You Want, But Here’s How to Avoid the Possible Ensuing Conflicts (March 2017)

 

• Estate Conundrums and Cooperating Offspring (February 2017)

 

• Know and Avoid the Multiple Pitfalls of DIY Estate Planning (January 2017)

 

• Teach Your Children Well: The Importance of Estate Planning (December 2016)

 

• Sound Complicated? The Consequences of Not Planning Ahead Can Be Even Worse (November 2016)

 

• Vital To-Do List When Death Is Imminent (October 2016)

 

• Unraveling a Tangle of Possible Outcomes: Make Sure Choices are Clear and Documented for Your Heirs (September 2016)

 

• Handling the Important Legal and Financial Matters after a Spouse’s Death (August 2016)

 

• How to Anticipate Trust Traps for His Kids, Her Kids and Second Marriage Issues (July 2016)

 

• One of the Most Common Concerns: Disinheriting Children (June 2016)

 

• What You Say Is What She’ll Get – But Not Necessarily What Either of You Wants (May 2016)

 

• Tracking the Elusive Beneficiary (April 2016)

 

• Death, Taxes and Gifts in 2016 (March 2016)

 

• Can You Step In Now or Not? Finances and Health Are Hanging in Balance (February 2016)

 

• Expense of Creating a Trust vs. Probate Fees – The Choice Could Be Costly (January 2016)

 

• Lucky, But Still Illegal Use of Power of Attorney (December 2015)

 

• His Kids, Her Kids – Who Will Inherit What? How to Avoid the Ugly Possibilities (November 2015)

   

• Why a ‘Pour Over’ Will Is a Good Idea (October 2015)

   

• There’s Enough Grief for Your Spouse When You Pass Without Poor Financial Planning Adding to It (September 2015)

   

• Trying to Avoid Probate? Just a Will Alone Won’t (August 2015)

   

• How a Beneficiary Deed Helps Avoid Expensive Trusts or Probate (June 2015)

   

• Giving It Away Free of Taxes (March 2015)

   

• Intra-family Loans and IRS Interest Rate Rules (January 2015)

   

• The Crucial Basics of Getting Down to Business About Your Business (December 2014)

   

• Passing It On Eased with Proper Paperwork (November 2014)

   

• Updating Documents Likely Not Just an Exercise in Fee Churning (October 2014)

   

• Gift Taxes Now vs. Estate Taxes Later? (September 2014)

   

• Parents and Grandparents Lose Right to Make Decisions for Kids Over 18: Here’s How to Avoid Medical and Financial Problems (June 2014)

   

• Everything You Want and Need to Know About Gift Taxes (April 2014)

   

• Why You Need All These Legal Documents (March 2014)

   

• When Doing It Yourself Can Cost Much More than You Think (February 2014)

   

• Gifting Money? Tax Info You Need to Know (January 2014)

   

• Life Insurance Benefits Taxed or Not Taxed at Your Death? Plan Carefully --The Rules Are Complex (December 2013)

   

• How to Divide an Estate ‘Equally’ Even Though the Amounts May Differ (October 2013)

   

• What These Vital Documents Do – And Why They’re Worth the Cost (September 2013)

   

• Who Knew What He Really Intended? Don’t Leave Muddied Waters Behind (August 2013)

   

• Powers of Attorney Vital in Case of Disability but Beware the Downsides, Too (July 2013)

   

• Trust the Trust, Not Joint Titling (June 2013)

   

• Everything in Joint Title? Wills and Trusts Are Still Vital (May 2013)

   

• Wise Plan to Purchase Life Insurance Against Estate Tax Liability?(April 2013)

   

• Estate Tax Planning: Separate or Joint Trusts?(March 2013)

   

• Being Married Doesn’t Eliminate Legal Authorization Paperwork(October 2012)

   

• OK to Disinherit a Child – Here’s How to Handle It(September 2012)

   

• This Nephew Won't Get What His Uncle Wants Him to Have Likely Won't Happen (August 2012)
• Why It Pays to be Proactive(August 2012)

   

• The Tax Can of Worms – And Other Consequences -- In Deeding Your Home Over Now (May 2012)
  
  
• Choose Your Fiduciaries for Skills Not Feelings (April 2012)
• How to Protect Your Power of Attorney from Abuse (April 2012)
• The Important Topics to Discuss with Your Estate Planner (April 2012)
• You Must Re-title Assets in the Name of Your Trust to Avoid Probate (April 2012)