Henderson Office: 702.433.4455
Las Vegas Office: 702.254.4455
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The US Census Report has confirmed what we have all suspected; more and more seniors are living together without first getting married.  In fact the number of seniors age 65 and above living together has more than tripled in just the last decade.  Actual numbers may be even larger, considering the social taboos within the senior community against cohabiting couples.

While a majority of seniors still regard marriage as important, the increasing trend in cohabiting reflects a more relaxed attitude towards marriage.  Only half of all adults reported being married during the 2010 Census, but nearly sixty percent of adults stated they lived with a partner.

For seniors, it’s not just changing social mores.  Money concerns often overshadow marriage considerations.  Many widows and widowers would forfeit retirement survivor’s benefits or Social Security benefits if they were to remarry.  Additionally, children by prior marriages often complicate estate planning.

Significantly, with remarriage come legal obligations for support and care.  If a spouse becomes ill and requires long-term care, the cost of nursing care, now more than $70,000 per year, falls upon the combined finances of the family, potentially impoverishing the family.

Sometimes our clients suggest they have a “common law” marriage.  Nevada, however, has not recognized common law relationships for nearly 90 years and our statutes expressly reject common law marriages.  What Nevada does have are excellent prenuptial laws.  Seniors considering remarriage should always have a prenuptial agreement.

Yes, there is an unromantic element to a prenuptial agreement, but for most seniors cohabiting or married; their relationship is based upon companionship and sharing experiences with a sense of belonging and connection with another person.

If you are a senior and are considering remarriage, you should consult with your partner the wisdom of a prenuptial agreement.  Here at Jeffrey Burr, we have helped hundreds of senior couples plan for the legal complexities of either cohabitating or remarriage.

- Attorney James M. O'Reilly

We all have heard the overused phrase that “we live in a litigious society.”  For many of us, being a named defendant in a lawsuit is often an uneasy proposition.  Even if a person believes that he or she is not at fault for another’s injuries, that person is relying on what many believe is an imperfect justice system to find the truth.  In recent times, the area of law known as asset protection has become increasingly popular both as a practice for attorneys and as a solution for their clients.  However, what many people do not fully understand is that they may own protected assets which did not require the assistance of an attorney in obtaining protection.

Many of these protected assets are contained within the Nevada Revised Statute (NRS) at Section 21.  The following is just a partial list of such assets:

This list does not include cash accounts, business interests and assets, or investment property.  In order to protect those assets, a person will need to seek the advice of an attorney to properly establish what we at JEFFREY BURR, LTD. call an “Integrated Estate Plan.”  An Integrated Estate Plan not only provides asset protection for unprotected assets, but it will also provide solutions for avoiding probate and guardianship.

At JEFFREY BURR, LTD., we have the knowledge and experience necessary to assist our clients in creating an Integrated Estate Plan.

Attorney A. Collins Hunsaker

In its most recent session, the Nevada Legislature passed the “Independent Administration of Estates Act.”  The new act is intended to expedite the probate process in Nevada and reduce the administrative costs of probate by allowing the personal representative of the probate estate to act more independently. Although the Independent Administration of Estates Act still requires the court to supervise the probate process, the act reduces the amount of court involvement in the probate process by allowing the personal representative to accomplish more tasks without the court’s involvement.

Even though the court’s involvement is reduced under the new act, the act still provides for checks and balances to protect the probate estate and beneficiaries.  The personal representative is required to send notice to interested parties before taking certain actions.  A party receiving notice may object to the personal representative’s action and can involve the court if necessary.  In addition, major actions taken by the personal representative still require the court’s approval.

The Independent Administration of Estates Act has been enacted in others states.  We are excited to see the new act in Nevada.  We anticipate that the act will lower administration costs and help expedite the probate process in Nevada.  Even though the new act will help lower probate costs, we still generally advise our clients to engage in estate planning and avoid probate in most cases. If you have any questions about the new Nevada probate laws or any estate planning needs, feel free to contact our office for a free consultation.

 - Attorney Corey Schmutz

Henderson Office
2600 Paseo Verde Parkway, Suite 200
Henderson, NV 89074
Phone: 702.433.4455
Fax: 702.451.1853
Las Vegas Office
10000 W. Charleston Blvd., Suite 100
Las Vegas, NV 89135
Phone: 702.254.4455
Fax: 702.254.3330
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