Hottenroth, Garverick, Tilson & Garverick Law Blog

You've accumulated significant assets and resources during your time here on Earth. Once you pass on, you want the assurance that your heirs will be well cared for after you're gone.

The problem is that not all heirs are well-served by unfettered access to large sums of money. In fact, the history books and gossip rags are full of cautionary tales of those who were undone by inherited money — Fred Trump (the president's late older brother); RFK's son David Kennedy; Anna Nicole Smith.

Planning what happens to your possessions after you die may not sound like an exciting way to spend a day, but the alternative is leaving a mess for your family to muddle through.

You may have created a plan years ago. However, did you know that there are times when you should revisit the plan and revise it? Take a look at some of the life events that necessitate the creation or revision of your estate plan.

Divorce may bring out the worst in people, even those who were once so in love. Once the dust settles and the final papers filed, life may start to return to a new normal.

You may notice a change in your children and the way they interact with you. While some change in behavior is natural, others seem severe and worrisome. Your child may fall victim to parental alienation or malicious mother syndrome. How can you spot the signs?

Like many Ohio teens and young adults, your children love to play online games, spend time on social media and hang out with their friends. You don't find this particularly worrisome, since you taught your kids to make smart decisions regarding their activities with their peers. However, as you know, teenagers may take part in unwise behavior if it means fitting in, or they might not realize the potential ramifications of some activities.

Swatting is one such activity that may appear to be harmless, but has serious criminal penalties. You may remember an incident last December, in which a man from Wichita, Kansas, was killed after a California man called in a swatting prank. The event had long-lasting consequences, which are continuing today.