I’m always surprised to hear otherwise bright attorneys dismiss the idea of marketing as somehow beneath them, or at best, a waste of time. Although I’ve spent most of my professional life educating law firms on the benefits of ethical marketing both to themselves and their clients, I’m always happy to see others pick up […]

Attention Academy Attorneys: TAX LAW WEBSITE POSTINGAs we wait for the final word on how the estate tax laws will be changing, we created a Tax Law posting for all member websites under their Law Firm News section. If you would like to edit it, you can do so through the website control panel. The posting is […]

We recently were reminded of the impact each of your firms have on your clients and community. Last week we attended our annual law firm holiday open house. It is a wonderful reminder of many things. Much of what we have focused on comes to life when we walk into the Armstrong, Fisch & Tutoli Law […]

Up until now, planning for same-sex couples has been a minefield of different state and federal laws. A couple could be married under state law yet be considered legal strangers for federal purposes because of the Defense of Marriage Act. Not only does DOMA mean that a marriage in New York or Iowa need not […]

Once upon a time, there was a Law Firm that wanted to grow. It was a good Law Firm, following the rules and regulations set forth by the regulatory agencies, providing quality client service and hiring only the best and brightest talent. It was a relatively young firm, but it dreamed of being recognized as […]

In a perfect world, aging parents would all get along with their adult children, and end-of-life matters would not place a strain on relationships. Unfortunately, the world is not perfect. As such, dealing with matters of estate planning and administration may not always be rosy. In some cases, it can be downright difficult, such as […]

As of this blog posting, there are 12 days left before the clock strikes midnight on December 31st and the law changes. It’s just like watching the ball drop in New York’s Times Square:10…9…8…7…6…5…4…3…2…1… As of this writing, the law to which it will change will be the pre-EGTRRA/TRA law. In other words, we will […]

Eventually every family has to arrange the party no one wants to plan – a funeral. With relatives gathering for the holiday, it’s an opportune time to start a face-to-face conversation about each person’s ideal send-off. However, it’s often awkward to start a funeral planning conversation. Hollywood to the rescue! It’s easy to watch a […]

It seems that anywhere and everywhere, companies require personal identification codes in order to maintain access. Everything from your personal ATM pin to your email accounts require you to create, maintain and keep a code in order to ensure access. When creating passwords, you can help protect your identity and your personal information by avoiding […]

When a loved one passes away, families find themselves under tremendous physical and emotional stress as they grieve the loss, plan the funeral, and attempt to distribute the estate equitably. It is helpful when the deceased leaves a detailed and up-to-date trust, will, and other directions such as beneficiary designations on retirement plans and life […]