Legal Tank Blog
Expert guides on legal documents, state laws, business formation, and more. Written by legal professionals and powered by AI.
How to Set Up a Living Trust: Step-by-Step Guide
A living trust is a legal entity that holds your assets during your lifetime and distributes them after death without probate. To set one up, choose between revocable and irrevocable, appoint a successor trustee, draft and notarize the trust document, then fund it by retitling assets into the trust's name. Costs range from $0 (DIY template) to $3,000 (attorney-drafted package).
How to Get Power of Attorney: A Complete Guide
A power of attorney (POA) is a legal document where one person (the principal) authorizes another (the agent) to make financial, legal, or medical decisions on their behalf. To get a power of attorney, choose the right POA type, select a trusted agent, draft the document, sign it before a notary public, and distribute copies to all relevant parties.
How to Write a Will Without a Lawyer: Step-by-Step Guide
You can write a legally valid will without a lawyer in all 50 states. The key requirements are testamentary capacity (sound mind), a written document, your signature, and two witnesses who are not beneficiaries. Adding a notarized self-proving affidavit simplifies the probate process and strengthens the will against legal challenges.
What Is a QDRO? A Complete Guide to Qualified Domestic Relations Orders
A QDRO (qualified domestic relations order) is a court order that divides retirement plan benefits during divorce. Learn how QDROs work for 401(k)s, pensions, tax rules, and common mistakes to avoid.
Is Severance Pay Taxable?
Severance pay is fully taxable as supplemental wages under IRS rules. Learn how federal and state taxes apply, withholding methods, and strategies to reduce your tax burden on severance payments.
What Happens to the House in a Divorce?
Learn what happens to the marital home in a divorce, including buyout options, selling strategies, and how community property vs. equitable distribution states handle house division.
At What Age Can a Child Choose Which Parent to Live With?
Learn at what age a child can choose which parent to live with. State-by-state breakdown of custody preference laws for Georgia, Texas, California, New York, Florida, and Illinois.
Does Severance Affect Unemployment Benefits?
Severance pay can affect unemployment benefits depending on your state. Learn which states delay, reduce, or ignore severance when calculating unemployment eligibility and how to protect your benefits.
Can You Sue After Signing a Liability Waiver?
Can you sue after signing a liability waiver? Yes – waivers can be invalidated for gross negligence, unconscionability, fraud, or public policy violations. Learn when waivers hold up and when they don't.
How Do Courts Determine the Best Interests of the Child?
Learn how courts determine the best interests of the child in custody cases. Comprehensive guide to the factors judges evaluate, state-by-state variations, and evidence strategies.
What Is Alimony and How Is It Determined?
Learn what alimony is, how courts determine spousal support amounts, and how formulas differ by state. Covers types of alimony, modification rules, and negotiation strategies.