Author Archives: Stacey Schmidt

Common Types of Adoption Scams and How to Legally Protect Yourself

Each year, over one million Americans begin the adoption process. It is long and arduous, often consisting of wait lists and uncertainty. Sometimes, it can even involve fraud. Adoption scams are more commonplace than most people realize. When proper legal courses aren’t followed, prospective parents and birth families alike can find themselves vulnerable to adoption […]

What is a Parent to do?

News of the day from Australia is that Billionaire Gina Rinehart, the wealthiest woman down under, is having a roe with her children. Allegations and courtroom banter stem from Rinehart having her children delay the vesting date of the family trust. She claims taxes and penalties would have bankrupt the trust had it vested on […]

A Trust Gone to the Dogs

When considering your estate plans, there are many things that need to be taken into consideration. One item rarely considered in such planning is what will happen to your pets? Whether it is a service animal, a therapy pet, or a man’s best friend, laws are in place to ensure owners have the right to […]

The Josh Powell Custody Case: What Went Wrong?

A Tragic End to a Custody Battle On February 5, 2012, Josh Powell brutally attacked his two sons, Charlie, age 5, and Braden, age 7, with a hatchet. He then ignited a fiery explosion, taking his own life. In the years preceding the double-murder suicide, Powell was suspected of murdering his wife and was found […]