October 21-27 is National Estate Planning Awareness Week, which means it’s time to shed light on this often misunderstood and frequently avoided topic. You might think estate planning is only for the wealthy or too complicated and expensive. These are just a few myths surrounding estate planning that I hear often. In reality, estate planning...Read More

For those of us who have pets that would be left behind after we die, there may be a desire to make arrangements for their well-being. Making provisions for pets in your will can only be done through the establishment of a trust. Pets are considered property and, as such, cannot be left money or...Read More

Imagine discovering thousands of dollars that belong to you, only to be told you can’t have it. This frustrating scenario became a reality for a woman named Dale Benerofe, a Georgia resident when she found $23,000 in unclaimed property from her deceased parents. Her tragic story sheds light on a little-known issue that affects millions...Read More

Even if the process is amicable, divorce can be one of life’s most stressful events. With so many major changes taking place, it’s easy to forget to update your estate plan—or simply put it off until it’s too late. However, neglecting to update your estate plan for divorce can have potentially tragic consequences. And you...Read More

BLENDED FAMILIES + DEATH = A POTENTIAL NIGHTMARE Anyone who’s seen an episode of “Modern Family” knows that families these days come in many different shapes and sizes. Long gone are the days when a “family” was defined as a mother, father and two children (or was it 2.5 children? Where does the .5 come...Read More

December Blog December 12, 2023 Dana Heyde Parents’ Rights End When Children Turn 18. What Can You Do To Protect Them? Soon after the challenges and excitement of high school, your child has their 18 birthday. From a legal standpoint, this milestone also brings significant changes that every parent should be aware of. Your child...Read More

Naming Godparents Does Not Create Legal Guardians As a parent, your top priority is the well-being and future of your children. You plan for their education, health, and happiness, and often this planning includes the tradition of choosing godparents to guide and mentor your children if something happens to you. While selecting godparents is a meaningful...Read More

How to Keep Seniors Safe this Fall The fall season is a beautiful time of year, but it also marks the beginning of flu season, which can pose a serious threat to your elderly loved ones. Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to ensure their well-being during the colder days ahead, including making...Read More

written by Dana M Heyde OC Lawyer, March 2023 Vol 65 No.3 “Whos’ Who in the OCBA” This article is written to share information that was presented to Mommy Esquire members about the policy implications of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Org., 141 S, Ct. 2619 (2022)(“Dobbs”) that overruled Roe...Read More

written by Dana M. Heyde OC Lawyer Magazine, March 2022 I read books to take a journey, but I never imagined the personal journey my love of books would take me on. As a child, I devoured the entire series of The Baby-Sitters Club. In the seventh grade, I decided to become a lawyer after reading John...Read More