Author Archives: Jack Peggs
Simplified Probate Processes for Small Estates in Kansas
Probate is the formal process by which the property and assets of a deceased person are distributed to heirs and beneficiaries following death. The probate court opens the estate and appoints an administrator who may have been pre-designated by the decedent in the person’s will. The administrator inventories the assets, pays any legitimate debts and […]
How to Establish Paternity in Kansas
When a child is born out of wedlock in the State of Kansas, there is no presumption of paternity and the law does not automatically confer any support obligations on any man not married to the mother unless paternity is established. There are several ways in which paternity can be recognized under state law. A […]
Protecting Your Business Against Trade Secret Misappropriation
Trade secrets are an important aspect of doing business, allowing companies to keep essential information private and thereby to maintain a market advantage. As a type of intellectual property, trade secrets are legally protected from misappropriation. In Kansas, a trade secret owner whose rights have been infringed upon can sue for monetary damages as well […]
Recovering Damages for Tortious Interference With Your Business
In the course of doing business, fair competition is to be expected, but you may at some point encounter deliberate attempts to interfere with your contracts or business relationships. Intentional interference can inflict significant harm that may take years to repair. Fortunately, the law provides you with the ability to bring a tort action to […]
Dividing Retirement Assets in a Kansas Divorce
If you are married, the retirement savings you have worked long and hard to build are not yours alone. In a Kansas divorce, they are subject to being divided with your spouse through the process known as equitable distribution. Kansas law requires the division of property in a divorce to be fair but not necessarily […]
If You Have a Living Trust, Do You Still Need a Will?
Creating a living trust lets you designate who will share in your estate after you die, without the beneficiaries having to go through the court probate process. However, a living trust alone may leave some of your assets unaccounted for, which means that state intestacy law will control their distribution. A comprehensive estate plan can […]
What a Premarital Agreement Can and Cannot Do
If you’re getting married, you may want to consider entering into a premarital agreement with your partner. Also known as prenuptial agreements, these contracts are effective upon marriage and when done right are enforceable under Kansas law. They allow soon-to-become spouses to memorialize their wishes for deciding important issues both during the marriage and during […]
Estate Planning Tools That Can Help Avoid Probate
Probate is the court-supervised process of settling a decedent’s estate, including the payment of debts and taxes and the transfer of assets to heirs or beneficiaries. Probate can be complicated, time-consuming, and costly. It can also be contested if the decedent’s heirs or creditors raise challenges to the will or to the choice of executor […]
Who Gets the Stimulus Check When Spouses Are Separated or Divorcing?
Going through a divorce is stressful enough, but the coronavirus pandemic spreading throughout the United States presents additional complications for spouses who have decided to split. In addition to changes that might need to be made regarding custody and visitation arrangements while travel is restricted, negotiations over property division need to address any new economic […]
How Might COVID-19 Change the Way Personal Injury Cases Are Litigated?
Like most other activities where in-person interaction is required, personal injury lawsuits have been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This can put serious stress on parties who are looking to achieve a legal resolution to disputes stemming from auto accidents, falls and other times types of harmful incidents allegedly caused by a defendant’s negligence. Whether […]