Pyreaux Posted June 9, 2022 Posted June 9, 2022 We have the White Pages, The Ward Directory. Its been my experience that LDS lawyer from your ward is no better than any other lawyer. I use LegalZoom for things and do it myself. These are legally binding and they'll walk you through all the options to add; "stocks", "pets", etc. https://www.legalzoom.com/personal/estate-planning/last-will-and-testament-overview.html Save your copy, they make you pay if you have to make another. When I need another, I copy what I have and rewrite it or I make one for other people 🏴☠️ I would share with you but I only once had a Power of Attorney/Living Will. 2
The Nehor Posted June 12, 2022 Posted June 12, 2022 The idea that you can trust church members has led to a lot of scamming in the church. 1
Calm Posted June 12, 2022 Posted June 12, 2022 While I have had a number of great business relationships with members, others not so great. There tends to be a more relaxed attitude too, so as deadlines can be missed or communication suffers because there is less fear of the other getting angry if something goes wrong Imo.
Tacenda Posted June 12, 2022 Posted June 12, 2022 58 minutes ago, The Nehor said: The idea that you can trust church members has led to a lot of scamming in the church. We definitely need more talks in church and general conference to warn members against being scammed by each other, I think Utah is one of the highest in the US. https://www.deseret.com/2019/4/29/20671965/does-utah-deserve-the-title-fraud-capital-of-the-united-states#:~:text=Utah had the sixth most,in that order%2C had more.
Pyreaux Posted June 12, 2022 Posted June 12, 2022 (edited) We get scammed by non-members simply claiming to be members. The kidnapping rates for women in Utah is high, the problem is they are just way too trusting, they trust these strangers and get in the car and they drive off, sometime to another state because they weren't even from Utah. Edited June 12, 2022 by Pyreaux
Tacenda Posted June 12, 2022 Posted June 12, 2022 43 minutes ago, Pyreaux said: We get scammed by non-members simply claiming to be members. The kidnapping rates for women in Utah is high, the problem is they are just way too trusting, they trust these strangers and get in the car and they drive off, sometime to another state because they weren't even from Utah. That is probably true, but there are also bishops and stake presidents that participate in ponzi schemes like these two examples: https://www.deseret.com/2009/2/4/20300078/former-lds-bishop-charged-in-southwick-s-ponzi-deal https://kutv.com/news/local/former-lds-stake-president-pleads-guilty-to-scamming-15m-from-church-members#:~:text=Former LDS stake president pleads guilty to scamming %241.5M from church members,-by Adam Forgie&text=SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) —,over a 12 year period.
The Nehor Posted June 12, 2022 Posted June 12, 2022 2 hours ago, Tacenda said: We definitely need more talks in church and general conference to warn members against being scammed by each other, I think Utah is one of the highest in the US. https://www.deseret.com/2019/4/29/20671965/does-utah-deserve-the-title-fraud-capital-of-the-united-states#:~:text=Utah had the sixth most,in that order%2C had more. Every year the church sends out warnings. 1
rodheadlee Posted June 12, 2022 Author Posted June 12, 2022 Well a long time ago we had one. We got Mom a reverse mortgage through it. It worked out well. Oh well, times change.
Rain Posted June 12, 2022 Posted June 12, 2022 3 hours ago, rodheadlee said: Well a long time ago we had one. We got Mom a reverse mortgage through it. It worked out well. Oh well, times change. As far as I know there still is a list. Heard about it last year I think. Didn't ļ at it because I wasn't interested. But I can't tell tell you where I heard about it or what it was called.
Calm Posted June 12, 2022 Posted June 12, 2022 (edited) 5 hours ago, rodheadlee said: Well a long time ago we had one. We got Mom a reverse mortgage through it. It worked out well. Oh well, times change. Our lawyers have been members and we were quite happy with them, but we knew them outside the Church professionally as well before choosing them. 90% happy in my experiences working with members where money and service/property exchanges occurred, 10% meh for myself, but my parents almost lost their house and had a very unpleasant couple of years with a family they leased their home to after they became empty nesters. The kids were sweet and Mom wanted to be a grandma when she couldn’t travel as well as when she could and the parents were active and we had known them for over a decade at church, seemed a very safe bet. Only after they tried to scam my parents, trashing their home, trying to drive them away, spreading lies about who was helping whom, and then cutting and running when deadlines for paying up could no longer be extended did we find out they had done the same to others and there were those who could have warned my parents, but didn’t because they assumed the parents had repented. Thankfully my dad had been smart and had required the dad’s employer to take over the lease if the couple defaulted. I have no clue why they were willing to do that, but I guess they might have had a program to help employees find housing and it was definitely a good investment for them as property values were starting to go way up. I know of several members who had problems with member lawyers, including one who had to sue to recover at least some of what was ripped off. Forgiving is one thing, forgetting and giving unearned trust after having been betrayed is another. We need to do better as a community in protecting victims and potential victims as well as giving people a second or third chance. I am not sure how to do this without turning it into a gossip fest or hurting their family members, which can be so hard on children, but hopefully it can be done with minimal collateral damage and we will improve. If you want to work with a member, I would suggest getting a list of several in your area from the local bishop and then check against professional rating services that are online. Maybe the lawyers among us can give advice on how to do this. @smac97 and @Danzo….isn’t Amulek one too? Can’t think of others, though I think there are a couple. This article may have some useful info. https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/find-lawyer-how-to-find-attorney-29868.html Edited June 12, 2022 by Calm 1
Danzo Posted June 13, 2022 Posted June 13, 2022 Random thoughts I think that talking to other people who went through probate can be helpful. Ask how easy it is to communicate with the attorney in question. One of the biggest problems I see is lack of meaningful communication between client and attorney. Also, make sure the attorney is licensed in the state where the assets need to be probated. I think most states have a website where you can look up the attorney and see if there have been complaints or other disciplinary actions against an attorney I tend to do that every time that a client mentions an attorney by name. . As far as an attorney scamming you, most scammers, in my experience try to seek you out either in person or through proxies. Being a member of the church doesn't make someone competent. I worked for an attorney who was a member that was in effect disbarred. Also, remember that one can be a good person but a bad attorney, so don't be fooled into thinking that the person is a good attorney just because you like the guy. Make sure the attorney does a lot of probate work in the state (and even the county) where the probated assets are. Being familiar with the local court personnel can often be as important as knowing the law. Also you get what you pay for, so don't go for the cheapest. Also look at where the office is located. If the office has a high rent, you will probably be paying extra for it. Many small town attorneys can charge less because their rent is lower. 2
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