Can I Write About a Real Person in My Book?
Defamation, Right of Privacy and Right of Publicity in Writing I've recently been asked, "Can I write about a real person in my book?" There are several ways this question pops up: Could you have your fictional character meet a celebrity? Can you use real names in a memoir? Will you get in trouble if you write someone’s...
What is a Power of Attorney?
Three things everyone should know about a Power of Attorney On a broad level, a power of attorney is a legal document that gives someone the authority to act on your behalf. For example, a financial advisor might ask you to sign a power of attorney, giving them the authority to invest your money for you. Or you...
What is an Advance Health Directive?
When and why you need an Advance Health Directive If you've ever been admitted to a hospital, you’ve likely been asked the question “Do you have an advance health care directive?” (It’s possible one or two of those words were missing: “advance directive” or “health care directive” are common ways to shorten it). If your first response was...
Can I Talk About a Real Business in My Book?
Use of Trademarks in Writing An editor friend of mine told me she recently had a client who made up a restaurant name for her book. When my friend looked into it, she discovered that there was a restaurant with that exact name a few hours from where she lived. She advised her client to change the name,...
Wills vs. Trusts – What’s the Difference?
This is a source of confusion for a lot of people. I often have clients ask me this question, or the related questions “Which one do I need, or do I need both?” Here’s the breakdown of what each document is, and what purpose it serves in your overall estate plan: The will is the document that states...