Episode 14: Estate Planning and Immigration with Guest Attorney Kim Frasca

Immigration Attorney Heather Poole hosts a special Guest lawyer interview with Intellectual Property Attorney Will Bowen who focuses on Copyright, Trademark, and Trade Secrets issues that arise for artists, businesses, and even between married couples when facing divorce when an idea, concept or work's ownership is in question. Will is located in Southern California and provides answers, tips, and general knowledge useful to any immigrant facing a potential lawsuit over their intellectual property or wants to protect their work or service in case a business relationship or marriage turns ugly.

Immigration Attorney Heather Poole discusses with Estate Planning Attorney Kim Frasca how a will, trust, or even lack of estate planning can affect an immigration case when a couple divorces. Other topics covered include prenuptial agreements vs. estate plans, including foreign assets and property outside of the US in your estate plan, having an estate plan in the US and a foreign country, and protecting yourself through your estate plan and assets left to you by your parents in case your marriage ends in divorce, and much more.

Immigration Attorney Heather L. Poole discusses common questions that arise in divorce and can lead to custody battles including threats to take the child, issues of child support, and what family court procedure to expect when a marriage between an immigrant and their spouse starts to fall apart. Special Guest lawyer interview with Family Lawyer Kristen Howard who focuses on Child Custody issues in Southern California but also provides tips and general knowledge useful to any immigrant facing a potential custody battle in any state.

Attorney Heather addresses the options that are available to a conditional resident if they have already applied for a joint petition to remove the condition on residency or a waiver but change their mind partly through the process.

The Permanent Bar happens frequently to those who have stayed illegally in the US or have extensive immigration histories and a lot of entries into the U.S. Attorney Heather discusses the law, how to avoid this unwaivable bar, and the consequences of travel and brief trips abroad can have on your immigration future.

Divorce can impact a person's ability to keep their green card or obtain a green card (US permanent residency) to begin with. Listen to the most common scenarios and questions Attorney Heather hears about what happens to the conditional resident and permanent resident when divorce occurs and how these answers impact future marriage plans as well as successful future immigration cases.

Attorney Heather discusses the common questions and a particular scenario of a marriage falling apart after years of permanent residency (green card holder) and what options are available to preserve eligibility to apply for citizenship.

Attorney Heather explores common questions and options available to children with conditional (2 year) green cards (permanent residency) when the marriage of their US citizen step-parent and biological parent falls apart and is leading to or has led to divorce.

Attorney Heather addresses common scenario and questions are addressed on the difference between consular processing and adjustment of status (green card application) in the U.S. and the consequences of illegal entry on applying in the US for a green card (permanent residency)

Common issues faced by US citizens who are living outside of the US but wish to sponsor their immigrating, noncitizen spouse for a green card (US permanent residency) and what to prepare for.