Personal Trending Topics

Consider writing about:

Planning for pets’ needs in the event of an owner’s illness, displacement, incapacitation, or death; how pet owners (or their relatives or caretakers) can prepare for these transitions and help ensure a continued happy life for beloved pets; how to establish trusts addressing pets’ needs; conversations and documentation to undertake in advance; anticipating potential challenges (whether by family members or by outside parties) to a pet trust’s terms; practical takeaways from any real-life legal disputes involving trusts that have been set up for pets.

Consider writing about:

The steps involved in writing a final will and testament; what to include and not to include; how to select an executor; how to provide for minor children and other dependents; key financial considerations to address; how to talk to a spouse or other family members about your last wishes; pointers on living wills; how to turn a will into a legal document; templates and sample language. Alternatively, consider doing one of the following: present a list of do’s and don’ts on crafting a will; or use a legal dispute over a contested will (perhaps involving a celebrity) as a jumping-off point to illustrate potential pitfalls; or write about what can happen if someone does not have a will.

Consider writing about:

The process of arranging to donate one’s own body or a loved one’s body to scientific endeavors (ranging from a medical teaching facility to a forensic “body farm”); how to locate, assess, and choose among prospective recipient entities; applicable legal or regulatory standards and guidelines; designation of a responsible party to carry out the transfer of the body; additional guidance regarding communication with family members or caretakers; the recording and execution of donation plans; the costs of donating a body to science vs. the cost of cremations, burials, or newer, purportedly more eco-conscious alternatives; any common misunderstandings regarding the body donation process and necessary steps, or other obligations, limitations, or considerations.

Consider writing about:

Conditions under which a native-born American may be able to obtain dual citizenship, whether through marriage, citizenship by descent, or naturalized citizenship status; common misunderstandings regarding any of these scenarios; limitations or roadblocks to securing dual citizenship rights and protections; key points to know about the process (either generally speaking or specific to one country) of obtaining dual citizenship; additional options for high-net-worth individuals; any downsides to possessing dual citizenship.

Consider writing about:

New proposals (whether nationally, globally, or in a more limited jurisdiction) to legalize or otherwise encourage “human composting” (also known as terramation or natural organic reduction); what this alternative to better-known forms of burial or cremation consists of; how to vet a business that advertises this service; how this type of business practice is regulated; what else to consider before choosing this end-of-life option; and perhaps a wider-angle look at other types of services that advertise themselves as being greener alternatives to either customary burials or cremations.

Related information:

https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2026/04/09/lawmakers-weigh-human-composting-in-illinois

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvgjgnwdjrzo

Consider writing about:

Living trusts; how they are defined and what purpose they serve; main types of trusts and their advantages and disadvantages; tips on creating and maintaining a living trust; how to protect (or alternatively, how to challenge) a living trust; common mistakes, misunderstandings, or oversights involving living trusts; alternatives to living trusts; and perhaps a look at what can happen if someone fails to create or properly execute a living trust.

Consider writing about:

The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act; focus of this congressional legislation; how it could affect individuals’ ability to vote; related pointers for individuals regarding current or outdated forms of personal identification and proof of citizenship; how individuals can best protect their voting rights.

Consider writing about:

What individuals should do when they suspect, or receive a notice of, a data breach involving their private information; how to tell a legitimate notification from a fake one; key steps for minimizing fallout following a data breach, and for preventing or ceasing the criminal misuse of one’s personal data; additional tips regarding online safety and electronic devices; overview of breach notification laws, and what an affected individual may consider doing if those laws have not been followed; how to obtain financial relief in conjunction with damage caused by a data breach; what else to know about related processes involving claims, settlements, and payouts.

Consider writing about:

The process by which a missing person is declared legally dead; whether this process may differ markedly from one jurisdiction to another; rights and potential pitfalls for family members and others, whether pertaining to inheritance or other matters; and, conversely, what someone can do if they discover that they have been declared legally dead without their knowledge.

Consider writing about:

Tennessee legislation that would set a death penalty for women who have abortions; under what circumstances such a sentence might arise; exceptions to the penalties described in the Tennessee measure; how novel this proposed amendment may be (whether strictly for Tennessee, or nationally or internationally); whether other jurisdictions are considering similar laws; current status of the Tennessee measure, and prospects for its passage; potential grounds for challenging such legislation; how legal disputes over abortion restrictions are unfolding nationally.

Related information:

https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/politics/2026/02/20/tennessee-bill-death-penalty-women-abortion/88777975007

Consider writing about:

Sexual contact in assisted-care facilities; how perspectives on this topic (whether on the part of the care facilities themselves or family members or others) may be evolving; issues pertaining to consent, privacy, and security; need to distinguish between consensual vs. non-consensual contact; complications involving dementia or other mental impairments; related guardian rights and obligations; any noteworthy lawsuits involving these issues; information that caregivers should seek on this topic before choosing a care facility.

Consider writing about:

The issue of designating a guardian in case a minor child is left without parents or other legally recognized adult caretakers. What should an individual do to help ensure that a child will not be left to fend for him- or herself in the event of an untimely death? What are the recommended processes, tools, and resources for the following? — choosing and designating a guardian; initiating and recording relevant communications on the guardian’s selection and role; allocation of finances; and the subsequent protection of a minor heir’s finances and overall well-being, among other issues. What are the potential pitfalls involving the selection of a guardian and a guardian’s ability to fulfill an expected role?

Consider writing about:

What to keep in mind when trying to decide whether to establish a family foundation; typical objectives or scenarios for which a family foundation would be a suitable match; planning tips, best practices, applicable regulations, legal obligations, or potential pitfalls to be aware of, or a list of do’s and don’ts to consider; alternatives to a family foundation.

Consider writing about:

The role of an executor; executors’ powers and obligations; what qualifies someone to be an executor; how to choose an executor; grounds, and procedure, for challenging an executor’s actions.

Consider writing about:

Estate planning issues to consider in the case of estate holders or potential beneficiaries who may have permanent – or intermittent but severe – conditions that would impair their financial decision-making; types of trusts that can be useful tools in these types of situations; what to know about the role of a trustee or other outside advisers; additional guidance on how to get ahead of a potentially dangerous series of missteps.

Consider writing about:

The subject of disinheritance; common grounds for a disinheritance; how to arrange for a disinheritance; conversely, how someone can challenge a disinheritance; whether applicable laws on these points vary markedly from one jurisdiction to another; any noteworthy legal disputes that illustrate any of these issues.

Consider writing about:

Advance directives; different types of directives and circumstances or needs to which each is best suited; what an advance directive can and cannot do (and any common misconceptions that may exist regarding those points); templates or other resources for creating an advance directive; related discussions to have with family members or guardians before the need for an advance directive arises; differences in state laws regarding advance directives; additional guidance regarding an advance directive’s legality and implementation.

Consider writing about:

Legal trends involving medically assisted suicide (in the region of your choice, or globally); latest actions on this front; challenges in formulating and implementing legal standards for these types of procedures; how these types of rights have evolved over the years; potential ethical concerns; any practical safeguards that individuals, their relatives, or caretakers should keep in mind.

Related information:

https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/new-york-governor-reached-deal-legalize-medically-assisted-128486336

Consider writing about:

The use of facial recognition technology, whether by private businesses, government agencies, individuals, or others; how privacy concerns involving this technology are being addressed; examples of laws that may restrict or ban the use of facial recognition systems, and in what settings or circumstances those restrictions may apply; any legal obligation to inform people of the presence of facial recognition technology; whether opt-out features may apply in these situations; whether private owners or operators of facial recognition systems may be compelled to produce data from those systems to law enforcement or in connection with a court case;

Consider writing about:

Divorce-related issues that are more likely to crop up over the holidays; guidance on how to preserve pre-existing custody and visitation arrangements and other terms, or on negotiating and communicating variations to those arrangements; what happens when parental agreements are violated; guidance on resolving disputes after the fact and ways to mend relationships or move forward in other respects.

Consider writing about:

Issues for people interested in doing volunteer work, whether during the holidays or otherwise; how to vet organizations for which one might be interested in volunteering; insurance issues, labor laws, or potential liability issues that individuals might need to be aware of; protection against harassment; what to do if encountering potentially unsafe or illegal activities in connection with a volunteer assignment; additional concerns involving minors’ safety and rights, and what their parents or guardians should be paying attention to, either before or during a volunteer commitment; what to know about organizations’ use of waivers in conjunction with volunteer workers; general obligations and liability risks on the part of a volunteer organization.