Betsy Simmons Hannibal

Betsy Simmons Hannibal is a Nolo Senior Legal Editor specializing in Estate Planning. Her work centers around managing the editorial contributions to Quicken WillMaker & Trust.

Estate planning books. Betsy also edits many of Nolo's best-selling estate planning books, including Make Your Own Living Trust, Plan Your Estate, Estate Planning Basics, How to Probate an Estate in California: A Step-by-Step Guide, Quick & Legal Will Book, and Get It Together: Organize Your Records So Your Family Won't Have To.

Press contributions. Betsy regularly speaks with journalists who want to know more about estate planning and probate. Here is some of the content to which she has contributed: End-of-Life-Planning Is a "Lifetime Gift" to Your Loved Ones (NPR's Life Kit), What Is Probate and Can You Avoid It? (HowStuffWorks), Probate Workarounds Can Save Your Heirs Time and Money (NerdWallet, syndicated by the AP), and A Brief Guide to Estate Planning, (Wirecutter, The New York Times).

Early career. Before joining Nolo, Betsy trained at two private law firms, as well as the San Francisco Superior Court and the Federal District Court of Northern California. She is a graduate of the Honors Lawyering Program at Golden Gate University School of Law, where she served as the research editor of the law review.

While she currently lives too far from her home state of California, she is enjoying the temperature variation provided by the mid-Atlantic seasons.

Articles By Betsy Simmons Hannibal

California Marital Agreements

Many couples choose to make agreements with their spouse – most often about who owns what property. While prenuptial agreements are the most well-known marital agreements, couples can also make agreements during their marriage and when getting divorced.

Contempt Charge for Nonpayment of Support in Colorado

If you’ve failed to pay court-ordered support in Colorado, the court can charge you with contempt of court. If it finds you guilty, it will require you to pay a fine or send you to jail. Here’s how contempt works in Colorado family law.

Overview of QDROs in New Jersey

What is a Qualified Domestic Relations Order ("QDRO")? A QDRO is: A domestic relations order ("DRO")(see below for definition) That creates or recognized the existence of an "Alternate Payee’s" right to receive, or assigns to an Alternate Payee the right to receive, all or a portion of the benefits payable with respect to a participant under a quali

Changing a Child’s Surname in New Jersey

Here are the basics about changing your child’s legal name when you get divorced in New Jersey. Can I change my son’s name as part of my divorce proceedings? No, in New Jersey you cannot change your child’s name as part of the divorce proceedings. However, you can start different court procedure to change your child’s name.