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Estate Planning Attorney Jennifer McKenna Addresses What Happens If You Die Without a Will in HelloNation

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The article explains how intestate succession works and why estate planning helps families make important decisions before they are needed.

LEES SUMMIT, Mo., Aug. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — What happens if you die without a will? A HelloNation article featuring insights from Estate Planning Attorney Jennifer McKenna of the Jennifer Ward McKenna, Attorney at Law in Lees Summit, Missouri, explains how intestate succession determines what happens to an estate when no valid will exists.

The article explains that many people assume their estate will automatically pass to a surviving spouse or children, but that is not always the case. Instead, state law determines how an estate is distributed when someone dies without a valid will, and those legal rules may not reflect the individual’s wishes, particularly for people who are single, divorced, or remarried. Understanding estate planning helps families avoid confusion by ensuring important decisions are made intentionally rather than left to default legal rules.

According to the article, when someone dies without a will, the court oversees the administration of the estate through a formal legal process. A personal representative is appointed to identify assets, notify creditors, pay valid debts and taxes, and distribute the remaining property according to state law. The article explains that courts cannot rely on verbal promises or assumptions about the deceased person’s wishes and must instead follow the rules of intestate succession.

The HelloNation article also explains that a surviving spouse does not always inherit the entire estate. Whether a surviving spouse receives all or only part of the property depends on state law and the family’s circumstances. If there are children from the current marriage or a previous relationship, the estate may be divided among multiple heirs. The article notes that estate planning gives individuals the opportunity to make these decisions in advance instead of relying on default legal rules.

For individuals who are not married, the article explains that intestate succession follows a legal order of inheritance. Children generally inherit first, followed by parents, siblings, or other close relatives if no children survive. If no qualifying relatives can be located, the estate may eventually pass to the state. Although this outcome is uncommon, the article says it demonstrates why estate planning is valuable for anyone who wants to determine where property should go rather than relying entirely on state law.

The article explains that creating a will allows individuals to decide who receives their property and who will manage their estate. A properly prepared will provides written instructions for distributing an estate after death and allows the person creating it to choose an executor. Without a will, the court appoints someone to serve in that role, and that person may not be the individual the deceased would have selected. Naming an executor in advance can help make the administration of an estate more organized, reduce unnecessary disagreements among family members, and in some situations reduce costs by avoiding certain bond requirements or allowing a simplified form of estate administration.

Parents of minor children also benefit from creating a will, according to the article. A will allows parents to nominate guardians who can care for their children if both parents pass away. Without those written instructions, the court must decide who will assume that responsibility. Although judges always act in the children’s best interests, their decision may not reflect what the parents would have chosen. The article explains that including guardian nominations in a will provides families with greater clarity during an already difficult time.

The article also notes that a complete estate planning strategy may include trusts, financial powers of attorney, and healthcare directives. Even so, a will often serves as the foundation of an effective plan because it communicates personal wishes and provides guidance for loved ones. Thoughtful estate planning can reduce misunderstandings, minimize family conflict, and help ensure an estate is administered as smoothly as possible. Creating a will also helps keep personal wishes at the center of the process rather than leaving those decisions entirely to state law.

What Happens If You Die Without a Will? Features insights from Jennifer McKenna, Estate Planning Attorney of Lees Summit, Missouri, in HelloNation.

About HelloNation

HelloNation is America’s Good News Network, a premier media platform built on the idea that good news travels faster when real people tell real stories. Through its community-focused publications and innovative “edvertising” approach, HelloNation delivers content that informs, inspires, and spotlights the leaders making a meaningful impact in their communities.

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SOURCE HelloNation

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Runjian Co., Ltd. Showcases Token-as-a-Service and AI Innovations at AIMX Singapore 2026

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SINGAPORE, Aug. 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — AIMX Singapore 2026 has successfully concluded at Sands Expo & Convention Centre. Mr Tan Kiat How, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Digital Development and Information, visited Runjian Co., Ltd.’s booth. As an official Platinum Partner of the event, Runjian focused firmly on Token overseas expansion, showcasing its Token-as-a-Service ecosystem layout across the ASEAN region under the theme “Token as a Service: Powering a Smarter ASEAN”.

At the exhibition, Runjian displayed a full lineup of innovative technological solutions covering multiple industry scenarios, including Wuxiang Cloud Valley Token Factory, Apollo 11 CEL enterprise platform, Lawer — ASEAN Legal AI Agent, Hanmate — Online Chinese Learning Platform, and iRun Renewable Energy Platform. The diversified product matrix fully demonstrates Runjian’s robust technical strength and practical application capabilities in core fields such as computing power service, green energy management, intelligent education, enterprise intelligent transformation and government digital governance. The innovative Token-driven technology system attracted extensive attention from global industry clients, developers and ecological partners, who conducted in-depth exchanges on ASEAN localized digital cooperation.

During the summit, Runjian delivered two influential keynote speeches at the main forum to share its overseas development layout. Athena Zhao, Vice President of Runjian Co. Ltd, elaborated on the innovative value of the Token-as-a-Service (TaaS) model in realizing inclusive and on-demand computing power services, helping Southeast Asian enterprises achieve efficient and cost-effective large-scale AI deployment. Meanwhile, Jake Yin, Vice President of the AI Business Group at Runjian Co. Ltd, shared the ontology-native advantages of the Apollo 11 platform, explaining how to help enterprises eliminate fragmented AI application pain points and build independent, controllable and continuously evolving proprietary intelligent systems.

Leveraging the high-end international platform of AIMX Singapore, Runjian actively connects global industrial resources to accelerate cross-border computing power circulation and Token overseas layout. Adhering to its unique regional development strategy, the company has set up overseas branches in Jakarta (Indonesia), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) and Thailand, with business coverage spanning all major ASEAN countries. Empowered by its solid local operational foundation, Runjian continues to deepen localized technological innovation and ecological cooperation across the ASEAN market. Moving forward, Runjian will join hands with global partners to build an open and win-win regional AI ecosystem, continuously empowering the high-quality development of the China-ASEAN digital economy.

CONTACT:
Annie Wang
marketing@runjian.com
18535579700

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SOURCE Runjian Co., Ltd.

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Jukebox Expands Free Background Remover With 25MB Uploads, Free Image Upscaling and New Creative Effects

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Latest update adds larger uploads, built-in image upscaling, new filters, layered outlines and paper cutout effects.

VANCOUVER, BC, Aug. 29, 2026 /CNW/ — Jukebox Print has released a major update to its free online remove background tool, increasing the maximum upload size from 20MB to 25MB per image and adding built-in image upscaling along with a new collection of creative effects. The tool supports JPG, PNG and WebP files, allows up to 50 images to be uploaded at once, and remains free to use with no registration required.

The biggest addition is image upscaling directly inside the download workflow. Once a background has been removed and the image is finished, users can upscale the final image before downloading it, without moving the file into another application. Jukebox has also expanded its creative tools with new filters, layered outlines, custom strokes, gradient outlines, wavy and jagged edges, fades and paper cutout effects. Multiple outline layers can be stacked, reordered and adjusted individually for colour, thickness and style, giving users much more control over the finished cutout.

The update continues Jukebox’s move beyond basic background removal into a more complete creative image tool. Users can add text, mask images into shapes, apply shadows, use stock photography, upload their own backgrounds or create new backgrounds with AI. Finished cutouts can also be sent directly into the Jukebox Sticker Maker to continue designing and prepare artwork for custom sticker printing. With larger 25MB uploads, image upscaling and the expanded Effects 3.0 controls, this is the most powerful version of Jukebox’s background remover released to date.

About Jukebox Print

Jukebox Print is an online printing company serving customers around the world with premium printed products and free creative tools for businesses, designers and creators.

background remover

SOURCE Jukebox Print

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In HelloNation, Tax Expert Sal Julian Details Which Itemized Deductions High-Income Individuals Lose Without Knowing It

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Many High-Income Filers Miss Deductions Not Because They Are Unaware They Exist, but Because of Timing, Limits, and Poor Coordination.

ENDICOTT, N.Y., Aug. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — What are the most common reasons high-income individuals leave deductions on the table each year, and what can be done to address them before December 31? A HelloNation article identifies the specific limitations, timing failures, and coordination gaps that reduce tax efficiency for high earners, and outlines practical steps that can close those gaps before the year ends.

The HelloNation article opens with an important observation: high-income individuals rarely miss deductions because they are unaware those deductions exist. More often, the problem is a matter of limitations, poor timing, or financial decisions made throughout the year without regard to their tax consequences. Identifying where those breakdowns occur most often is the first step toward avoiding them.

State and local taxes, commonly called SALT, are among the first areas the article addresses. Taxpayers can deduct state income taxes and property taxes paid, but the total in this category is capped at $40,000 per year under current law. For high earners in states with significant income and property tax burdens, that cap is frequently reached before all applicable taxes are accounted for, meaning a portion of those payments produces no federal deduction at all.

Mortgage interest deductibility carries its own set of limits. The deduction applies only to the first $750,000 of qualifying mortgage debt originated after December 31, 2018, and homeowners with larger balances must prorate the deductible portion accordingly. Those with multiple properties sometimes assume full deductibility without accounting for this calculation, which can result in missed planning adjustments.

Charitable contributions offer significant timing leverage that many high earners do not fully use. Donating appreciated stock rather than cash allows a taxpayer to claim the full fair market value of the contribution without recognizing capital gains on the appreciation. A donor-advised fund lets contributors make donations in the most tax-advantaged years and distribute those funds to charities over time, improving the overall efficiency of a regular giving program.

Deduction stacking is a related strategy the article describes as particularly underused. Because the standard deduction is now relatively high, some filers find their itemized deductions do not consistently exceed that threshold from year to year. By concentrating charitable contributions and other deductible expenditures into alternating years, a taxpayer can alternate between a larger deduction year and a standard deduction year, producing more total benefit over time than applying either deduction at a similar level annually.

Tax-advantaged accounts represent another area of common missed opportunity that the article examines. Traditional 401(k) contributions remain deductible at any income level, and health savings accounts provide a triple benefit: deductible contributions, tax-free growth, and tax-free qualified withdrawals. For 2026, those enrolled in qualifying high-deductible plans can contribute up to $4,400 individually or $8,750 for family coverage, with an additional $1,000 available for those over 55.

Tax Expert Sal Julian is among the contributors whose insights the article draws on to identify these common gaps. The article’s central point, and one that Tax Expert Sal Julian’s guidance reinforces, is that many high earners leave available itemized deductions behind not because the opportunities do not exist, but because decisions are made throughout the year without a coordinated tax strategy in place.

What Deductions Are High-Income Individuals Losing Without Knowing It? features insights from Sal Julian, Tax Expert of Endicott, New York, in HelloNation.

About HelloNation

HelloNation is America’s Good News Network, a premier media platform built on the idea that good news travels faster when real people tell real stories. Through its community-focused digital publications and innovative “edvertising” approach, HelloNation delivers expert-driven, good-news content that informs, inspires, and spotlights the leaders making a meaningful impact in their communities. HelloNation maintains partnerships with the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the United States First Responders Association.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/in-hellonation-tax-expert-sal-julian-details-which-itemized-deductions-high-income-individuals-lose-without-knowing-it-302792392.html

SOURCE HelloNation

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