If you have an estate plan, count yourself among the responsible few. Most people do not have one. Even if you have an estate plan, however, you should review it periodically to be sure it will meet your needs as times and circumstances and how you view your world change – and they will. When should…
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People like stories, and I have gathered a few in the years I have practiced law. During the time I have been representing people doing estate planning and handling estates, I have seen many things, both good and bad, that are examples of what to do and what not to do. Most of the bad stories involve not…
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“Avoiding probate” is a buzz word that is often used and sometimes confused. Many people don’t understand the probate process, even by people who are quite sure it should be avoided. For instance, Wills do not “avoid probate”, and probate does not subject an estate to taxation, though both things are often believed to be true.…
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I do a lot of estate planning for spouses, and one topic comes up over and over again. When I have clients who want to make life easier for their loved ones and avoid probate, the best way to do that is to use living trusts. The question, then becomes, should they have one, joint…
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One thing that requires close attention when doing estate planning, but little attention is paid to it, is the way we hold title to our assets. How we own our assets is a key component to estate planning that is often overlooked. Attention to property ownership detail can make the difference between estate planning success or failure. For…
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What will happen if, suddenly, you are unable to speak, unable to communicate and unable to take care of the things that require your attention every day? Who will speak for you? Who will pay your bills? Do you have an agent you have identified and authorized to take care of these things? The scenario…
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Did you know you have a legal right to refuse medical treatment that may delay death by creating a living will? Consider how you would like end-of-life medical care to be handled in the case of a terminal condition where you may be incapacitated and unable to communicate your wishes. A Living Will allows you…
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There are many reasons why people do not do Wills, and not many of those reasons are very good. Many of us simply avoid thinking about it, and then we do we tell ourselves there will be time to do one later. Maybe when I have more assets I will do a will is another…
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To many it seems that estate planning is like a mysterious woodland creature. Sightings are reported, but descriptions of the animal do not all match, and an accurate picture of the real thing remains illusive. Dispelling the myths is a good start in gaining an accurate understanding of estate planning (the elusive creature). Once you begin to have…
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One of the most often misunderstand terms in estate planning is “probate” and what it mean We answer the most common FAQs about probate here: WHAT IS PROBATE? The term “probate” refers generally to the process by which the estate of a decedent (person who died) is administrated and distributed to the people who are the lawful…
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