In addition to deciding who gets what when you die, you have key roles to fill that deserve thoughtful deliberation as part of the estate-planning process, experts say.In addition to choosing an executor — the person who ensures your wishes are carried out and that your estate is settled — it’s wise...
Continue reading…
What’s More Expensive Than an Estate Plan? Regret.
Failing to complete your estate plan may not be among the top 5 lifetime regrets but it can certainly have the same impact.
Estate Planning is one of these tasks that often fall under “discretionary spending,” and because it has the stigma of having to contemplate your own death,...
AgingCare Article: Estate Administration: Know What to Do When a Loved One Dies
The strong emotions that come with a love one’s passing are often followed by bewilderment when survivors realize all of the financial and legal steps they must take to settle their affairs. The spouse who passed away may have handled all of the couple’s finances, leaving the other uninformed and overwhelmed. Or...
National Institute on Aging Article: Aging in Place: Growing Older at Home
"The stairs are getting so hard to climb."
"Since my wife died, I just open a can of soup for dinner."
"I've lived here 40 years. No other place will seem like home."
These are common issues for older people. You may share the often-heard wish—"I want to stay in...
Kiplinger Article: 6 Estate-Planning Mistakes Celebrities Made
As if dying isn't bad enough, imagine your ex (your no-good, lying, cheating ex!) rolling in all the money you left behind. And, worse, your beloved family fighting it out in court to get what they can. Time to update your estate plan, right?
Indeed, outdated documents, beneficiary blunders and...
Situations that Make Having a Skilled Estate Planning Attorney Essential
In some situations, we can handle matters without calling in a credentialed professional. For example, many, or even most, of us can, prune a hedge, help our young child with homework, or bandage a small cut. Nonetheless, the vast majority of us would have to contact an expert to take down a...
Estate Planning for LGBTQ Families
While it’s true that since 2015, when same-sex marriage became legal throughout the country, life became increasingly manageable for more than a million couples and families in the United States. Nonetheless, there are still complexities relative to LGBTQ estate planning that require the services of a skilled estate planning attorney. At...
Kiplinger Article: 5 Tips to Start Your Estate Planning Today
No matter your age or financial situation, you need to be financially prepared for the inevitable.
Continue reading…
Estate planning can seem daunting and overwhelming. It may even conjure up negative emotions for some. Perhaps that's why an estimated 64% of Americans don't have a will or any...
Advanced Directives
Though many of us would prefer to avoid it, recent events have increased our awareness of the importance of Advanced Directives, also known as Living Wills.
An Advanced Directive is an expression of your wishes regarding your health care in the instance of incapacity and/or end-of-life decisions. If you...
Taking Care of your Aging Parents
It eventually happens to all of us: in some capacity or another, we find ourselves needing to help our parent’s. Some adult children are more hands on because of proximity and some adult children are long distance and therefore do more coordinating behind the scenes. Whatever your involvement may be, here are...