Estate Planning

There is much more to modern estate planning than deciding who gets your belongings when you are gone. In fact, there are two major parts of a comprehensive estate plan – testamentary planning, and what is called “incapacity planning.” Incapacity planning is extremely important, and no estate plan is complete without it. While a will allows you to make decisions about what happens to your property after you die, a living will allows you to make decisions about yourself in the event that you are still alive, but have become […]

Deciding who to leave your estate to can be a highly personal decision. For some people, the choice is easy and they want their immediate family members to take everything. Others, especially those without biological heirs, may consider charitable giving or other options for all or part of their estate property. Whoever you leave your assets to, it is important that you talk to them first and make sure that they are also on board with your plan. Especially if you own assets that require care and maintenance, such as […]

When you are going through a divorce, you probably have a lot on your plate. Whether your divorce is relatively simple and amicable or complex and high-conflict, many things are going to change. After your marital property is divided equitably, your estate plan is likely to look much different. Assets that were jointly owned may now be only in your name, or only in your ex-spouse’s name. You will probably need to make some changes to your will, trust, or life insurance documents if your former spouse was named as […]

Many people believe that if you are single and do not have any children, you do not need an estate plan. This could not be farther from the truth. Even without children or a spouse, there are probably still people in your life that you want to look out for, or maybe even a favorite charity you would like your estate to benefit. Estate planning also includes enabling your loved ones to help you in the event that you get sick or hurt and cannot make decisions for yourself through […]

If you are not sure whether you need powers of attorney, you probably do. Powers of attorney are a way that you can take control of your medical care in the event that you cannot make decisions for yourself. The pandemic has served as a reminder to many that life is unpredictable and we never know what is going to happen. Unexpected accidents or illnesses can take families by surprise. Powers of attorney allow you to plan for this possibility. Using these legal tools, you can appoint someone you trust […]

  Trusts are often not well understood. A lot of people think that you need to be very wealthy to benefit from a trust, but this is not the case. In fact, most people could benefit from using a trust as part of their estate plan. There are many different types of trusts that each serve a unique purpose. While trusts are often used as a will alternative, others can be used to benefit you during your lifetime. The good thing about trusts is that they are very flexible, so […]

Tax law can change rapidly depending on the economic and political climate. Whether you are a business owner, have high-value property, or are creating an estate plan, it is important to stay up to date on how evolving tax laws will affect you. Navigating tax law can be complicated – especially when there are major changes taking place. Having a good understanding of the upcoming changes to the tax code can help you employ the right strategies to minimize your tax burden while staying compliant.  What Upcoming Tax Law Changes […]

Losing a loved one is difficult no matter what. When you are grieving, perhaps the last thing you want to deal with is the whole legal process of handling your family member’s estate. If there is a valid will, you would file it with the probate court to start the probate process. However, not everyone has a will in place. Maybe your relative never made a will in the first place, or he tried to make a will but you find out after his death that the will is invalid. […]

There are many reasons a loved one might need a guardianship. Guardianships allow you to manage the affairs of someone who is not able to do so for themselves. Most guardianships are created for people who are elderly and have age-related impairments or for special needs adults. Some aging adults may fear being the subject of a guardianship, or “ward,” because they are afraid of losing control. However, wards may find that having a guardian to handle all their finances or day-to-day needs is convenient and protects their safety. If […]

Few things in life are as difficult as experiencing the death of a loved one. The period of grief surrounding a family member’s passing is emotionally difficult, and it has the potential to be legally and financially difficult as well. There are a few common legal problems that arise in the aftermath of a death in the family – most of which can be avoided with proper estate planning. Some of these legal problems, like family disputes, are impossible to completely prevent. But other problems, like discovering that the wrong […]