Picture this: a comfortably retired couple– Grant (82) and Barbara (80)– living out their lives in the house they’ve owned for decades, enjoying their golden years. While they’re happy in each other’s company, they’ve felt a little empty, or understimulated, since their kids left home and started their adult lives. One day, out of the […]
1. The What, Who, and Why of Trusts If you’ve read any Dickens, or consumed any form of media focused on upper-crust society (like Downton Abbey, Billions, or other similar shows) you’re probably at least somewhat familiar with Trust Funds; or, at least the public perception of them. A mysteriously vast fortune with attached […]
So, you’ve worked hard to set up your estate plan (trust, will, powers of attorney), and you think you can set it and forget it, right? Not so fast! There are five life changes when you’ll want to make sure you review your documents and make necessary changes. You have a new child! Maybe it’s […]
Like any other complex subject, estate planning has its share of myths and misconceptions. Understanding the top three estate planning myths will help you to create and maintain a plan that will work the way you expect it to work when it’s needed. Estate Planning Myth #1 – You Don’t Need an Estate Plan Because […]
Yes, even the undead need an estate plan. After you stop laughing you need to hear me out. As we’ve learned from the likes of The Vampire Chronicles, the Twilight saga, and HBO’s True Blood, vampires aren’t immortal. They do die, and it’s usually unexpected and messy. While vampires aren’t good candidates for life insurance […]
Who needs a Community Property Agreement? Married individuals who own property that has appreciated or is expected to appreciate during their lifetime. The most common examples of such property are stocks and real property. How do I get started or learn more about whether I can benefit from executing a Community Property Agreement with my […]
Planning for your death may seem a bit morbid. Yet proactive people protect their loved ones and their estates through well drafted and properly funded estate plans. A good estate planning attorney will create a comprehensive plan to address your goals and concerns. Here are the top five reasons you need to get started on […]
One common way to avoid probate of real estate after the owner dies is to hold the title to the property in joint names with rights of survivorship with children or other beneficiaries. This is accomplished by adding the names of the children and certain legal terms to a new deed for the property and […]
Revocable Living Trusts have become the basic building block of estate plans for people of all ages, personal backgrounds, and financial situations. But for some, a Revocable Living Trust may not be necessary to achieve their estate planning goals or may even be detrimental to achieving those goals. What Are the Advantages of a […]