National Estate Planning Awareness Week
October 19th kicks off the 8th annual National Estate Planning Awareness Week. This week was established in 2008 in an effort to raise awareness about the benefits, value, and necessity of having an...
View ArticleHow to Prepare to Meet with an Estate Planning Attorney
“Oh that wasn’t so bad.” “You weren’t as intimidating as I thought a lawyer would be.” “I’m glad that’s done!” “Oh how I dreaded this meeting!” These are all things I have heard clients say after we...
View ArticleSecond Marriage and Intestacy (dying without a Will)
I’m sure you’ve heard or used the phrase, “hit by a bus.” Have you ever known anyone who was hit by a bus? How did that phrase become the standard for conveying a catastrophic injury? A staff editor...
View ArticleCommonly Asked Estate Planning Questions- Day Two
What is Probate? The formal definition is the process by which an estate is formally established for a decedent and representatives are appointed to handle the decedent’s affairs. Probate is not...
View ArticleCommonly Asked Estate Planning Questions- Day One
What is a Special Needs Trust and why would I need one? A Special Needs Trust is a device that allows for those receiving public benefits for a disability to still be able to enjoy the benefit of...
View ArticleCommonly Asked Estate Planning Questions – Day Three
What happens to my pets when I die? You can leave it up to your Executor to determine what happens to them. But I suspect that, if you are looking for an answer to this question, letting someone else...
View ArticleCommonly Asked Estate Planning Questions – Day Four
Do I really need a Power of Attorney? There is no legal requirement that you execute a Power of Attorney, financial or otherwise. You could go through life never having to give someone else authority...
View ArticleCommonly Asked Estate Planning Questions – Day Five
What should I discuss with my family? Discussing your eventual death is not a pleasant conversation to have, but it is a necessary one. It is important to let your family know what your wishes are....
View Article11th National Estate Planning Week Kick Off
The 11th National Estate Planning Week is upon us! Instead of focusing solely on estate planning, I’ll be focusing on what happens after the estate planning or the lack thereof, more specifically, the...
View ArticleWhen a Loved One Passes
We’ve noticed a pattern recently. It is often that I receive a call from a client or a relative of a client the day someone dies asking what they need to do. A person bereft with emotion, overwhelmed,...
View ArticleBut my Friend Said… What to do When You Get Conflicting Advice
“I’m so confused! The woman at the bank said I have to keep this account here. The guy at the insurance company said I should really do this. And my friend said she didn’t do any of this. I don’t...
View Article
More Pages to Explore .....