One of the issues that has been a frequent topic of discussion over the last several years in elder law circles is that of elder financial abuse. The statistics that are available on the subject only tell part of the tale, but a MetLife Mature Market Institute report estimates that some $2.6 billion is lost […]

One of the biggest factors to consider when you are planning your estate is the estate tax, and there is some huge news to report about changes to the law that were passed just before the new year. To understand the impact of this new legislation you have to digest the back story. The estate […]

For many people, the process of estate planning includes making preparations for the latter stages of life, and there are a number of things to take into consideration. One of these is the possibility of incapacitation, and when you look at the statistics you can plainly see why planning for it is prudent. When you […]

Victoria Collier just completed an excellent 3 day seminar on Veterans Administration beneifts available for our veterans.  Sadly, she announced that this will be her last.  I was fortunate enough to have attended her first VA seminar in 2008, at her final one in 2011. 

During the estate planning process it is important to evaluate the net worth of your estate to determine if your estate may owe federal estate taxes after you pass away. In 2010, there is no federal estate tax, but in 2011 it is expected to return at the exemption level of one million dollars. While […]

If you have a Last Will and Testament, it is important to understand on what grounds an heir or disinherited beneficiary could declare your document to be invalid. When you are aware of the reasons a Will may be contested, it is easier to avoid successful challenges. Who Can Contest Any heir-at-law or any beneficiary […]

If you have a life insurance policy, there are three different ways that you can bestow your policy upon your family. You can directly designate a beneficiary as the recipient, assign your Revocable Living Trust as beneficiary, or name your Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust (ILIT) as heir. Protect Your Funds If you want to protect […]

Is a Last Will and Testament or a Revocable Living Trust best for you and your estate plan? There are benefits to each document, but there are three differences too. These three differences may help you choose the document that best fit your needs. Probate Probate is the court-supervised process used to settle an estate […]

We heard a lot of talk about end-of-life medical procedures during the debates surrounding health care reform, and this highlighted the reason why it is advisable to add an element of incapacity planning to your long term plan. People are living longer than ever, and the fact is that when you reach an advanced age […]

When you plan your estate as a small business owner you have to look at things differently than people who are not in business for themselves. In many cases the business may be your most significant asset, so when you are planning your estate you have to decide how to make the most of it. […]