In my years as an estate planning attorney, it still surprises me to hear how uncomfortable people are discussing estate planning issues. Even families who are open to discussing their financial situations get squeamish when the word “inheritance” is brought up. However, like everything in life, the more you know the better. Experience proves that […]

Do not put off finalizing or signing your estate planning documents because you’re not yet sure who you want to name as trustee. You should speak directly with an experienced and knowledgeable estate planning lawyer about the best steps to approach this. Choosing someone to manage your estate when you pass away is an important […]

Current global conditions have contributed to a spike in inflation which was already on the rise. It is expected that the Federal Reserve will respond by raising interest rates by as high as 2% in the next 18 months. These changing rates impact estate planning and generate important wealth transfer considerations and conversations. There is […]

If you own any kind of real estate, including a home, you should include these in your will because there is a high chance they will pass through probate. There are some options for keeping real estate outside of your probated estate, such as transfer on death deeds, joint ownership or trusts. It is usually […]

What happens if you become unable to articulate your wishes around medical care in future years. A document known as an advanced medical directive or living will might be the only way to give these important instructions to your health care providers. This document should be included as part of your estate plans because it […]

When you pass away, there are many important tasks that need to be taken care of as soon as possible. It can often be overwhelming or confusing for family members to figure out what to do, particularly if they cannot locate your documents or are unaware of what you wanted to happen with regard to […]

What happens if you become unable to articulate your wishes around medical care in future years. A document known as an advanced medical directive or living will might be the only way to give these important instructions to your health care providers. This document should be included as part of your estate plans because it […]

Recognizing the rising cost of health care and in particular of long-term care, you may be investigating the option for getting long term care insurance. This can help to give you peace of mind that if you need advanced care support, such as that provided by a nursing home, that you will be able to […]

Most older married couples have their estate plans connected to one another. This calls for an evaluation of all of these estate planning materials when a husband or wife passes away. Many of these documents may be invalid and leave you without an important safety net if the primary person named on them was your […]

Your power of attorney document formally appoints another person known as a power of attorney agent to take actions on your behalf. As the creator you are referred to as the principal in this document. There are some situations, however, in which an agent might determine that they wish to resign as your power of […]