This critical document known as your medical power of attorney may be referred to as a healthcare surrogate or healthcare proxy. If you have friends in other states, you may have heard of it referred to in these alternative terms. Regardless of how it is referenced, a medical power of attorney allows you to appoint… Read More »
Blog Posts Page 56
What a Will Cannot Do
Although there are numerous benefits to using a will in your estate planning, it is equally important to be aware of some of the things that a will cannot do for you in the estate planning process. Here are some of the things that you cannot accomplish with a traditional will: You cannot transfer… Read More »
Top Reasons You Need a Will
Have you been avoiding the estate planning process because you simply didn’t think you needed it? No matter the size of your estate, there’s a good chance that you and your loved ones could benefit from a basic will. Overlooking this aspect of estate planning, for which the basic will is often a cornerstone, could… Read More »
Four Things to Remember When You Put Together Your Will
The will is the cornerstone of many people’s individual estate planning efforts. It assists with ensuring that after you pass away, your property will be transferred according your individual wishes. If you pass away without a will, California state laws will be used to determine what happens to your property. There are four critical things… Read More »
Is It a Good Idea to Make Your Own Living Trust?
If you decided that you want to use a living trust in order to avoid the probate process, you probably have some good questions about the most appropriate way to proceed. Should you try to handle making a living trust on yourself is a good question that will probably pop into your mind early on…. Read More »
Financial and Estate Planning Lagging for Middle Americans, According to Recent Study
A new study conducted by Financial Engines determined that only one third of U.S. employees with annual incomes between $35,000 and $100,000 have a comprehensive and tailored financial plan. This is compared to approximately half of all employees who earn $100,000 or more every single year. Wealthier American employees do tend to have more… Read More »
Protecting Yourself with A Will – Four Things to Keep in Mind
A will helps to ensure that your property is transferred appropriately on your death and without one, the state’s intestacy laws will be used to transfer on your property. Many people across the U.S. don’t have a will, although they could benefit from one. However, there are four things you should keep in mind… Read More »
Planning Mistakes You Should Avoid If You Have a Special Needs Child – Part III
In this three-part series we are exploring three common mistakes that people can often make in the process of trying to support a special needs child in their life. In this particular blog post we are looking carefully at relying on siblings to use their own money in order to care for a special needs… Read More »
Key Planning Mistakes to Avoid If You Have a Special Needs Child – Part II
There are several different mistakes that you can make when you are planning ahead for a loved one who has special needs. One of the most common of these is not properly maintaining and funding a plan. When planning for any child with special needs, it is essential that appropriate assets be available for… Read More »
Major Mistakes You Want to Avoid If You Have a Special Needs Child – Part I
There are many different mistakes that you can unfortunately make in the event that you have a special needs child. This situation requires careful consideration and planning with the help of a knowledgeable estate planning attorney. Unfortunately, what seems like small mistakes at the time that you make them can lead to catastrophic problems. Read… Read More »
What A Trust Can Offer You That a Will Cannot?
Although a trust and a will are both important components of any person’s estate plan, there are several different things that a trust can offer you that a will does not. Some of the most common benefits of a trust over a will include: It allows you to avoid the probate process, including the… Read More »
What Different Groups Can Benefit from Having a Trust?
People establish trusts for their estate planning for various different reasons, but these are the primary reasons: Tax planning: A trust can help you in multiple different situations, but one of the most common is legitimated tax avoidance, which is a common goal of any estate plan. If the value of your estate is… Read More »
Some of The Most Common Poorly Executed Mistakes Within a Will
There is a good chance that you already understand the benefits of putting together a will, if you are searching for this term or setting up a meeting with an experienced estate planning attorney. You probably already know, for example, that your will needs to be signed by you and that your signature also has… Read More »
Four Major Reasons It’s Time to Return to Your Estate Plan Once Again
No matter who you are, it is important to have an estate plan. There are many different myths out there that you can avoid having an estate plan if you don’t have any children or if you’re currently unmarried. Many people are also under the impression that they do not have enough assets in order… Read More »
Should You Discuss Estate Planning Over Thanksgiving Dinner?
As everyone prepares for one of the most popular holidays in the United States, it’s a great opportunity to have all of your family together and on the same page. Although a lot of the holiday focuses on celebrating and enjoying wonderful food, this is also a good opportunity to think about all of the… Read More »
What You Should Know About the Future of Estate or Gift Taxes in a Trump Presidency
Although we will all have to wait until January to see exactly how president elect Trump will streamline his statements into actual policy proposals, it is relatively clear early on that the estate tax could be terminated. He has vowed numerous times across the course of his campaign to eliminate the estate tax and would… Read More »
Sending a Minor Child Off to College? Think Carefully About Healthcare Documents
Sending an 18-year-old off to college may cause parents to think about key planning issues. In the excitement and buzz of getting the child off to his or her new adventure, however, it can be easy to forget just how important it is to accomplish all proper estate planning goals. An individual who has reached… Read More »
What You Need to Keep in Mind Regarding an Alzheimer’s Diagnosis and Estate Planning?
November is National Alzheimer’s Awareness month, which makes it all the more important to consider estate planning and the connection between Alzheimer’s and other cognitive problems as we near the end of the year. At the time that National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month was named in 1983, fewer than 2 million individuals in America were diagnosed… Read More »
The Role of Life Insurance in an Estate Plan
Life insurance can play a critical role in an estate plan because the insurance proceeds from an active policy can be counted on to give loved one’s liquidity when it is needed. Although there are certainly other assets that you will think about in the estate planning process and especially large ones such as… Read More »
Investing, Estate Planning & Retirement All Key Issues for Pre-Retirees
Anyone looking ahead to the road for retirement has a lot of things to worry about. Rising longevity rates in the United States mean that women and men need to plan for supporting themselves in retirement longer than ever before. Likewise, long term care issues make it especially important to conduct estate planning in… Read More »