Estate Planning
Adult children should discuss estate plans with aging parents
Discussing post-death matters and potential medical needs can be a difficult conversation to have with your parents. While it can be uncomfortable to discuss what will happen if your parents pass away or become incapacitated at some point, it is a necessary...
Which types of advance directives should be in your estate plan?
One of your main goals for your estate planning strategy is to care for and support your loved ones in the future. Through the distribution of assets and careful planning, you can provide for them and leave a legacy that will benefit the generations that come after...
Protecting your financial interests in case of incapacitation
One of the primary benefits of planning for the future is taking steps that will allow you to decide what will happen to your money and assets in the future. Through a will and other estate planning tools, you can have a measure of control over the distribution of...
What should you expect from the probate process?
After the passing of a loved one, you may have the responsibility of settling his or her estate. There is typically much more involved with this process than simply distributing assets according to the terms of the will. In many cases, many or all estate assets will...
What should be in your will?
A will is the basic building block for any complete estate plan. It provides you with the opportunity to outline what you want to happen to your money and property after your passing. In addition to the distribution of estate assets, a will can contain terms that will...
Should I have a living will?
If you think of an estate plan as a tool merely for distributing your assets after your death, you are missing some very important elements that may also benefit you while you are still living. One of those elements is a living will. A living will is a kind of advance...
7 signs you may need long-term nursing care
Thinking about long-term care is not something most people do until they begin to get older. Unfortunately, for many, this comes too late to make plans for paying for that very costly care. The National Association of Area Agencies on Aging assess that about 20% of...
Last Minute Prenuptial… Time Enough to Waive Spousal Rights?
In Arlene Williams-Paris v. April Nelle Joseph...et al., Arlene ("Wife") appealed several probate orders that she waived rights to her husband's ("Decedent") estate. A year before their marriage, Decedent and Wife discussed making a prenuptial agreement and the...
Marital Settlement Agreement- Who Receives the Proceeds of the 401(k)??
In Lynn Martinez-Olson v Estate of Dan Olson, Lynn Martinez-Olson ("Lynn") divorced Dan ("Decedent") in 2017. As part of the marital settlement agreement (the "Agreement"), each party agreed that they would receive all benefits existing by reason of their employment...
A will may not be enough for your estate
If you are preparing your estate plan, you want it to be as complete and thorough as possible. Perhaps you have heard that mistakes and omissions in an estate plan can result in confusion and conflict during probate, and you want to be certain to minimize the chances...