Author Archives: cms@site-mail.com
Who Will Be in Charge of Your Digital Estate?
How much of each day do you spend online? If you’re like many Americans, the answer is a lot, and we’re spending more time online with each passing year. Now, think about what you do online. Do you shop? Operate a business? Store family photos? Communicate with family, friends and work associates through Facebook,… Read More »
Estate Plans: 10 Key Topics to Discuss w/ Your Attorney
Discussing your estate plans can be a tough topic for many to consider. Essentially, it forces a person to contemplate important financial issues that may arise while they are still alive, as well as after their own death. Consequently, it is very important to ensure that your resources are managed sensibly so that next-generation… Read More »
Situations that Require an Estate Planning Lawyer
When considering the need for an estate planning attorney, contemplate this – estate planning should be thought of as a very serious professional service. All it takes is a single mistake or a simple missing signature on your estate planning documents for your family’s life to turned upside-down in the blink of an eye…. Read More »
Three Things to Consider When Medicaid Planning
Figuring out how you’re going to pay for long-term care can be an intimidating task, especially if you’re considering Medicaid. There’s a large amount of bad information circulating about qualifying for Medicaid, so we wanted to share a few facts about the program to clear things up: If you’re married, both your assets and… Read More »
Making Changes to Your Will
Occasionally, it’s a good idea to take time to assess your current estate plan, so that you can make necessary modifications which will help guarantee that your strategy is kept up to date with any new developments in your financial life. So, how should one go about making changes to your Will? The most… Read More »
Navigating the Costs of Long-Term Care / Elder Law
There are a few things you probably wouldn’t want to haggle with someone about but, contrary to what you might guess, it appears that long term care is not one of these things. Long-term care can be extremely expensive, and that’s being polite, but as mentioned in a new report from SmartMoney, there are… Read More »
Avoid Family Arguments (Pt 3) – Lack of Communication / Wrong Executor
Lack of Communication In some cases, even possessing your Last Will and Testament won’t be enough to prevent sibling fights from taking place. For example, a parent might determine to gift one sibling a valuable heirloom, or perhaps additional monetary gifts to “repay” a particular sibling for being your primary caregiver. Situations like this… Read More »
Avoid Family Arguments (Pt 1) Power of Attorney & Healthcare Directives
Most folks probably think that family feuds only transpire when we’re in our youth, and for most people this is probably true, but for some siblings this kind of rivalry can continue well into adulthood, ripping families apart when a parent falls ill. The prospect of having to care for an ill or incapacitated… Read More »
What Exactly Is a “Self-Proving Will”?
A self-proving will is one that, in addition to being properly signed by you and properly witnessed, also includes what’s called a “self-proving affidavit”. This is a statement that’s attached to the will. Your witnesses sign the affidavit, under penalty of perjury, stating that they watched you sign your will, and that the signing… Read More »
What is a Family Pot Trust?
When deciding how to leave inheritances to your minor children, you have a number of options. For parents of two or more young children, one appealing choice is the Family Pot Trust. Trustee Manages a Common Fund Under this arrangement, property is left to two or more children in a common fund. The trustee… Read More »