When you are a single parent, you must take action to put an estate plan in place. There is absolutely no way that you can responsibly go through life without making provisions for the well-being of your children if you were to pass away. This is true regardless of your age. Of course, we all expect to watch our children become adults in their own right, but there are no guarantees. Individuals pass away in accidents and due to sudden catastrophic health conditions each and every day. As sad … [Read more...] about Estate Planning Is a Must for Single Parents
Adult Guardianship Can Be Avoided
Estate planning is often thought of as a monetary endeavor, and this is a large part of the equation. At the same time, a comprehensive plan will take the eventualities of aging into consideration. With this in mind, we will look at the value of incapacity planning in this post. Understanding Alzheimer’s Disease We all know that Alzheimer’s disease can strike senior citizens. But when you look at the facts, the numbers are rather surprising--and not in a good way. More than 10 percent of … [Read more...] about Adult Guardianship Can Be Avoided
Bryant’s Death Teaches Estate Planning Lesson
We do not usually have the opportunity to hear about people passing away when they are relatively young adults or minors, but it happens all too frequently. The only time that we really hear this news is when someone famous passes away. One of these incidents rattled the collective consciousness recently when basketball great Kobe Bryant was killed in a helicopter crash. In addition to his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, a total of seven other people passed away in the devastating accident. … [Read more...] about Bryant’s Death Teaches Estate Planning Lesson
Can You Change a Living Trust?
One of the most commonly held misconceptions within the realm of estate planning is the idea that you lose all control of assets that you convey into a living trust. For this reason, many people don’t even consider the possibility. They are not prepared to make a decision that is etched in stone. This sentiment is understandable, but in reality, the most widely utilized trust in the field of estate planning is the revocable living trust. With a revocable trust, you can act as the trustee and … [Read more...] about Can You Change a Living Trust?
Steps to Take Along the Estate Planning Process
Any time you are involved in a complicated endeavor, it is wise to break it down step-by-step. This is certainly applicable to the estate planning process. In this post, we will take a brief look at the different relevant factors that you should take into consideration. Legacy Preservation One concern is making sure you have something to leave behind because you really don’t have to be too concerned about estate planning if you have nothing left to leave behind to your loved ones. How could … [Read more...] about Steps to Take Along the Estate Planning Process
Alzheimer’s Association Has North Carolina Chapter
To fully grasp any of the elder law issues that are important for seniors at the present time, you have to learn all that you can about Alzheimer’s disease. Everyone has heard about it, but the facts may surprise you, and not in a good way. The Alzheimer’s Association is an extraordinary resource that goes the extra mile to provide as much information and real-life assistance as they possibly can. According to their website, the disease strikes one out of every 10 seniors, and the likelihood … [Read more...] about Alzheimer’s Association Has North Carolina Chapter
Guardianship Can Be Prevented
When you think about estate planning, the events that will take place after you pass away are naturally going to come to mind first. Without question, it is important to take the proper steps to make sure that your assets get into the hands of your loved ones in the best possible way. That being said, you should also consider end of life matters such as possible guardianship and prepare for them in advance. Incapacity Is Common This is a subject that no one is especially anxious to address, … [Read more...] about Guardianship Can Be Prevented
The Fundamentals of Estate Planning
Estate planning should be viewed as a relatively broad process that includes several different aspects. The ideal estate plan will vary depending on the situation, because each case is different, and there are multiple approaches that can be taken. That being said, there is a foundation that applies to everyone, and we will take a look at it in this blog post. Avoiding Intestacy The most basic reason why you should put an estate plan in place is to avoid intestacy. This is what happens if you … [Read more...] about The Fundamentals of Estate Planning
Don’t Overlook Incapacity Planning
When you are thinking about the subject of estate planning, the matter of asset transfers will be front and center. It is definitely important to take the right steps to get bequests into the hands of your loved ones in the best manner. There are a number of approaches you can take, and this is why you should discuss your options with a licensed estate planning attorney from our firm. This being said, there are some other matters to address when you are devising your estate plan. In addition … [Read more...] about Don’t Overlook Incapacity Planning
Revocable Trust vs Will: Which is Better?
Although most people equate estate planning with simply creating a last will and testament, a will is not always the best choice. If you use a will to state your final wishes, your heirs will receive lump-sum inheritances. However, everyone is not good at managing money, and this can be disconcerting. Let our attorneys explain how using a revocable trust can be a better choice than a simple will. Revocable trust vs will Many clients ask which is better? When considering the question revocable … [Read more...] about Revocable Trust vs Will: Which is Better?
