Thanks for taking the time to find out about our connection to Cornelius, North Carolina. Located in northern Mecklenburg County along Lake Norman, Cornelius is a lakeside town with a population of over 30,000. Starting off as a milling and farming community, Cornelius has now become a laid-back town with many unique attractions. Originally named Liverpool, it was renamed in honor of Joseph Benjamin Cornelius.
The beauty and vitality of Old Town Cornelius
Old Town Cornelius has swiftly become a hub of vibrant culture, including the arts scene, local breweries, boutique shops, farm-to-fork restaurants and live music. Located just outside of Charlotte, Cornelius has a lot to offer. In fact, a new goal of this wonderful city is to become a top-rated bicycling destination.
Cornelius Town Board votes to adopt “Bike Cornelius!”
Last year, the Cornelius Town Board voted unanimously to adopt a bicycle master plan known as “Bike Cornelius!” This exciting plan provides for an infrastructure that will provide safe bicycling throughout Cornelius. The goal is to transform Cornelius into one of the “premier bicycling destinations” not only in the state but in the region. The plan is to offer a well-connected network of comfortable and safe bikeways, both on-street and off-road. The routes are intended to be appropriate for residents and visitors of all ages and abilities.
Cornelius is a recipient of a grant from the North Carolina DOT
Cornelius received a grant in 2014 from the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning Grant Initiative. From that starting point, the town creating a committee to work on the bicycle plan project, with input from the NCDOT, the Cornelius PARC Department, community members, and others.
From old to new: the bicycle plan will renovate existing routes
The town of Cornelius already has 8.2 miles of bicycle accommodations, including a little more than 2 miles of bike lanes and approximately 6 miles of side paths and greenways. The Bike Cornelius! plan will expand the existing infrastructure to create a comprehensive network of bicycle accommodations, resulting in a total 97.4 miles.
Things to remember about estate planning in general
We all know that passing away is one of the two certainties of life, but in spite of this, the majority of American adults are not properly prepared from an estate planning perspective. A lot of people fail to act because they really don’t know why estate planning is important. When you digest this information, you will understand why estate planning is essential. Our North Carolina estate planning attorney can provide the assistance you need to get started.
Everything doesn’t automatically work itself out
If you pass away without any estate plan, the government will make sure that everyone that you love is properly provided for, right? In fact, if you die without a will or some other estate planning document like a trust, the condition of intestacy will result. Once your final debts are paid, the state will indeed determine who gets what, and the state’s choices may not be the same as your choices.
Estate planning is relevant to young people
We all hear about people passing away at young ages each and every day. You never know what the future holds, and you cannot be certain that you will have time to plan your estate as a senior citizen. As soon as you are a self-supporting, responsible adult, you should have an estate plan in place. This is true for single people, but if you are married, or if you are a parent, estate planning is an absolute must.
A will is not the only option
Many people equate the process of estate planning to the creation of a will. In fact, a will is not the best choice for many people. If you use a last will to state your final wishes, the inheritors would receive lump-sum inheritances. Not everyone is a good money manager, and this can be disconcerting if you have a spendthrift in the family.
To respond to this, you could create a revocable living trust and use the trust as the centerpiece of your estate plan instead of a will. You do not lose control of the assets while you are living so you do not have to be concerned about that. A living trust is one option, but there are many different tools in the estate planning toolkit.
Benefits of a living trust
When you use a last will as your asset transfer vehicle, you provide for the distribution of lump-sum inheritances to your heirs. This can be a source of concern if you have someone in the family who is not great at handling money.
To make sure that this individual would have resources to draw from over the long haul, you could create a living trust. While you are alive and well, you could act as the trustee and the beneficiary so you would continue to control the assets.
If you have questions regarding trusts or any other estate planning matters, please contact the experienced professionals at The Potter Law Firm for a consultation. You can contact us either online or by calling us at (704) 944-3245. We are here to help!
