• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

The Potter Law Firm

North Carolina and Kentucky Estate Planning Attorneys

phone iconNC (704) 944-3245
KY (606) 324-5516
Attend A Free Seminar - KY Attend A Free Webinar - NC/SC THIS IS AN ADVERTISEMENT

  • Home
  • About Us
    • About Our Firm
    • Attorney and Staff Profiles
  • Practice Areas
    • Asset Protection & Business Planning
    • Elder Law & Medicaid Services
    • Estate and Gift Tax Figures
    • Family-Owned Businesses & Farms
    • Incapacity Planning
    • IRA & Retirement Planning
    • Legacy Planning
    • Pet Planning
    • Probate
    • SECURE Act
    • Special Needs Planning
    • Trust Administration
  • Elder Law
    • Coping With Alzheimer’s
    • Emergency Medicaid & Nursing Home Planning
    • Guardianship & Conservatorship
    • Hospice Care
    • Medicaid Planning
    • Nursing Home Planning
    • Veterans Benefits
  • Communities We Serve
    • Kentucky
      • Boyd County
        • Ashland
        • Florence
      • Kenton County
        • Covington
        • Fort Mitchell
        • Independence
    • North Carolina
      • Mecklenburg County
        • Charlotte
        • Davidson
        • Huntersville
  • Resources
    • Cornelius, North Carolina Probate Resources
    • Definitions
    • DocuBank
    • Elder Law
      • Elder Law Links
      • Elder Law Reports
      • Local Elder Law Resources
        • Ashland Elder Resources
        • Covington Senior Resources
        • Huntersville Elder Law Resources
        • Independence Senior Resources
    • Elder Law Reports
    • Emergency Legal Documents
    • Free Estate Planning Seminars
    • Free Estate Planning Worksheet
    • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Estate Planning
      • Frequently Asked Questions for Families Without an Estate Plan
      • IRA & Retirement Planning
      • Legacy Wealth Planning
      • LGBTQ Estate Planning
      • Medicaid
      • Pet Planning
      • Trust Administration & Probate
    • Is Your Estate Plan Outdated?
    • Kentucky Probate Resources
      • Ashland, Kentucky Probate Resources
    • Newsletters
    • North Carolina Probate Resources
      • Huntersville, NC Probate Resources
    • Reports
      • Advanced Estate Planning
      • Basic Estate Planning
      • Elder Law Reports
      • Estate Planning for Niches
      • Trust Administration
  • Contact Us
  • BLOG
Home » Estate Planning Articles » Helping Your Parents Through Their Twilight Years

Helping Your Parents Through Their Twilight Years

December 30, 2010 by John Potter

Compliments of Our Law Firm,
By: The American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys

Your parents were watching over you, smiling and encouraging, as you took your first tentative steps. As a teenager, they handed you the keys as you took the car out on your own for the first time. They were there with guidance and advice, sometimes requested and sometimes not, as you left childhood and navigated young adulthood.

Now that your parents are entering their twilight years, they are the ones taking the unsteady steps, and you wonder if it might be time to suggest gently that they relinquish their car keys. You question how best to help them while at the same time preserving their dignity and maintaining their independence. How you’ll go about this will depend on your parents’ exact circumstances, including their health and financial means, and the involvement of family members and other loved ones. Regardless of the details, though, planning ahead is key.

If your parents are of substantial financial means, estate taxes may be a concern. Planning far in advance will be necessary to minimize, or even eliminate, the impact that taxes will have on their estate. Even if estate taxes are not a concern, planning is still essential. A properly implemented estate plan that includes incapacity planning can help ease the transition as your parents become less independent. In the event of an illness like Alzheimer’s, or a debilitating event such as a stroke, having a plan that provides some protection in case of their disability is often the difference between order and chaos.

A Living Trust can serve as the cornerstone of your parents’ estate plan. Your parents can place their assets in the trust and retain full authority to manage and control the assets as long as they’re well enough to do so. Once they become unable to care for themselves, the successor trustee they select may take over management of the trust assets. The successor can serve as  trustee along with your parents, gradually taking on more responsibility until it’s time for the successor trustee to take the reins completely. One of the advantages of a Living Trust is its flexibility. It can be arranged to meet the specific needs of your family, and is adaptable to allow for a gradual transition of responsibility or to accommodate an emergency situation.

Your parents have always been with you to share life’s joys and navigate life’s challenges. In the same way, you can be your parents’ foundation, helping them negotiate their twilight years with confidence and dignity.

An attorney experienced in the areas of estate planning and elder law can help you and your parents anticipate future needs and put plans in place well in advance. This way, your parents can look to the coming years with the assurance that, no matter what lies ahead, they’ll be in your capable hands.

Free Estate Planning Worksheet

There's a lot that goes into setting up a comprehensive estate plan, but with our FREE worksheet, you'll be one step closer to getting yourself and your family on the path to a secure and happy future.

Texting Permission

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Testimonials

default image

Overall The Potter Firm was very professional. They took what could of been a very complicated process and were able to break it down so it was a lot easier to understand. We are confident we now have made the right decisions in our estate planning. Good firm to work with.

DKS & KMS Client Review August 28, 2020

default image

John Potter has been a real pleasure to work with. He is very knowledgeable and explains things in a very simplistic manner so the average person can understand how/why the laws are written. He is very attentive and asks questions in such a way that not only helps him understand your goals, but also helps you think about what type of goals and expectations you should be considering. Exemplary client service.

David J. Client Review August 28, 2020

default image

My husband and I selected Ms. Potter to assist with our small business. She responsive and attentive every time I have a question or need assistance, and is extremely knowledgeable and able to answer any legal question I have had. I know I can count on Ms. Potter for all of my business legal needs and I would highly recommend her to anyone needing legal assistance with such.

Jillian Client Review August 28, 2020

<< Prev
Next >>

Where We Are

Ashland

ASHLAND
1620 Carter Avenue
Ashland, KY 41101-7631
Phone: (606) 324-5516
Fax: (606) 324-4766

Charlotte

CHARLOTTE
15720 Brixham Hill Avenue
Suite 300,
Charlotte, NC 28277
Phone: (704) 944-3245

Huntersville

HUNTERSVILLE
11330 Vanstory Drive
Huntersville, NC 28078
Phone: (704) 944-3245

Northern Kentucky

NORTHERN KENTUCKY
7310 Turfway Road
Suite 550,
Florence, KY 41042
Phone: (859) 372-6655

Office Hours

Monday8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Tuesday8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Wednesday8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Thursday8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Friday8:30 AM - 3:00 PM

Map/Location

potter_sidbr_map
potter law logo
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

The information on this website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this or associated pages, documents, comments, answers, emails, or other communications should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. The information on this website is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing of this information does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.

Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Disclaimer | Site Map | Powered by American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys

© 2023 American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, Inc. THIS IS AN ADVERTISEMENT