Everyone over 18 needs three essential legal documents to be prepared for whatever the future may hold: a health care proxy, a HIPAA Release, and a durable power of attorney. If you neglect to set up these documents, the aftermath could be both emotionally and financially straining for everyone involved – just look at this […]
When making a big decision, like selling a house, you want someone who knows what they’re doing to help you through the process. There is a lot of money on the line, coupled with the stress of moving itself, and what feels like piles of confusing paperwork to get through. Having someone knowledgeable that specializes […]
Many of us are caring for aging parents, adult children, or disabled family members, which means being involved in their medical care. During this time, you may need to act as a second set of ears to understand what is going on and the doctor’s’ plans moving forward. This can be difficult on its own, […]
As every good gardener knows, preparation is key. If you put in hard work early in the season, you can sit back and watch it flourish with only a little upkeep. Estate planning is very similar! Putting in the work now, so you can reap the benefits later: Plant the Seed: Get Your Documents DonePlanting […]
Estate Plans Help Loved Ones Avoid Probate When someone passes away, they often leave an estate behind. That estate can consist of various types of property that may include little things such as digital accounts, cash, and cars, and larger assets such as stocks, bonds, business interests, and real estate. Someone who has planned ahead […]
Social media has opened up amazing new revenue streams for all sorts of creative people. If you’re an influencer, chances are good that you are taking care of business, and working with an attorney to protect your content and your brand. But have you thought about what happens to your brand in the event you […]
Do an image search for “estate planning” and you’ll likely see lots of pictures of couples, some young, some older, many with kids. But singles – many without kids – have specific estate planning needs that shouldn’t be ignored. Just because you don’t have a spouse or kids doesn’t mean you don’t have plans for […]
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way everyone does business. While we still love to see our clients in person, we’ve found that more often, folks ask to conduct their estate planning consult over Zoom. Virtual appointments are different, for sure, but also offer a great opportunity to be more flexible. Still, it’s easy to […]
You know it is important to plan for your future: college for the kids, retirement, and security for your family should anything happen to you. We hear all the time that the whole things seems so overwhelming – and often, people just put it off because it just seems so daunting. But once you’ve decided […]
Google the phrase “Estate Planning Mistakes” and you’ll see pages of results. Seems like attorneys and financial planners are always telling their clients how to avoid one mistake or another as they put together their estate plan. But in the end, the single biggest mistake you can make is all about what you DON’T do. […]
Understanding how to protect your assets as you age is a critical component of estate planning. In addition to navigating estate taxes, beneficiaries, and who will be responsible for your medical decisions should you be unable to make them yourself, it is also critically important to look ahead and think about long-term care coverage as […]
Feels like summer is just kicking off, but already, we’re seeing back to school displays at Target. For school-aged kids, this means school supplies and backpacks. And for those headed off to college, we’re seeing sales on dorm essentials like bedding, small fridges, and storage bins. But as you spend the summer planning and anticipating […]
While married couples have different priorities than their single counterparts, one thing is certain: anyone – whether they have a family or not – needs to think about estate tax planning. In fact, planning one’s own estate taxes as a single person might be more important than it is for a married couple. Why? As […]
Americans are living longer than ever. As we age, there are myriad things we need to think about: downsizing or managing our homes, how we’ll spend our retirement, our finances, who will care for us when we can no longer care for ourselves and more. Long-term care insurance should also be on that list. Even […]
You’ve often heard that when it comes to gift-giving, it’s the thought that counts. Unsurprisingly, the IRS doesn’t agree. To them, all that matters is that gifts are properly reported and taxed. Gift taxes are only required on gifts of significant financial value, so many people will never have to pay them. But if your […]
