Ladimer Law Blog

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 […]

If you’re planning a move – or have recently done so – you likely have a lot on your mind, whether its packing and unpacking, purchasing furniture, or finding a new plumber.  One thing you should not let fall through the cracks is your estate plan.    Like other major life changes —the birth of a […]

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 […]

Hopefully, you’ll never be in a car accident. You still have car insurance, just in case. And hopefully, you’ll never be incapacitated and be unable to make decisions for yourself—but just in case, you should have a power of attorney and health care proxy. They’re essential estate planning documents for all adults. Even an 18-year-old […]

Estate planning combines legal, financial and emotional decision making. Drawing on the help of trusted advisors is the best way to make sure your estate plans will actually do what you want them to do. As your estate planning attorneys help you sort through your choices around trusts, wills and other estate planning documents, a […]

Who in your life can you trust to honor your wishes? That’s the question at the heart of a lot of decisions you’ll get to make during estate planning. This process affords you the opportunity to put in place several layers of protection for your future and your loved ones’ futures. 

When you receive an inheritance from a loved one, or benefit from a trust established for you, it may feel like a gift. Being given a check or piece of property with no work required on your part is the kind of thing people daydream about. But when you’re named as a beneficiary in a […]

You’ve spent decades taking care of your most treasured possessions and working to grow your wealth. All that care wasn’t just about protecting those things during your lifetime, but preserving them for the next generation. Sometimes understanding the laws in this area can be confusing. A common misconception is that there are specific inheritance laws. […]

Mistakes happen. If you’re lucky, most of your mistakes will have minor consequences. Making a wrong turn adds 15 minutes to your trip. Forgetting to return a shirt that doesn’t fit means you’re stuck with it, and out $50. But estate planning mistakes are rarely minor or cheap, and their consequences can sometimes affect your […]

A question I’m often asked when it comes to estate planning is, do I get any say in how a beneficiary can use the money I leave them? Whoever inherits your retirement accounts could have a lot of freedom in how they use that money, for good or bad. At the same time, this beneficiary […]

Antique jewelry, classic cars, valuable collectibles: Any vintage lover knows that sometimes, old is better than new. Not when it comes to your estate plan, though. The estate planning documents you created in the past won’t necessarily serve you well today.

There’s no one right way to be single. You might be happily divorced, unhappily widowed or both. You could be committed to a long-term companion, parenting multiple kids on your own or blissfully, completely unpartnered. But no matter who shares your bed, you share your life with people you care about – family members, close […]

There’s a lot in life that you can afford to get wrong the first time. If your homemade bread is as dense as a brick, you can try again another time. If your hand slips during your DIY haircut, you might avoid mirrors for a few weeks, but the consequences are pretty minor. Estate planning […]

Graduating high school is a pivotal point in a person’s life. You are ready to go to college, travel the world, serve our country, or join the working world.  It’s a big leap from living in your parents’ home and abiding by their rules to living someplace new and creating your own set of rules. […]

Hopefully you’ve stocked up on toilet paper and snacks, and are able to ride out the COVID-19 crisis safely at home. There’s a lot of reason to feel hopeful, but preparing for all possibilities has never been more important. With COVID-19 patients being isolated from loved ones, now’s the time to make sure that you […]

As if sleep deprivation and diaper blowouts weren’t making your life hard enough. While you’re in the haze of joy that follows bringing a new child into your family, estate planning is probably not high on your list of jobs you want to tackle. But like sacrificing sleep and changing diapers, estate planning is something […]