The importance of beneficiaries on your insurance
Life insurance policies offer the option to designate beneficiaries in the event you pass away – in other words, you get to name who gets the benefits from the life insurance plan. Most people with these policies do have at least one beneficiary named, which ensures a smoother process when it comes to those benefits […]
Have someone with disability? Consider a special needs trust
When setting up an estate plan, one aspect to consider for those with disabled family members is this: What benefits are they getting? There’s a great reason to ask the question. If you leave a large lump sum for a disabled family member, it could disqualify them from receiving particular benefits, such as Medicaid, Supplemental […]
Ladies, estate planning is a huge deal for you
It’s one of the most stunning biological facts: Women, throughout the world and regardless of factor, tend to outlive men. As the BBC’s David Robson writes: In 1800, life expectancy at birth was 33 years for women and 31 years for men; today it is 83.5 years and 79.5 years, respectively. In both cases, women […]
You can sell real estate without ANY tax!
Before you sell any real estate, you should contact us. Why? Because we can often help you avoid all of the tax on the sale! We use techniques that can allow you to sell the real estate and either defer the tax or eliminate the tax altogether. We are your Tax Lawyers. Whenever you sell […]
What about your cats and dogs?
Your pets are a part of the family. There’s fond memories, laughs, lots of time spent talking back and forth – and you have a soft spot for them, whether a cat, dog, fish, horse, lizard, or other pet. What happens to them after you pass away? It’s up to you. You can designate specific […]
The nuances of durable power of attorney
You’ve likely heard the phrase power of attorney before, especially if you’ve had any experience with estate planning. But there are some nuances of what a durable power of attorney (DPA) can actually provide – and making sure all of the needed documents are in place for you is what’s essential. For instance, we write […]
Estate planning and your small business
You work hard; in fact, without your long hours, weekends poring over figures, and unwavering commitment to supporting yourself and your loved ones, the small business you’ve built and established wouldn’t exist. You won’t take unnecessary risks to put that work in jeopardy, either – instead, risks are calculated before deciding if expansion, carrying a […]
How often should I update my estate plan?
With anything relating to your family’s long-term security, there is no “set it and forget it” method that guarantees everything will be optimal. Your estate plan, much like many other aspects of your life planning, need a checkup every few years. We typically recommend our clients come in every three years for a thorough look-through […]
“How do I plan well for my baby?”
Congratulations! You’re expecting a new addition to your family, and it’s bringing a lot of change in many facets of your life. As estate planning lawyers, we’re prone to think long-term about big life events such as the birth of a child. And the answer to the question “How do I plan well?” is easy: Go […]
Online assets and digital estate plans – are you prepared?
What happens to your Facebook account if you pass away? Or those photos you uploaded years ago? Do you write a blog that brings in a measure of advertising revenue? An estate plan can plan for those – and many more – contingencies. Wells Fargo recently wrote an excellent article entitled “Do you have a […]