Considering the myriad of trusts available, creating an estate plan that works can seem daunting. However, that’s what we, as estate planning attorneys, do every day. We know the laws and will design a plan which addresses your specific situation. (If you’d like a brief overview of trusts in general, you may want to read this […]
Substance addiction is by no means rare, impacting as many as 40 million people, or more than one in seven Americans. Because of its prevalence, navigating a loved one’s addiction is actually a relatively common topic in everyday life, and one you should consider when planning your estate. Whether the addiction is substance-related (such as alcoholism […]
A pet trust is an excellent way to make sure your beloved pet will receive proper care after you pass on. The problem, of course, is that you won’t actually be there to see that your wishes are carried out. It’s critical to set up a pet trust correctly to ensure there are no loopholes or […]
Sandy Gibson was young when his parents died: his father died when he was 10, and his mother died a short time later, after a five-year bout with cancer, when he was 11. His parents were buried in the last family plot in an old church cemetery, alongside a busy road and near a fire station. […]
It’s considered good parenting to talk to your children about “the birds and the bees.” But many parents are reluctant to provide them a financial education. According to a whitepaper recently published by Merrill Lynch, the investment advisors, there are many reasons why: They are afraid of robbing their children’s motivation. They are uncertain about exactly […]
We all rely on our friends, family, and colleagues to help us through life’s challenges. These trusted individuals can also be incredibly important when setting up an estate plan. It is vital to appoint a fiduciary to act on your behalf. A fiduciary acts on your behalf, carrying out your wishes should you become incapacitated or […]
The Federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) was enacted to provide guidelines to the healthcare industry for protecting patient information and privacy. For minors, this is a non-issue because parents, as legal guardians, have access to their children’s medical information and are the ones making most of the medical decisions, as well […]
For most people, the phrase “power of attorney” means very little. Even for those educated on the subject, it is easy to forget exactly who serves what role and why. Whether you are unfamiliar with the concept or simply need of a refresher, keep reading to learn what it means to be an agent under a […]
