Estate Planning for a Single Person
If you are single, you may not think you need to plan your estate, but single people are in as much need of a plan as anyone else. Estate planning not only involves determining where your assets will go when…
The Difference Between Elder Law and Estate Planning
Elder law and estate planning serve two different — but equally vital — functions. The main difference is that elder law is focused on preserving your assets during your lifetime, while estate planning concentrates on what happens to your assets…
What It Means to Need ‘Nursing Home Level of Care’ for Medicaid Eligibility
When applying for Medicaid’s long-term care coverage, in addition to the strict income and asset limits, you must demonstrate that you need a level of care typically provided in a nursing home. Whether you are applying for nursing home coverage…
Consider Your Sources Part Two – Understand the Terms
Many companies sell online forms, such as powers of attorney, wills, and trusts you can download and execute yourself. Creating these “fill-in-the-blank” forms online is only appropriate in limited circumstances. If you have assets or loved ones, online forms or…
Consider Your Sources Part One – Your Life is not a Template!
Many clients ask about doing their own Will online and most clients think their estate plan needs are “simple.” Since we rarely see a truly “simple” plan, we created this comparison to show some of the differences between do-it-yourself, fill-in-the-blank…
Why Do I Need an Elder Law Attorney?
This is a common question that comes up when planning for the future. Let’s look at one all-to-common scenario. Your spouse has just been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. What will happen when you can no longer care for him and…
3 by 23 & 5 by 55: Important Documents for YOUR Life
It may seem confusing when attorneys start listing the important estate planning documents you should have, but there’s an easy way to remember what you need and when… 3 by 23 and 5 by 55. 3 x 23 Did you…
The Six Biggest Estate Planning Mistakes
If you’re like most people, you have the best of intentions regarding how you want your estate distributed when you die or your affairs handled should you become incapacitated. Unfortunately, without proper planning, your best intentions may not be enough.…
Be Careful Not to Name Minors as Your Beneficiaries
Most people want to pass their assets to their children or grandchildren, but naming a minor as a beneficiary can have unintended consequences. It is important to make a plan that doesn’t involve leaving assets directly to a minor. There…
Why Everyone Should Have an Estate Plan
Do you have a will? A durable power of attorney? A health care proxy? If so, no reason to read on. If not, why not? Failure to create an estate plan risks causing discord in your family for generations to…