Avoiding Probate With Transfer-on-Death Deeds
In my opinion, a revocable living trust is the best estate planning tool available to avoid probate, maintain the privacy of your affairs and provide for incapacity or disability. However, for some people, a revocable living trust may not be the right fit. In these instances, it makes sense to consider a transfer-on-death deed, which […]
Americans’ Attitudes Regarding Long-Term Care Insurance
I recently read an article on Forbes.com discussing Americans’ attitudes regarding long-term care insurance. Unsurprisingly, most were price sensitive and hesitant to use their home equity as an alternative method of financing their care. That’s why it makes sense to consider planning for the possibility of long-term care in your estate plan. Through the use […]
Resources on Aging
Last month, President Obama hosted the White House Conference on Aging. The gathering of elder care advocates and experts has been held every decade since the 1960s. Now, the federal government has launched a website to serve as a one-stop shop for older Americans seeking resources on aging. The website covers everything from filing for […]
How Safe is Your Children’s Inheritance?
Maybe you want to provide for yearly family vacations. Or perhaps you’d like to help with the cost of college education for your grandchildren. Whatever the reason, we instinctively seek to ensure that the next generation has it just a little bit better than we did. But how safe is your children’s inheritance? The answer […]
What Mad Men Can Teach Us About Estate Planning
Anyone who knows me is aware of my love for Mad Men, the critically-acclaimed AMC drama which concluded its run in May. Like most fans of the show, I was sad to see it end. Apart from its entertainment value, Mad Men tackled serious subjects such as identity, race relations and sexism. Reflecting on the […]
5 Little-Known Facts About Probate
We’ve all likely heard of probate. However, most of us probably aren’t aware of the intricacies involved in the court-supervised process for distributing the property of a deceased person. Keeping that in mind, here are five little-known facts about probate. It is avoidable. You can prevent your estate from ending up in probate court by […]
Top 3 Mistakes To Avoid In Your Estate Planning
So, you decided to do estate planning. Congratulations! You are doing the right thing to protect your loved ones if something happens to you. However, that’s just the first step. It’s critical that your documents be set up correctly in order to avoid future problems. With that in mind, let’s take a look The Top […]
“Understanding Estate Planning and Living Trusts” Public Seminar
Whether you have $20 million or just own a modest home and small bank account, everyone should have an estate plan. Wills, trusts, durable powers of attorney and medical directives protect your loved ones, ensure that your wishes are followed and ease the burden on the people to whom your assets pass down. Without these […]
Estate Planning Deficiencies Check-Up
Earlier this summer, I wrote about the importance of keeping your estate plan up to date. How do you know if your estate plan is up to date? In making this determination, there are several things you should think about. Here are a few of the key indicators. First, do you have a will or […]
White House Conference on Aging
Earlier this week, President Obama hosted the 2015 White House Conference on Aging. Experts as well as advocates for older adults and their families convened for the event, which has been held about once a decade since 1961. Among other things, attendees discussed a proposal to help states establish retirement savings programs for people whose […]