Estate Planning

After a traumatic event like a car accident, fall, or other medical emergency, an estate plan is probably the last thing on your mind. Understandably, dealing with a serious injury usually takes priority. But those dire initial moments can suddenly change your ability to make decisions, take care of yourself, or manage your finances. Many…

Whether we all have created one or not, we all know the importance of a will. If there is no will put in place, it can leave many questions for your survivors to handle. However, even if a will has been drafted, there may be situations that we have not considered. Maybe your loved one…

You can have either a legal power of attorney or a medical power of attorney — or both — and the goal is just to choose an agent. When you are unable to make medical or legal decisions on your own, perhaps due to declining health, your agent can do it for you.  This is…

Quite a few people will tell you that you can’t put off estate planning anymore once you become a parent. You might think that the main concern is providing financial resources for your children or reviewing your life insurance policy. However, the issue that parents most desperately need to address in their estate plans is…

You served as a referee for your children for years while you raised them and continued to do so when they were adults. Sigh. Now, you know that you will have to do the same from the grave. And you will have to accomplish this through clear directives in your will. With a lifetime of…

During the occasional neighborhood discussions, the subject of estate planning surfaces. You have a will and are content to know that you are prepared and have put your estate in order for your loved ones. You seem to be all set, and you tell your neighbors so, even though you created your will 15 years…

Estate planning covers many aspects of your future, not just what to do with your assets after you pass away. It’s more than simply writing a will. One of the documents that you may want to use in your plans is a medical power of attorney. Not everyone has one, but you should be aware…

If you’re a parent, the time to do your estate planning is right now. Many people who put it off will say that they’re still too young. They may be in their 20s or 30s and, despite having a new child, they assume they won’t have to pass any assets to that child for another…

If you have a life insurance policy, it represents a significant asset that your heirs can use, despite the fact that you don’t have the money on hand at the time. While doing your estate planning, remember to consider how any insurance policies you may have will eventually fit into the scheme of things. Because…

If there is one thing that is practically guaranteed in life, it’s that there is no way to predict when you’ll get hurt, fall ill or pass away. For that reason, it’s important to have an estate plan in place. Terminal illnesses create an immediate need to start an estate plan if you don’t already…