Getting ready for estate planning requires you to not only gather the right documents, but also to create a list of what you want, to determine your expectations, and to be ready to answer important questions during the estate planning process. To ensure you are ready at your estate planning appointment with your attorney, ask for a checklist of...
Continue ReadingA common question asked is how much estate planning will cost. Unfortunately, this is not easily answered by any attorney. Numerous factors play into the cost. Not only do attorneys have set rates and hourly fees that vary, but then there are those factors that can increase the complexity of an estate plan and cost more. Instead of scouring...
Continue ReadingToday we are in a do-it-yourself society. You fix your plumbing. You perform your vehicle maintenance. You might even self-diagnose on the web versus visiting a doctor when you’re feeling unwell. While there are some things you could do yourself, legal paperwork is not one of them. You might find yourself tempted to write your will and have it...
Continue ReadingA will might be part of an estate plan, but it is not estate planning. All too often these terms are used synonymously, but in reality, they are quite different from one another. A will is a single drafted legal document, while estate planning dives deeper with multiple documents to protect your estate and your loved ones. Wills and...
Continue ReadingWe live in the digital era. Most of your assets are online, including your bank accounts, social media, and personal data. If you think that you do not need digital estate planning, then you may want to consider just how much of your life and assets are online and stored in computers – not in physical form. Digital estate...
Continue ReadingConsider how much information you keep on your social media profile before dismissing the idea of including it as part of your estate. Adding it to your estate plan could ensure that the right family member controls those photos, fond memories, and even videos that would be lost forever if no one inherits them. If you are active on...
Continue ReadingWhether you are getting married now or you are considering it, you must set up protections for your assets in your second marriage. Otherwise, you could have assets go to the wrong family members, which only creates more issues for the loved ones you leave behind. First of all, even if you have not officially tied the knot, you...
Continue ReadingOne of the first things you and your soon-to-be spouse think of after getting engaged is planning the wedding and how your future will be with one another. Most likely, the last thing on your mind is your estate plan. However, an estate plan is critical when a significant life change happens – such as getting married. Whether you...
Continue ReadingToday, you can do almost anything online. You can open a bank account, start a retirement, open a business, and more. With the plethora of do-it-yourself websites out there and articles showing you the steps, you might assume that you can create your estate plan using one of these sites and save yourself thousands. Unfortunately, estate planning is not...
Continue ReadingIf you have a family business or started a company that you would like to keep in the family after you pass away, you need to create a succession plan. Even if you wish to sell that business, speaking with an estate planning attorney about your business’s future is critical – and you can incorporate your business succession plan...
Continue ReadingIt is not uncommon to find a client that has property in multiple states. Usually, it involves an individual or couple that has their primary home here in New York but a vacation home elsewhere else in the country. Whether you have a vacation home in Florida for the warm summers or a snow-ready cottage in the mountains of...
Continue ReadingCreating an estate plan as a senior requires a more complex approach than someone in their 20s – including specific steps you must take to protect yourself. No one sets out thinking about mortality. But eventually, you will come to the point where addressing your mortality is critical for yourself and your loved ones. Ideally, you should start estate...
Continue ReadingMost people assume that it is natural to lose the ability to remember things as they get older. While memory loss does happen as part of the aging process, the intensity and how it affects you depends on the person and type of memory affected. Also, not all memory loss is part of dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease. However, a...
Continue ReadingYou have a parent suffering from dementia, and now you are left wondering what you can do to protect their health, happiness, and their finances. A person who has dementia relies heavily on their adult children, and they need someone who can make the critical financial and healthcare decisions on their behalf that are in their best interest. While...
Continue ReadingRetirement accounts are there to provide you with income and financial freedom. While the money is yours, what you can and cannot do with that money is regulated by state and federal tax laws. It is imperative for anyone new to retirement accounts, and those with active accounts, to understand these laws. Failure to comply could result in penalties...
Continue ReadingWhen most people plan to distribute their property at death, they think of a simple last will and testament. At death, the will goes through a legal process known as probate. The probate process is public, with the executor’s actions reviewed by the probate court. In most cases, the process takes several months; problems can turn the timeline into...
Continue ReadingWe are all going to get old. By planning accordingly, we can assure that our golden years are worry-free, at least in some aspects, and that our children will know exactly what our wishes are. Finances Ideally, your retirement plan for your old age should begin well before you’re considered old. The best-case scenario would involve being able to...
Continue ReadingInheritance can be a tricky subject. Dealing with inheritance issues is often unexpected, and surviving family members may not have a solid grasp of how the process works or who gets what. Some family members may be expecting a huge windfall upon a relative’s death, while others may be worried that they will get nothing. The following guidelines are...
Continue ReadingMost of the time, a guardian is someone who is appointed to take care of a minor child. In some instances, a guardian may also be responsible for taking care of an adult-aged person who is incapable of taking care of himself or herself. Additionally, the guardian is also responsible for handling the person’s assets. Sometimes, the guardian may...
Continue ReadingPlanning an estate can be stressful. What is often worse, though, is the state that the living family is left in after you pass. If your estate is not carefully divided, a family can quickly turn on itself. These five tips can help to save you from family turmoil: 1. Meet with an Attorney A few wrong words can...
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