Knowledge is Powerful

Living Trusts & Probate Avoidance You want your money and property to go to your loved ones when you die, not to the courts, lawyers or the government. Unfortunately, unless you’ve taken proper...

Healthcare directives can be vitally important, as recent cases, like that of Terry Schiavo, clearly brought to light. These important documents can mean the difference between your health care...

An executor is the person designated in a Will as the individual who is responsible for performing a number of tasks necessary to wind down the decedent’s affairs. Generally, the executor’s...

Veterans’ Non-Service Connected Pension Benefits The Veterans’ Administration’s non-service connected pension program can help supplement the income of elderly or disabled veterans. The VA deems...

Utilizing Family Limited Partnerships as Part of Your Estate Plan Designed to preserve family businesses for future generations, Family Limited Partnerships (FLPs) and Family Limited Liability...

Lawsuits are everywhere. What happens when you are found to be at fault in an accident, and a significant judgment is entered against you? A child dives head-first into the shallow end of your...

In planning your estate, you most likely have concerned yourself with “big picture” issues. Who inherits what? Do I need a living trust? However, there are numerous details that are often...

Estate Planning: The Medicaid Asset Protection Trust The irrevocable Medicaid Asset Protection Trust has proven to be a highly effective estate planning tool for many older Americans. There are...

Most people are aware that probate should be avoided if at all possible. It is an expensive, time-consuming process that exposes your family’s private matters to public scrutiny via the judicial...

Important Issues to Consider When Setting Up Your Estate Plan Often estate planning focuses on the “big picture” issues, such as who gets what, whether a living trust should be created to avoid...

Senior Citizens Comprise Growing Demographic of Bankruptcy Filers It’s called your “golden years” but for many seniors and baby boomers, there is no gold and retirement savings are too often...

For many Americans, retirement accounts comprise a substantial portion of their wealth. When planning your estate, it is important to consider the ramifications of tax-deferred retirement accounts,...

You are purchasing a home, and the escrow officer asks, “How do you want to hold title to the property?” In the context of your overall home purchase, this may seem like a small, inconsequential...

Establishing a Life Estate is a relatively simple process in which you transfer your property to your children, while retaining your right to use and live in the property. Life Estates are used to...

Medicare vs. Medicaid: Similarities and Differences With such similar sounding names, many Americans mistake Medicare and Medicaid programs for one another, or presume the programs are as similar...

Creating a Will is not a one-time event. You should review your will periodically, to ensure it is up to date, and make necessary changes if your personal situation, or that of your executor or...

Joint Bank Accounts and Medicaid Eligibility Like most governmental benefit programs, there are many myths surrounding Medicaid and eligibility for benefits. One of the most common myths is the...

Many grandparents who are financially stable love the idea of making gifts to their grandchildren. However, they are usually not aware of the myriad of issues that surround what they may consider...

How Much of Your Estate Will Be Left Out of Your Will? (It’s Probably More Than You Think) You’ve hired an attorney to draft your will, inventoried all of your assets, and have given copies of...

Common Estate Planning Myths Estate planning is a powerful tool that among other things, enables you to direct exactly how your assets will be handled upon your death or disability. A well-crafted...

Preparing for the future is an uncertain business, but there are steps you can take during your lifetime to simplify matters for your loved ones after you pass, and to ensure your final wishes are...

Many people are confused by advance directives. They are unsure what type of directives are out there, and whether they even need directives at all, especially if they are young. There are several...

The recent economic recession, and staggering increases in health care costs have left millions of Americans facing incredible losses and mounting debt in their final years. Are you concerned that,...

When planning your estate, you must consider how you hold title to your real and personal property. The title and your designated beneficiaries will control how your real estate, bank accounts,...

The recent proliferation of online estate planning document services has attracted many do-it-yourselfers who are lured in by what appears to be a low-cost solution. However, this focus on price...

Charitable Giving Many people give to charity during their lives, but unfortunately too few Americans take advantage of the benefits of incorporating charitable giving into their estate plans. By...

Every year, each individual who dies in the U.S. can leave a certain amount of money to his or her heirs before facing any federal estate taxes. For example, in 2010, a person who died could leave...

“I just need a simple will.”  It’s a phrase estate planning attorneys hear practically every other day.   From the client’s perspective, there’s no reason to do anything complicated, especially if...

Avoid Family Feuds through Proper Estate Planning A family feud over an inheritance is not a game and there is no prize package at the end of the show. Rather, disputes over who gets your property...

A Living Will or Health Care Power of Attorney? Or Do I Need Both? Many people are confused by these two important estate planning documents. It’s important to understand the functions of each and...