According to Caring.com, the prevalence of wills and estate planning has been on the decline since 2017 but this trend is quickly reversing itself in 2020. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic the number of Americans rushing to set up wills and end-of-life directives online has exploded. In particular, many doctors and other medical […]
For most Americans, a retirement account (IRA, 401k, 403b), is the largest asset they will own when they pass away. A new law that went into effect January 1, 2020 increases the tax burden on most retirement account beneficiaries. First, the good news: The SECURE Act (Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement), increases the […]
Do I Need a Trust? You may have a disabled child and want to permit that child to inherit without losing government benefits. Or perhaps your or your spouse’s health is declining and you foresee eventually needing long-term care benefits. Or, you might be in the classic “trust fund” situation, where you’re concerned that your […]
You are a caregiver to your parent, but you live 4 hours away and can’t be there to help with everyday activities. Technology can help, but only if you and your parent(s) are able to understand and use it effectively. Each year in Las Vegas the Consumer Electronics Show rolls out new and innovative technology […]
A durable power of attorney is one of the most important estate planning documents you can have. It allows someone you appoint (your agent) to make decisions on your behalf in the event you become incapacitated. If you have not appointed an agent then your friends and family may not have the authority to make […]
There are 58 million Americans five years of age or older that are identified as special needs making them the largest single minority in this country. The majority of federal and state benefits available to help persons with disabilities are needs-based, meaning income and assets are strictly limited and can often be misunderstood or misinterpreted, […]
Chances are, you or someone you know is part of a blended family. Once uncommon, fully 42 percent of adults now have some kind of step-relationship, according to Pew Research. That’s 95.5 million people. For the millions of divorced, widowed, and remarried Americans out there, estate planning is extra tricky. In a blended family situation, […]
Increasingly, attorneys encounter the following situations: Seniors come to us, often brought by their children or children-in-law, when mental incapacity has set in, and although they have family members who are willing and able to take care of them, the seniors do not have the necessary delegation documents in place to empower these helpers as […]
Divorce is never easy, but the divorce of a long-married couple can be especially hard, particularly when it comes to retirement and estate plans. Assets, including retirement accounts, can be hard to divide, and the presence of children—and possibly grandchildren—can require the wholesale revision of existing estate plans. If you’re divorcing or moving on to […]
Most adults have at least one account, investment, or other financial instrument that has a beneficiary designation. Common examples are: bank accounts, retirement accounts, and insurance policies. On the surface, this type of estate planning may seem simple–all you have to do is fill in the blank with a person or entity’s name. Perhaps due […]
What’s going to happen to your Facebook account when you die? Or all the songs you’ve downloaded from iTunes? According to a 2013 McAfee study, the average person has roughly $35,000 worth of assets stored on digital devices. That includes personal records such as photographs, videos, hobbies and career information, as well as purchased movies, […]
Long term care (LTC) covers a variety of services to support the medical and non-medical needs of individuals who are unable to care for themselves over an extended time period. It is a highly individualized care system that can be provided formally—by an institution—or informally. Institutions providing long term care are known by various names […]
More than 120 million Americans do not have proper estate plans in place. An estate plan, properly executed, can protect you as well as your family in the event of sickness, accidents or untimely death. With just a little advance planning, you can help your family avoid wasted dollars and unnecessary hardship. If you do […]
One of the greatest concerns for the elderly we serve and their families is that of long term care. Two-thirds of seniors will need care at some point in their life and many have not planned for this likelihood. It is an emotional and unpleasant topic to broach, but helping those we serve to plan […]
There may come a time when your parent is no longer safe living at home due to physical or emotional/social concerns. Instead of moving Mom or Dad to an assisted living or nursing home, in-home care can provide a solution that makes everyone happy— your parent can stay at home in familiar surroundings and you […]
Many clients are curious about the living trust as an estate planning tool. Often they have heard about it from friends and relatives, but don’t fully understand how it operates or whether it is right for them. The following article from Estate Planning.com summarizes the many advantages of the living trust over the traditional will, […]