Seven Common Oversights in Estate Planning
Natural disasters, like Covid 19, are not something we can plan for; they happen at the whim of the environment. However, in the work that I do with our elder law and special needs team, I have learned that there are definitely things that can be planned for so that our...
Securing Your Pet’s Future with Estate Planning
Have you thought about what would happen to your pet in the event of your death or incapacity? Approximately two-thirds of American households own a pet, and while we have many people in our busy lives, our pets have only us. Pet owners often lament that beloved animal companions don’t live...
The Importance of Keeping Your Beneficiary Designations Up-To-Date
The bulk of inheritances left to loved ones are usually not held in bank accounts, cars, and other tangible assets. Rather, they are tied up in retirement accounts (such as an IRA, SEP, 401(k) or 403(b)), life insurance policies, annuities, or employee benefit plans or stock options. A will does not...
Steps to Take in Advance of Death or Disability
No one wants to face the fact that our loved ones will not be with us forever. Facing our own mortality is frightening as well. Although none of us wants to contemplate a time when we or a loved one might become disabled or die, it is important to be prepared....
Getting Divorced? Don’t Forget to Update your Estate Plan
Why do estate planning documents need to be updated when a couple is getting divorced? This simple story illustrates one of the key reasons.
An Arizona couple had been married for several years and during their marriage had built a very successful, multi-million-dollar business together. Perhaps they...
What Is the Difference Between Estate Planning and Elder Law?
Elder law and estate planning law are terms that are often used interchangeably, with people mistakenly referring to both as the exact same thing. However, while elder law and estate planning law may – and often do – go hand-in-hand, the two areas of law have some noteworthy distinctions. Depending upon...
What Not to Neglect in Your Estate Plan
An estate plan refers to a comprehensive set of legal documents that are designed to address how your estate is to be managed when you are no longer able to make decisions, either as a result of an incapacitating illness or death. While creating an estate plan requires thinking about one’s...
The Importance of Incapacity Planning for You and Your Family
Most people know that creating an estate plan that addresses what will happen to your assets, property, and minor children in the event that you die is very important. However, fewer people address the significance and importance of incapacity planning, despite the fact that incapacity planning is equally as critical. At...
Reverse Mortgages and Your Heirs
A reverse mortgage is a non-recourse loan that is available for homeowners who are at least 62-years of age. Homeowners with equity may be able to take a loan on the home’s equity without any obligation to pay it back during their lifetime, as long as they continue to live in...
The Different Ways to Own Real Estate With Other People
In a TIC, each owner has a percentage interest in the property, which does not have to be an equal interest. For instance, one...