Many clients frequently come to me and ask if they should have a trust. Sometimes they are not even sure what a trust is and, more often than not, they do not understand how a trust works.
Although my mother always told me to never answer a question with a question (sorry mom!), my initial response is a question – what are you looking to accomplish by having a trust?
A “life estate” is an ownership interest that a person retains in real property while transferring a remainder interest to one or more individuals.
Life estates are sometimes used as a planning technique by individuals who wish to safeguard their residence or other real estate.
On a daily basis, there are numerous things we take for granted. We take for granted that we have food on our table, clothes on our backs, that the US is not a war zone and that our loved ones…
Many clients ask the question, “When should I update my estate plan?” The answer is usually whenever something big happens in your life. All too often, clients execute a Durable Power of Attorney, a Health Care Proxy, a Living Will,…
A timeshare is a property owned with others with certain rights to use the property. For example, this may be the right to use a vacation condominium one week out of the year, every year. Most timeshares are real property…
If you have been through a divorce and find yourself at the threshold of marriage again, before you say “I Do” there are many decisions to be made. One that shouldn’t be overlooked is modifying your estate plan. Second marriages…
When a loved one is diagnosed with a life-ending illness, many thoughts and emotions flood your mind. Common thoughts at this moment are “I’m not ready for this”, “I need more time” and “why is this happening”. The harsh truth…
As a parent, we would like to be able to provide for our children in our lifetime as well as when we are no longer here. However, if you are the parent of a child with special needs, the importance…
People often realize that making an estate plan is important, yet don't know where to begin. They may have heard advice from their next door neighbor or on the internet and don't have a qualified source to ask if the information they…
A durable power of attorney is one of the most important estate planning documents and can save your family (and you) from problems and expenses if you become unable to handle your own affairs as a result of illness or…