Estate Planning

One of the most important goals in estate planning is making sure that your assets are properly passed on to your loved ones.  While irrevocable trusts at first glance might seem like they involve too much control, when utilized in the correct manner, they can be a valuable tool in making sure that your estate […]

As much as we all try not to admit it, when a loved one passes away we often anticipate receiving some type of inheritance. In fact, conflicts and discord often erupt because of the way in which a decedent chose to dispose of his/her estate. It may surprise you then to find yourself in a […]

The Supreme Court recently issued a decision in a North Carolina case, which will likely have a limited but substantial impact on estate planning and tax-related issues.  The case in issue concerned North Carolina’s taxation of Kimberley Rice Kaestner’s 1992 Family Trust for more than $1.3 million between the years of 2005 to 2008. The […]

While your primary estate planning goal may be to ensure that your assets are distributed according to your wishes after your death, one of the most important secondary goals of any comprehensive estate plan should be to plan for how your assets will be managed in the event of your incapacity. To help encourage you […]

An appellate court in the case of Gonzalez v. City National Bank recently affirmed a probate court’s order that denied a plaintiff’s request after the death of plaintiff’s daughter that the remainder of a special needs trust be distributed to the plaintiff rather than the Department of Health Care Services.  The distribution was used as […]

Nobody likes talking about what will happen after their death. But it is a universal truth that every one of us will die at some time, which is why it is absolutely critical to create a funeral plan. One of the best ways to make sure that your loved ones have as easy a time […]

Sadly, elder abuse is a very real problem in the United States. Moreover, as the population of seniors continues to grow, so does the number of elder abuse cases. While physical abuse and neglect are the most well-known types of elder abuse, financial exploitation is actually the most common. In the State of Indiana, residents […]

For many individuals, retirement accounts are one of the largest assets that they have to pass on to loved ones throughout estate plan. Without the assistance of a knowledgeable estate planning professional, however, it is very common to make mistakes including with IRA’s.  In the hopes of helping you avoid future mistakes involving IRAs, this […]

When a family member passes away, the time period that follows is one filled with grief and a variety of other strong emotions. There are also a number of practical and legal steps that must be taken following a death. Among the most important of those is probating the decedent’s estate which begins with submitting […]

There are a number of myths that continue about exactly who needs an estate plan. For example, couples without high value assets can still benefit from estate plans. Another common myth is that a person who does not have children has no need for estate planning. In reality, it is critical for everyone to create […]

Many people are familiar with the concept of “power of attorney”, but less have an idea about these documents operate. A power of attorney is used to give one or more individual the power to act on your behalf or as your agent in case something happens to you. The powers granted through a power […]

Creating an estate plan typically requires you one to contemplate numerous inter-related goals and objectives at the same time. To achieve all those objectives, you may need to incorporate numerous estate planning tools and strategies into your estate plan. One of the most popular of those estate planning tools is a living trust. Once your […]

Most people are familiar with the concept of power of attorney even if they are not familiar with the various nuances associated with the estate planning process. Power of attorney allows a person to appoint another individual as an agent who will make financial and health care cases in cases the person who created the […]

As the elderly population in the United States continues to grow at an unprecedented rate, the need for caregivers for the elderly has also experienced a corresponding increase. Oftentimes, family members or close friends offer to provide care to an elderly individual without expecting payment for that care. If you are one of those caregivers, […]

Even after divorce, it is still important to get together with the people we love and value and the most. The families of divorced parents, however, discover that these events are often stressful and that there is a substantial chance negative emotions can get in the way. When former spouses are capable of working together […]

Starting a small business is a dream come true for many people. If you are hoping to realize the American dream of becoming an entrepreneur, planning ahead is the key to the long-term success of your business. This is especially true if you plan to pass the business down to the next generation. In fact, […]

As estate planning professionals, we encounter a number of situations and are very familiar with the most common types of estate planning errors that people make. No matter if these mistakes are the result of laziness or lack of care, errors in estate planning have the potential to create a number of substantial obstacles. For […]

When drafted properly, a well thought out estate plan can accomplish a number of inter-related goals. The estate planning process, however, is something that never really ends. Instead, your estate plan should evolve over time and grow along with you, your family, and your estate. As times goes by, you will likely find that you […]

The Idaho Supreme Court recently affirmed a court’s award of damages for unjust enrichment. The case, Turcott v. Estate of Clarence D. Bates, concerned a woman and her husband who spent a substantial amount of time and money making improvements for the woman’s father with the assumption that the woman would inherit half of the […]

You probably have a fairly good grasp on the concept of estate planning and the importance it plays in your life; however, you may be unfamiliar with the concept of legacy planning. Legacy planning lets you leave behind much more of who you are and what made you the person you are today. Once you […]