ARTICLES

Year-End Estate Planning Checklist

Year-End Estate Planning Checklist

With new year fast approaching, now is a good time to review your estate plan to make sure it still reflects your values and wishes. The following are important items to reflect on as you create your year-end to-do list. Estate planning checklist Make sure the funding of your revocable trust is complete. This re-titling...
When is Probate Necessary?

When is Probate Necessary?

The loss of a loved one is one of the most difficult things to go through in life. After the grief subsides, deciding if the person’s estate must be probated is confusing, time consuming and expensive. Avoiding probate will move the estate distribution much faster to the heirs, so many often wonder if probate is...
Where Do I Store My Legal Documents?

Where Do I Store My Legal Documents?

When thinking about where to store your important legal documents, a lot of people’s first thoughts are, “I’ll put them in my safe deposit box!” Though that is a good place to safely store some items, safe deposit boxes are not usually a good place for your legal documents. Safe deposit boxes are only accessible...
It’s That Time of Year – Medicare Open Enrollment

It’s That Time of Year – Medicare Open Enrollment

Whether you are new to Medicare or have received benefits before, it is important to understand and take advantage of the Open Enrollment period to make changes for your 2022 coverage. If you are already enrolled in Original Medicare, a Medicare Advantage Plan or Medicare Part D and do not want to make any changes...
7 Reasons to Update Your Estate Plan

7 Reasons to Update Your Estate Plan

We sometimes view estate planning as a one and done proposition.  Keep in mind, our lives change and so must our plans. If it has been several years or more since you have signed your estate planning documents, then it is possible that the plan won’t achieve your goals.  Periodically reviewing your plan with an...
Should I Disinherit My Child?

Should I Disinherit My Child?

In most families, parents choose to leave their estate equally to their children. But sometimes, parents intentionally choose to disinherit a child and cut them out of their estate completely. You may have, what you believe to be legitimate reason to do this: one child is more financially successful than the others; not wanting a...
Why Do Trusts Sometimes Fail?

Why Do Trusts Sometimes Fail?

Trusts can be great estate planning tools to protect assets, avoiding probate, saving legal costs and a whole host of other reasons.  But did you know many Trusts fail?  This is probably not something you want to hear after the time, effort, and expense you put into creating the Trust.  But it’s true.  Trusts can...
When a Parent has Alzheimer’s – Part 1: When Signs First Appear

When a Parent has Alzheimer’s – Part 1: When Signs First Appear

Imagine for a moment a parent who has cared for you, was the best teacher you ever had in life, was an example as to how to be a spouse/parent to your own family, was self-reliant and never asked for any help.  Today she cannot take care of herself or even recognize who you are. ...
Flying Solo: Life Plans for Solo Agers

Nurse Attorney Cathleen Summers talks to solo agers about the importance of reaching out to others and creating a life plan so you don’t feel lonely or isolated. Introduction 1:07 – Statistics of Solo Agers 2:30 – What a Life Plan is and what it covers 5:00 – Health & health care issues 8:50 –...

Make MultiGenerational Living a Success for Your Family

In this webinar, recorded on July 28, 2020, Nurse Attorney Cathleen Summers and Attorney Phil Summers discuss the commonly asked legal questions regarding aging parents moving in with their adult child or having an adult child move in with the aging parents. In order for you to easily access the information contained in this video,...