Blog - Page 38 of 39

Property Ownership and Your Estate Plan

Posted on June 25, 2013

Coordinating Property Ownership and Your Estate Plan When planning your estate, you must consider how you hold title to your real and personal property. The title and your designated beneficiaries will control how your real estate, bank accounts, retirement accounts, vehicles and investments...

Medicaid Asset Protection Trust

Posted on June 15, 2013

Estate Planning: The Medicaid Asset Protection Trust The irrevocable Medicaid Asset Protection Trust has proven to be a highly effective estate planning tool for many older Americans. There are many factors to consider when deciding whether a Medicaid Asset Protection Trust is right...

Bypass Trusts

Posted on June 5, 2013

Changing Uses for Bypass Trusts Every year, each individual who dies in the U.S. can leave a certain amount of money to his or her heirs before facing any federal estate taxes. For example, in 2010, a person who died could leave $3.5...

Buy-Sell Agreements and Your Small Business

Posted on May 25, 2013

Overview: Buy-Sell Agreements and Your Small Business If you co-own a business, you need a buy-sell agreement. Also called a buyout agreement, this document is essentially the business world’s equivalent of a prenup. An effective buy-sell agreement helps prevent conflict between the company’s...

Senior Citizens and Bankruptcy

Posted on May 15, 2013

Senior Citizens Comprise Growing Demographic of Bankruptcy Filers It’s called your “golden years” but for many seniors and baby boomers, there is no gold and retirement savings are too often insufficient to maintain even basic living standards of retirees. In fact, a recent...

Umbrella Insurance

Posted on April 25, 2013

Umbrella Insurance: What It Is and Why You Need It Lawsuits are everywhere. What happens when you are found to be at fault in an accident, and a significant judgment is entered against you? A child dives head-first into the shallow end of...

You’ve Finally Done Your Healthcare Directives – Now What?

Posted on April 15, 2013

You’ve Finally Done Your Healthcare Directives – Now What? Healthcare directives can be vitally important, as recent cases, like that of Terry Schiavo, clearly brought to light. These important documents can mean the difference between your health care wishes being carried out or...

Beware of “Simple” Estate Plans

Posted on April 5, 2013

Beware of “Simple” Estate Plans “I just need a simple will.” It’s a phrase estate planning attorneys hear practically every other day. From the client’s perspective, there’s no reason to do anything complicated, especially if it might lead to higher legal fees. Unfortunately,...

Family Business: Preserving Your Legacy

Posted on March 25, 2013

Family Business: Preserving Your Legacy for Generations to Come Your family-owned business is not just one of your most significant assets, it is also your legacy. Both must be protected by implementing a transition plan to arrange for transfer to your children or...

Overview of Life Estates

Posted on March 15, 2013

Overview of Life Estates Establishing a Life Estate is a relatively simple process in which you transfer your property to your children, while retaining your right to use and live in the property. Life Estates are used to avoid probate, maximize tax benefits...