Compliments of Our Law Firm, By: The American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys What is "wealth?" Upon hearing this question, your thoughts might run first to material possessions: money, real estate, and other assets. However, when you really think about it, your true wealth is much more than just your accumulated assets. It encompasses the financial and the non-financial, and many people would argue that the most important elements of true wealth are all those things that don't show … [Read more...] about Leaving a Lasting Legacy

Compliments of Our Law Firm, By: The American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys One of the primary reasons for planning your estate is to make sure that your assets go where you want them to after you’ve passed away. If you’re a parent, it’s likely that you’ll want to use your estate plan to make sure your children are provided for. Many people choose to use their Will or their Living Trust to leave a lasting legacy to a favorite nonprofit or charitable cause. If you’re not careful, … [Read more...] about Estate Planning Without a Crystal Ball

Compliments of Our Law Firm, By: The American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys We love our pets. Each year, Americans spend billions upon billions of dollars to make sure that our dogs, cats, and assorted other animal friends are well taken care of. The American Pet Products Association estimates that in 2010, Americans spent more than $18 billion on pet food, more than $11 billion on medications and supplies, and more than $12 billion on veterinary care. Increasingly, pet owners … [Read more...] about Puppy Love: Planning Your Estate With a Pet Trust

Compliments of Our Law Firm, By: The American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys Deb was like most of the rest of us. She was responsible. She took care of herself and her family, got an eye exam once a year, and visited the dentist every six months. She also made sure that she had an estate plan in place and even reviewed and updated it regularly. Imagine her surprise when she discovered that the estate planning attorney she had relied on for the past ten years was retiring! It’s … [Read more...] about Help! My Attorney No Longer Practices Law

Compliments of Our Law Firm, By: The American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys The term “estate planning” calls to mind the process of creating a Will, establishing a Living Trust, or naming a Guardian for young children. One piece of the estate planning puzzle that might not be readily apparent, though, is insurance. When it comes to planning your estate, insurance in its many forms has an important role to play, both in allowing you to build and preserve wealth during your lifetime … [Read more...] about Planning Your Estate? Don’t Forget Insurance

Compliments of Our Law Firm, By: The American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys Most grandparents act as caregivers for their grandchildren to one degree or another. For some, it may be watching the little ones while mom and dad enjoy a much-needed evening out, while for others caring for grandchildren may be a long-term arrangement. According to data collected in the 2010 census, 4.9 million children under age eighteen live in grandparent-headed households. Most of these children … [Read more...] about Parenting Your Grandchildren? You Need a Solid Estate Plan

Compliments of Our Law Firm, By: The American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys At some point in our lives, we all dream of receiving an inheritance.  We envision buying a new car, finally being able to afford private schools for the kids, or maybe even taking a trip around the world.  But the reality of inheriting money or property often differs from our dreams. For one thing, an inheritance often comes with mixed emotions. After all, the money you’ve received comes as a result of … [Read more...] about What to Expect When You’re Inheriting

Compliments of Our Law Firm, By: The American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys Your parents were watching over you, smiling and encouraging, as you took your first tentative steps. As a teenager, they handed you the keys as you took the car out on your own for the first time. They were there with guidance and advice, sometimes requested and sometimes not, as you left childhood and navigated young adulthood. Now that your parents are entering their twilight years, they are the ones … [Read more...] about Helping Your Parents Through Their Twilight Years

Compliments of Our Law Firm, By: The American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys Picture this: at the end of your long, fulfilling life, surrounded by your extended, loving family, you say goodbye and peacefully leave this world. And then... your family declares war on each other. Suddenly, family members are unhappy with the contents of your estate plan, and old rifts between loved ones reopen, possibly never to heal. Where do the disagreements end? In litigation, where your estate is … [Read more...] about One Big Happy Family: How to Avoid an Estate Dispute

Compliments of Our Law Firm, By: The American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys "You may delay, but time will not," Benjamin Franklin. Everyone knows that they need an estate plan, but few of us do anything about it. In fact, according to a 2007 study, more than 55% of Americans don't even have a simple Will. And yet, the clock is ticking for all of us. So why don't more of us actually put together an estate plan? For some, it's a morbid fear that by thinking about death, we'll hasten … [Read more...] about 10 Essential Estate Planning Facts