The Basics of Naming a Power of Attorney The term “power of attorney” (POA) refers to a legal document that allows another person to make decisions on your behalf. These decisions can be related to finances, healthcare, personal matters or real estate. Naming a power of attorney is an important part of estate planning. It...Read More

There will be times in your life when it will be necessary to have someone else sign paperwork on your behalf. Thankfully, the law provides a safe legal way to do this through something called power of attorney. Let’s look at some of these circumstances and what can be done to meet your needs. Power...Read More

A comprehensive estate plan is important to create and update during all phases of life. It protects your assets from unwanted distribution in the event of your death and clarifies your wishes on crucial topics like healthcare, power of attorney and child guardianship. Protect the people you love and the money you’ve worked hard for...Read More

Protecting yourself and your assets is critical if you’re going through a divorce. In addition to making decisions about property division, custody, visitation arrangements, and spousal maintenance, it’s important that you update your estate plan to ensure that the future you face without your spouse is secure. Here are a few estate planning updates you...Read More

As the Baby Boomer generation ages, the number of “elder orphans”—those who have no mate or grown children—is increasing significantly. In fact, AARP reports that “more than 1 in 5 Americans older than 65 are—or are at risk of becoming—elder orphans.” In addition, they state that “23 percent of boomers will eventually be without family...Read More

It’s that time of year again. Thousands of parents are sending their kids off to college or to their first jobs after high school graduation. Many are looking at each other wondering where the time has gone and how the kids grew up so fast. And many wonder what to do next. While you adjust...Read More

Another long cold winter has come to an end, and spring is slowly emerging. You know what that means: it is time for spring cleaning! Many people find great joy in taking the opportunity to open up the house, dust, clean, vacuum, polish and de-clutter; others see it as a massive chore. Whether you revel...Read More

In the past, we have written about the importance of updating your estate plan as life changes. But an effective estate plan requires more than this. It requires a scheduled annual review with your lawyer. The Annual Review: What’s Involved When you meet with your lawyer for your estate plan’s annual checkup, you will likely...Read More

Creating a comprehensive estate plan is only the beginning of the estate planning process. Every so often, a life event will require you to review and revise your estate plan to keep it current. Here are the top four events that will likely trigger major updates to your plan. When Should I Revisit My Estate...Read More

If something happened to you, would your loved ones know what to do? Many people think that they’re prepared for the unexpected just because they have a will. But a complete estate plan—one that provides needed guidance to your family and friends—is much more than just a will. Depending on your needs, your estate plan...Read More