My best friend (who is a legit big deal in the world of international finance), texted me the other day: “Hey! What do I need, a Will or a Trust?” Did you know that simply having a Last Will and Testament (“Will”) likely ends up with your estate being handled by a Court? (She did…
Continue reading…Category: Probate
Coronavirus Legal Advice: Get Your Business and Estate in Order Now
By H. Dennis Beaver for Kiplinger Click here to learn more and read more articles from the author. Estate planning attorneys are getting mobbed with questions. So, here is some timely advice from three attorneys on what families and business owners should be doing to prepare in case the unimaginable happens. The stock market has…
Continue reading…Don’t fall into the trap of a “Quick” and “Simple” Estate Plan!
Beware of “Simple” Estate Plans “I just need a simple will.” It’s a phrase estate planning attorney 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, what may appear to be a “simple” estate is all too often…
Continue reading…The Three Types of Lawyers to Consider for Your Estate Planning
Contrary to popular belief, all lawyers do not specialize in all areas of law! When it comes to estate planning, it is important to understand how “specialized” your legal representation is when handling your legacy. This week, I have broken down three types of representation common to the estate planning arena. #1 – “Jack of…
Continue reading…Why I’m Convinced that Estate Planning is a Women’s Issue
Estate planning is important for both sexes, but the pitfalls of failing to plan simply affect women, particularly mothers, much more than men– both in terms of raw numbers (we live longer) and the all-too-common female burden of carrying the entire family’s mental workload. As a group, the facts are: women live longer than men, earn less than…
Continue reading…6 Reasons Why Hiring an Estate Planning Lawyer Beats Doing-It-Yourself
DIY Will?? In the information age, you can pretty much learn how to do just about any household task- watch a video on YouTube to learn how to build a bookshelf, read one of the thousands of DIY blogs to learn how to install a sprinkler set, or refinish a dresser. With the almost unlimited…
Continue reading…Trust & Estate Planning FAQs with Tiffany Ballenger Floyd
Q: Isn’t Estate Planning Just for Rich People? A: NO!! Many people have preconceived notions about estate planning and believe that it is only necessary for multi-millionaires who wish to leave large trust funds to their children. However, this is far from the truth; an estate plan can be invaluable tools in the many people’s (not…
Continue reading…Worst-Case Scenario.
In March of 2017, a good friend of mine died tragically in a horrific car accident. She left behind her 9-year old twin daughters. The event had a massive effect on my life for several reasons. I have been fortunate enough to only ever have experienced the loss of my Great Grandparents & Grandparents, which…
Continue reading…4 Estate Planning Myths That Refuse To Die
By Ron Carson, Forbes, May 5, 2019 Link to Original Article Estate planning remains one of the most misunderstood areas of planning. Over the years, I’ve met with people who “only needed a financial plan, not an estate plan” or “didn’t need a financial plan, just some help with estate planning.” I’ve also met with…
Continue reading…What is Your Purpose?
Mortality is a bizarre concept to wrap your mind around. When I was 10 years old, my Grandfather suddenly passed away from a heart attack. I was faced with my first encounter with death. It led me to start addressing questions I had about mortality. At one point, I began to cry as the thought…
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