Domestic Partnership Estate Planning
According to a recent article in the New York Times, the topic of marriage and family is still being hotly debated in our country. Although some states have granted same sex couples the option to choose a “civil union” or “domestic partnership” status, many couples say it isn’t enough. Because they cannot use the term […]
Read more Ledger Tragedy Amplified by Outdated Will
According to this article by the Associated Press, the tragic death of actor Heath Ledger is followed by the further tragedy of a Will that was filed in Australia in 2003 and never updated to provide for his 2 year old daughter with actress Michelle Williams. The entirety of Ledger’s estate is instead left to […]
Read more Change Is In the Air for Estate Tax Law
It was Benjamin Franklin who said, in the late 1700s, that “in this world nothing is certain but death and taxes”; but in 2008 nothing is less certain than death taxes, a situation that the U.S. Senate is trying to remedy. In 2001, President George W. Bush introduced a tax cut that would gradually reduce […]
Read more Protect Yourself From Elder Financial Abuse
“When I was younger, I could remember anything, whether it had happened or not; but my faculties are decaying now and soon I shall be so I cannot remember any but the things that never happened. It is sad to go to pieces like this but we all have to do it.” ~Mark Twain Mark […]
Read more Leave a Lasting Legacy
Daylight Saving Time has come around again, and most Americans lost an hour Sunday morning as they set their clocks forward. As a twice-yearly, reliable institution, Daylight Saving Time is a good time to take a moment to examine parts of our lives that we may not normally consider during the day-to-day grind. This weekend […]
Read more Pass On Your Values
Most of us would like to think we’re leaving behind more than just money when we pass away. We’d like to think we’ve impressed our values upon our children and grandchildren as well, giving them a foundation of knowledge and belief to serve them when we are no longer here. The good news is that […]
Read more Brevity Is Not Always Best
Most people are shocked when they see the sheer volume of paper in a truly well-prepared estate plan. A trust by itself can be over sixty or seventy pages. Add to that the other 6 to 16 documents you’ll want to execute (depending on your family situation) and you can find yourself signing a mountain of paperwork […]
Read more Protecting Your IRA
Most people know how important a Retirement Account is in planning for their own future and for the future of their dependents and invest in them accordingly. What people might not know, however, is how difficult it can be to navigate through the numerous IRS rules and regulations when the time comes to enjoy the […]
Read more Choosing Your Health Care Agent
In keeping with this week’s theme of health related issues, we will close with a discussion of what is arguably the most important part of your health care planning; the role of health care agent. Cicero said “In nothing do men more nearly approach the Gods than in giving health to men,” a quote which […]
Read more The Patient Bill of Rights
In Monday’s blog post we discussed the effect Google’s medical online storage service could have on your privacy. Today we will continue our discussion on health care issues by looking at the Patient Bill of Rights. Most people are unfamiliar with the rights they have. You may have heard the term bandied about and know that such a […]
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