The Medicaid Squeeze Can Be Reversed
The Medicaid Squeeze The intricate maze of Medicaid Planning confuses even seasoned professionals if they don’t focus on this type of planning in their daily practice, and it’s easy to find differing opinions. Accountants cringe when told to liquidate an IRA because they’re used to minimizing taxes. Bankers gasp when told to liquidate or just […]
The Annual Trust Tune-Up
The Annual Revocable Living Trust Tune-Up A revocable living trust can be one of the best, most effective ways to plan a coordinated estate strategy to avoid probate. However, this type of planning requires some maintenance to make sure your trust is doing everything it can. Too often, people with revocable living trusts go years, […]
Preview of “Estate Planning Basics” Audiobook
The keystone to our law office’s estate planning process is my book Estate Planning Basics, provided as required reading for every Estate Strategy Session with clients wishing to discuss their estate planning goals. That in combination with filling out a basic questionnaire means our clients don’t waste our valuable time together with me transcribing names, […]
I’m Moving Out of State… Is My Trust Still Good?
I’m Moving Out Of State “Is my trust still good?” I get this question all the time when clients move to my state of North Carolina, or when my clients are moving to other states. The question really is “Do I need to update my estate plan?” In this video, I cover the checklist process […]
Should A Law Firm Be Your Trustee?
This is actually a question that came up in a Reddit Format, so we’re going to go ahead and go through the question and some of the comments. Executor and Alternate Trustee – “We’re working with a law firm to create a living trust. We are having a hard time choosing an executor and alternate trustee. […]
Declare Independence From Probate
I wrote this blog back on Independence Day, but I wanted to share it with everyone. I Want You to Declare Independence From Probate I know it sounds like a stretch to compare our country’s independence to estate planning, but hear me out on this. In 1776, our colonial leaders decided they didn’t want government […]
Who Should Be Your Trustee?
And The One Thing You Should NEVER Do One of the most important estate planning items on your checklist is choosing the right trustees to handle things if you become incapacitated or pass on. But how do you go about choosing them? Should you pick an attorney? Your children? Your best friend? I go through […]
Will Bank Honor Pre-Arranged Payments After Death?
Pre-Arranged Payments – Simple Solution It seems like there should be a simple solution, but often the simplest solutions have the most complex ramifications and pitfalls. In this blog, I review two posts from Reddit about different options to make sure critical transfers or payments from an account will continue even after death. But can […]
Joint vs Individual Trusts for a Couple
The Pro-Con Checklist for What’s Right for YOUR Situation This happens quite frequently when couple-clients move to the area, ask to meet with me about updating their current estate plan… and they have two trusts. Or when meeting with clients who want to avoid probate for their estate, but are just starting to learn about […]
They Passed, But I Need To Get Into Their Bank Account
The situation is extremely typical among people who haven’t had to deal with a probate estate before, and my office gets these initial calls all the time. “So-and-so passed on, I need to get control of their checking account, but the bank said I need Letters Testamentary. Can you type those up for me?” Unfortunately, […]