Nobody wants to think of our parents or other loved ones coming to an age where they can no longer make wise decisions or care for themselves. We often think of our parents as all knowing. For many of us, our parents are the people we contact when we need advice, a safe place to […]
Back in the “old days”, before we had electronic devices and digital cameras, a person’s last wishes included all of their personal property. That may have included a box or two of photos of family and friends. Every family has a unique dynamic and a different person who emerges as the family historian or family […]
In this line of work, we often use examples to illustrate the differences in terminology. Wills, estates, living wills, powers of attorney and more are terms we use in our office all day long but these are confusing to our clients. For the purposes of this article (and many more), we will use scenarios to […]
Do a quick search online of “create a will” or “do it yourself will” and you will quickly find a large amount of options for you to create your own last will and testament. This is not a new thing. These have been around for a number of years. They were once only offered by […]
We often receive questions from clients about do-it-yourself wills or online wills. While there are many reasons that you should seek out the advice of a trusted and experienced estate lawyer to help create your will, here is a scenario that is far too common. As you will see, there will ultimately be two wills […]
A basis adjustment also called a step-up in basis has been a cornerstone of many estate plans throughout the years. Let us take a look at what a basis adjustment is, how it works, and some recent news about its possible demise. To begin with, the basis is a tax term and is the amount that someone […]
Medicare… While most of us do not aspire to spend our golden years in a nursing home, this fate often becomes our reality. For families in this situation, the question turns to, “how are we going to pay for this?” Many clients believe Medicare will pay for it. The truth is it is complicated. Medicare […]
By. Jason R. Ebacher, Esq. One of the toughest decisions my clients have when thinking about their wills, powers of attorney, health care proxies and other estate documents is deciding whom to appoint as their agent within those documents. The agent (or executor or personal representative in a will) is the person who acts on […]
As with estate planning, divorce is another topic that no one wants to discuss; however, for many of us, it becomes necessary. If you are separated from your spouse, filing for divorce, or even just contemplating it – you are going to need more than just a divorce attorney. You need to visit with an […]
Do you have a critical information binder to leave not only for your pets but for your children too? I recently had a client who was having surgery and was leaving her pets in the care of some friends. She left extensive instructions about what her pets eat, what they are allergic to, who their […]
