People who are creating an estate plan should make sure they don’t stay focused on the distribution of assets that they forget there are some other aspects of estate planning that they need to take manage. One of these is getting powers of attorney set. A power of...
3 misconceptions about estate planning
Sometimes people delay estate planning until they are facing imminent mortality. Others never get to it at all. If you are thinking about it now, when you are younger, that’s a very good first step. Estate planning requires time and attention. The earlier you begin,...
Protecting your child’s inheritance from a spouse in a divorce
Estate planning often requires people to think far into a future they can’t predict as they determine how their assets will be divided among loved ones. For many, that means considering in-laws that aren’t even in the picture yet – or maybe they are, and that’s the...
Should POD accounts be part of your estate plan?
If you use a will to distribute your assets, your bank accounts are going to enter your estate as soon as you pass away. These assets will then be distributed by the estate executor. If there is no will, the court may have to determine who is supposed to inherit your...
You can end a guardianship by restoring your competency
In North Carolina, those concerned about your mental state could take you to court. If they can prove that you lack the testamentary capacity to act in your own best interests, the courts may agree that you cannot handle your own legal, medical, and financial matters....
Pour-over wills: What are they, and why might you need one?
A pour-over will helps ensure all your assets are accounted for when you die. You should consider it if you make a trust the mainstay of your estate plan. Trusts provide you with a way to keep assets out of probate. Any property within the trust will pass to the...
The Fundamentals of Estate Planning and How an Attorney Can Help
Estate planning involves a lot of different factors. We cover some of the early considerations and fundamentals about how to get started with your plan for the future.
Making the most of a loved one’s memorial fund
When a loved one passes away, the family is often fortunate enough to be inundated with condolences and messages from the deceased person’s friends, colleagues, neighbors and others who knew them. They often want to pay their respects by giving something tangible in...
Making Swedish death cleaning part of estate planning
A few years back, the practice of “Swedish death cleaning” gained notoriety in this country. Despite the morbid connotation, people of all ages began embracing it to declutter their lives and homes. If you’re at the stage of life where you’re downsizing to a smaller...
Are you responsible for your company’s debts?
Part of starting your own company may be taking on a significant amount of debt. This could be used for real estate, supplies, technological needs, products and materials, research and development and much more. You're also going to incur more debt as you go if you're...