I’m talking about Advanced Directives with Deborah Kaminetzky on the most recent Ag Law Today podcast. So many people focus on Last Will and Testaments instead of Powers of Attorneys and Health Care Proxies, which are arguably MORE important. Deborah is amazing.. she hand held me through my first divorce and was a great mentor to me. Don’t miss this …
With 2019 right around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about your new year’s resolutions. It doesn’t matter whether you have an estate plan or don’t, one important item to add to your list is getting an estate plan checkup. Don’t Have an Estate Plan? If you don’t already have an estate plan, then getting one in place should …
There are several parts to an estate plan, one of them being a living trust. Common factors that prompt someone to create a trust include privacy, tax benefits, avoiding probate, and caring for family members with special needs. Estate planning also lets you dictate how your assets will pass on to future generations after your death. Avoiding Probate One of …
As a new mother, you naturally want to ensure your new baby’s future in every way. For many new mothers, infancy is a time for celebrating new life, and making a will is the last thing on their minds. For others, the process of bringing new life into the world sparks intense feelings of wanting control and needing organization. Regardless …
Most Americans do not have a simple will as part of their estate plan. You might believe that a will is only for the rich and famous, and not the average person who has a far smaller net worth. On the other hand, you may think that a will is entirely unnecessary since you have a trust, jointly owned property, …
There is a common misconception that estate plans are only for the ultra-rich – the top 1 percent, 10%, 20%, or some other arbitrary determination of “enough” money. In reality, nothing could be further from the truth. People at all income and wealth levels can benefit from a comprehensive estate plan. Sadly, many have not sat down to put their …
There are two issues many people prefer to avoid thinking about: death and debt. Unfortunately, both of these seems to be inevitable. Student loan debt is a part of life nowadays, particular for students obtaining advanced or professional degrees. As of 2017, the total national student debt is now over $1.4 trillion with college students graduating with an average of …
We know it’s hard. Thinking about someone else raising your children stops us all in our tracks. It feels crushing and too horrific to consider. But you must. If you don’t, a stranger will determine who raises your children if something happens to you – your child’s guardian could be a relative you despise or even a stranger you’ve never …
This presentation will be given to the Illinois Beef Association this Thursday in Galina, Illinois, at its annual meeting. It discusses the differences between estate planning, succession planning and business planning. Then it delves into the Who, What, When, Where, How and How Much. It too discusses how to have those difficult conversations and using mediation in this process. [slideshare …
Most people think a Health Care Proxy and Living Will are the same thing and you only need to create one. In New York, a Living Will is not a legal document, but it is still best to have these two documents drafted so that they can be interpreted in conjunction with each other. The best advice I can give …