Monthly Archives: September 2021
Congratulations, Homeowners, You Already Have An Important Element Of Your Estate Plan
The two feelings that tend to motivate people to get started on their estate plan are the awareness of their mortality (thank you, junk mail from the AARP) and feelings of financial security. The first step in estate planning is to acknowledge that your time on Earth and your financial resources are finite. If… Read More »
Be Specific When Indicating Who Should Become Your Guardian If And When You Need One
There is more than one way to interpret the statement that estate planning is about planning for life, not just planning for death. The websites of estate planning law firms call to mind the optimistic interpretation, where you and your spouse enjoy your retirement years in good health and give generous gifts to your… Read More »
Heed The Sweet Song Of Lady Bird Deeds
Estate planning begins with a honeymoon period of design thinking about the ways that you can use your money to make yourself and others happy. After that phase ends, though, and you get into details about how much everything will cost, it is easy to get mired in pessimism about everyone else’s greed. If… Read More »
The Case For Not Telling Your Children How Much They Stand To Inherit From You
The promise of a desirable reward can sow discord in otherwise harmonious relationships. If you are a member of Generation X, you probably saw the episode of the Garfield and Friends Saturday morning cartoon about the Buddy Bears, three brothers who never disagree. The trouble starts when Garfield offers to buy them a pizza,… Read More »
Special Needs Trusts: A Responsible Way To Provide For Family Members With Special Needs
Some people are surprised to find out that, in their 30s, they are not too young to get started on their estate plans, but to the parents of children with special needs, this has been obvious since a doctor first told the parents that the child would need to depend financially on the parents… Read More »
