How To Understand Powers of Attorney
As part of your estate planning process, it's important to implement Power of Attorney (POA) documents. Powers of attorney are recognized in all states, but the rules and requirements may differ from one to another. By signing this document, you are granted an individual or individuals the authority to act
7 Dangerous Reasons for Delaying Estate Planning
Neither my family nor I own much. Can't we delay planning until we're financially secure? No, you shouldn't. It is vital that you designate someone as your legal guardian in the event of your death. There is nothing worse than having your children become wards of the court or being
Surviving Spouses’ Estate Planning
It's hard to consider more than just your grief after losing a spouse or long-term partner. There are, however, several important and timely decisions you need to make regarding your finances and personal estate planning. As marriages, divorces, and children and grandchildren are born, changing circumstances impact estate planning. Making
An Estate Plan Is Necessary to Make Sure Your Final Wishes Are Carried Out
To be sure your final end-of-life wishes are followed; you must prepare an estate plan. Many put off making these plans thinking there is always time. The sad reality is that none of us are guaranteed time. Others may be bothered by the thought of death itself and allow this
Advance Health-Care Directives for Important Decisions
Imagining how we may perish is probably one of the hardest things we will ever have to think about. Yet, if we want our dying to be meaningful and merciful, it is imperative that we think about it while we still can. Most of us want to die at home,
Breaking Down Misconceptions about Powers of Attorney
During your life, there are steps you can take to ensure that everything is in place in case of an emergency. A durable power of attorney is one of the most important estates planning documents you can have. It allows someone who you appoint (your agent) to make decisions on
What it means to Become a “Fiduciary”
You may be asked to be a power of attorney for a family member or friend. Your person may be planning for when they might become unable to take care of their affairs. For example, they might become disabled or incapacitated, and they would need a trusted person to step
Dangers that Arise when Adding Owners to Accounts
I want to leave my bank accounts to my children when I’m gone. Can’t I just make the children joint owners? That idea sounds better than it actually is. Yes, you would avoid court proceedings when you pass. But you’d put yourself at risk, at a time when you might need
How Does Estate Planning Protect Your Family and Assets?
Estate planning may sound like the domain of the very wealthy, however, in the eyes of the law, an estate is simply the aggregate of property an individual owns, and most everyone owns something. Property ownership includes individual as well as jointly owned bank accounts, stocks and bonds, retirement accounts,
Make Your Health Care Wishes Known: Artificial Nutrition or No?
By now, many of us have witnessed the slow and dehumanizing death by Alzheimer’s of friends and loved ones. In the final stages of this and other dementia diseases, there comes a time when the person can no longer speak, recognize loved ones, or move purposefully. With that poor quality of