What is a Will? A Will is only effective when you pass on. It forces you into probate court. It is public record showing who inherits, how they inherit, and how much. The Administrative Office of the Courts tell us that the average administrative time is between 18 and 24 months from the time the... [Read More]
Category: Trusts
The Queen of Soul, without an Estate Plan
Why Not Plan? If you are 76 years old, why do you not have an Estate Plan (a Will or Trust)? If you have terminal Pancreatic Cancer, why don’t you do an Estate Plan? If you have an estimated value of your Estate at over $80 million dollars, why don’t you do an Estate Plan?... [Read More]
Bonus Material: Family Conflict in Estate Planning for Today’s Family
There is so much Family Conflict that I have seen over time when dealing with client’s Estate Plans. I had planned to limit the subject to 5 Blogs, but thought it was important to add in these important thoughts for your consideration. If any of these areas relate to your personal Estate Plan, make sure... [Read More]
Family Conflict in Estate Planning: Who’s in control?
Part 2 of our Series Sources of Family Conflict in Estate Planning Last week we wrote about Sibling Rivalry as one of the sources of family conflict in estate planning. To read that post, click here. This week we discuss another source – deciding who is in charge. When you create your estate plan there... [Read More]
I Don’t Want To Be A Burden
“I don’t want to be a burden” is a phrase I often hear from my Estate Planning clients. They don’t want to be a burden to their family or loved ones. They have seen how other seniors, whether they are friends or family, have been burdens to other family members who have taken on the... [Read More]
Change of Seasons
Beautiful colorful leaves are still hanging on many trees. Days and nights are cooler. It has been raining here in Western North Carolina. The lights of the day are shorter. Even on the clock, we have “fallen back” one hour. Fall is definitely here. The long warm days of summer with the bright green leaves... [Read More]
Lamar Odum has no Advanced Directives and an Almost Ex-Wife making the Decisions
Former NBA player Lamar Odum remains hospitalized and has come off of life support after a drug overdose. He was in a coma for 3 days. He remains on dialysis. He has no Advanced Directives – Healthcare Power of Attorney, Living Wills or Healthcare Designation. Further, he is still married to a Reality TV personality... [Read More]
Strange Days
It’s been confirmed that Russian military rockets were used to shoot down a commercial airliner over Ukraine this past summer. Russian troops, including heavy weapons and fighter jets are in Syria working on behalf of Assad and his brutal regime. Playboy will stop publishing nude photos. Anheuser-Busch bought Miller Beer. Strange days. Few people could... [Read More]
More Storms of Life
We in North and South Carolina just went through heavy Storms, including heavy rains, over the past several days. Here in Western North Carolina we have been having rain off and on for more than ten (10) days. That was followed by very heavy rain over this past weekend. This rain has led to rivers... [Read More]
The 100th Year Anniversary of Federal Estate Tax
September 8, 2016 will mark the 100th anniversary of the Federal Estate Tax. The Federal Tax taxes your assets when you pass on and they move from one generation to the next. There is no tax under the exemption amount, but once you get above that amount, there is a Federal Estate Tax. In the... [Read More]