Co–authored by Kristine M. Scott, Estate Planning Associate Even though the term “trust” is used frequently, few people understand the terminology and technicalities of trusts until they are faced with one. What Is a Trust? A trust is a legal relationship between two...
Co–authored by Kristine M. Scott, Estate Planning Associate Over 17 million people in the United States are actively taking care of their elderly parents, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Providing that care is important—but it can be costly. One study...
Co-authored by Sharon L. Palmer, ACP, FRP It’s now May, and you’re five months into your New Year’s resolution to get your estate in order. You’re feeling pretty good because checklist looks something like this: ☒ Discuss estate planning options with attorney. ☒...
Co-authored by Sharon L. Palmer, ACP, FRP When finished executing their estate planning documents, our clients very often exhale a sigh of relief. They exclaim how happy they are to, “have all of this over with”. We certainly understand their feelings. It can be...
Co–authored by Kristine M. Scott, Estate Planning Associate Most people elect to create revocable trusts during their lifetime in conjunction with their last will and testament, so they can avoid a probate of all or part of their estate at their death. But what is the...
Co–authored by Kristine M. Scott, Estate Planning Associate In the United States, roughly 13% of the total population (or 40 million people) are 65 or older. Of these, about 30% have some form of cognitive disability. Further, about 39% of individuals 85 years and...
Co-authored by Sharon L. Palmer, ACP, FRP For most people, probating an estate is uncharted territory that brings up many questions and concerns. Here are a few of the frequently asked questions our office receives. What is “Probate”? The term “probate” is used to...
Co–authored by Kristine M. Scott, Estate Planning Associate We have discussed the basics of Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) and how to use them to fund charitable giving. But what happens when a family member passes away owning an IRA? While dealing with the...