If you are beginning to recognize the fact that you should have an estate plan in place you are probably going to start where most people do by doing some research on the Internet. There is a lot of good information to be found for sure, but you have to be able to separate the wheat from the chaff. Unfortunately there are some self-serving Internet marketers who will lure you in with the suggestion that estate planning is something that you can do for yourself. That is, if you … [Read more...] about The Importance Of Estate Planning Expertise
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"Idol" Judge Cowell Wants Body Frozen
Estate planning attorneys will sometimes discuss final arrangements with their clients. It is possible to identify the funeral home that you would like to use and actually pay for the final expenses in advance. And if you want to, you can make your wishes clear in your estate planning documents regarding exactly how you would like your body to be handled and express your wishes regarding the type of memorial service you would prefer. The choice of how you want your body handled after … [Read more...] about "Idol" Judge Cowell Wants Body Frozen
Estate Tax Tantamount To A Gamble
Most Americans don't mind paying their fair share of taxes, but they really don't want to pay them twice. This is one of the problems that people have with the estate tax. Your legacy was accumulated with resources that you had left over after you paid income and payroll or self-employment taxes all of your life. In addition, people pay sales tax, property tax, capital gains tax, and a number of others that are less obvious. So why should the event of your death trigger a … [Read more...] about Estate Tax Tantamount To A Gamble
After 15 Years Anna Nicole Smith Matter Put To Rest
From the start you should look at estate planning as an ongoing process, and this is one reason why it is a good idea to develop a strong working relationship with your estate planning attorney. When you identify someone that you have come to know and trust he or she will gain an understanding of your situation over the years and give you continual, ongoing guidance so that your wishes are ultimately carried out. Multiple changes in marital status are quite common these days. When … [Read more...] about After 15 Years Anna Nicole Smith Matter Put To Rest
Retirement Age Not Set In Stone
We all hear people use the term "When I retire" as they think about the future, but it is important to understand the fact that retirement is not a given. It is not some sort of parallel universe that you simply walk into when you reach a certain age. "Retirement" is simply a word describing the act of discontinuing your working career. But there are no guarantees that you'll ever be financially capable of doing this. There was a poll conducted recently by … [Read more...] about Retirement Age Not Set In Stone
Life Insurance Can Serve Multiple Purposes
Estate planning attorneys will emphasize the importance of estate planning for people of all ages, even if you don't have a lot of financial resources to pass on to your loved ones. One of the primary reasons for this is because if you're like most people, your family relies on your income to maintain their quality of life. If you were to die suddenly in an accident or due to a catastrophic medical event, your family would be left in a very difficult situation financially as well as … [Read more...] about Life Insurance Can Serve Multiple Purposes
Medicaid Spend Down And Look-Back Back Period
A lot of people do not concern themselves with budgeting for potential long-term care costs because they're under the impression that Medicare will cover these expenses. In reality, Medicare does not pay for an extended stay in a nursing home or assisted living facility. And if you're thinking that it will be simple to adjust to these expenses should they arise, you may not be aware of the present state of long-term care costs. Every year the MetLife Mature Market Institute culls … [Read more...] about Medicaid Spend Down And Look-Back Back Period
How Heavily Are You Counting On Social Security?
Social Security and retirement go hand-in-hand, but it may be a mistake to simply assume that your Social Security benefit is going to be enough to enable you to enjoy a comfortable retirement. You always hear retirement planning lawyers emphasize how important it is to set a course for the future and stick to it, but many people let it go in one ear and out the other. But when you analyze the facts you recognize why they give this advice. Social Security Administration statistics … [Read more...] about How Heavily Are You Counting On Social Security?
Guardianship And Conservatorship Considered
It is important to know under which conditions guardianship and/or conservatorship responsibilities will apply and what the procedure is in order for the rulings to be made. Guardianship can apply to anyone who is considered by the courts to be disabled in a way that makes them unable to take responsible actions or to those who are minors and therefore need the assistance guardianship and conservatorship will offer. Some states combine the duties within the designation of guardian, but … [Read more...] about Guardianship And Conservatorship Considered
Elder Financial Abuse Taking A Toll
There are some things that you hear about that are so underhanded it really makes your blood boil, and it would probably be safe to say that elder financial abuse would fall into this category. The thought of someone specifically targeting a senior citizen is really horrible, but the reality is that this is a big problem in our society today and it is something to be aware of. According to the United States Department of Justice one out of every nine Americans who is at least sixty … [Read more...] about Elder Financial Abuse Taking A Toll
