Thinking about your own funeral may not be something you want to do; however, it may be something you need to do, both for your sake and for the sake of your loved ones. When you do take the time to contemplate your funeral and burial, purchasing a pre-paid funeral contract may sound like an easy solution to an uncomfortable task. An Indianapolis estate planning attorney at Frank & Kraft explains why a pre-paid funeral contract may not be the right option for you. Do I Need to … [Read more...] about Is a Pre-Paid Funeral Contract Right for Me?
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How the Opioid Crisis Leads to Elder Financial Exploitation
The opioid crisis in the United States is having a direct impact on the increase in financial exploitation of the elderly. An article published by the University of Southern California Center on Elder Mistreatment explains the correlation between the growth of the senior population and the opioid crisis in the U.S. The Indianapolis elder law attorneys at Frank & Kraft explain how the opioid crisis leads to elderly financial exploitation. The Opioid Crisis in the U.S. The news makes it … [Read more...] about How the Opioid Crisis Leads to Elder Financial Exploitation
What Should I Do with My Estate Planning Documents?
When the importance of estate planning is discussed, the focus is usually on choosing goals and deciding which tools and strategies to use to achieve those goals. People rarely discuss what you should do with your estate plan once it is complete. The Indianapolis estate planning attorneys at Frank & Kraft stress the importance of the steps you take with your estate plan after it is finished. What Is Included in a Comprehensive Estate Plan? The estate plan you create will be as … [Read more...] about What Should I Do with My Estate Planning Documents?
Preparing for Your First Meeting with an Estate Planning Attorney
Having an estate plan in place is one of the best gifts you can give to yourself and to your loved ones. Having never worked on an estate plan before, however, you may feel a little intimidated about your upcoming appointment. To help put you at ease, and to make the most out of your appointment, the Indianapolis estate planning lawyers at Frank & Kraft offer you the following tips on preparing for your upcoming consultation. Define your goals – when you think about estate planning, … [Read more...] about Preparing for Your First Meeting with an Estate Planning Attorney
How to Use a Trust to Avoid Leaving a Lump Sum Inheritance
Deciding who you wish to pass down your assets to is only the first step in estate planning for most people. You may also need to decide how you wish to pass down those assets. This is particularly true if you have a beneficiary to whom you are hesitant to gift a large lump sum inheritance. The Indianapolis trust attorneys at Frank & Kraft explain how to use a living trust to avoid leaving a lump sum inheritance. Traditional Gifting For most people, a Last Will and Testament serves as … [Read more...] about How to Use a Trust to Avoid Leaving a Lump Sum Inheritance
Not All Wills Are the Same — Which One Is Right for You?
For most people, a Will is the first estate planning document they create and it frequently remains the foundation of an estate plan even after that plan expands over the years. What you may not know is that all Wills are not created equal. There are, in fact, several different types of Wills from which to choose. To ensure that you execute the right type of Will for you, the Indianapolis estate planning attorneys at Frank & Kraft explain the different types of Wills. Simple Will -- a … [Read more...] about Not All Wills Are the Same — Which One Is Right for You?
Indiana in Bottom Half of States for Elder Abuse Protection
As the population of older Americans continues to increase, we have also experienced an increased awareness of issues that impact them, including the prevalence of elder abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation. States across the nation are scrambling to try and prevent, or at least combat, the problem of elder abuse, with varying success. According to a recently released study by Wallet Hub, the State of Indiana is among the bottom half of all states for elder abuse protection. The Baby … [Read more...] about Indiana in Bottom Half of States for Elder Abuse Protection
Are You Prepared for the Possibility of Your Own Incapacity?
The primary focus of your estate plan may be the distribution of your estate assets when you are gone; however, a comprehensive estate plan will accomplish much more than just creating a roadmap for the division of your estate upon your death. Exactly which additional components you decide to include in your estate plan will be a personal decision based on your unique needs and goals. One additional component that should be found in every estate plan, however, is incapacity planning. The … [Read more...] about Are You Prepared for the Possibility of Your Own Incapacity?
Remarriage and Your Estate Plan
The divorce rate in the U.S. continues to hover around 50 percent for a first marriage. Many of those divorces result in a remarriage, making blended families common in the U.S. If you are part of a blended family, you know the hard work it takes to successfully blend two existing families into one harmonious new family. One thing you don’t want to overlook when creating a blended family is the importance of a having a comprehensive estate plan in place. Toward that end, an Indianapolis estate … [Read more...] about Remarriage and Your Estate Plan
Is It Too Late for Medicaid Planning?
If you have never before needed to rely on Medicaid to cover your health care expenses, why would you need to include Medicaid planning in your estate plan? Unfortunately, the reality is that many seniors do eventually need to qualify for Medicaid at some point to help cover the high cost of long-term care. If you failed to plan ahead and suddenly find yourself in a position where you need to be eligible for Medicaid, is there anything you can do? The Indianapolis Medicaid planning attorneys at … [Read more...] about Is It Too Late for Medicaid Planning?
