Probate Attorney Blog

WHAT IS IT THAT YOU WANT TO DO? That is the first step to estate planning. It’s not talking to an estate planning attorney (though I wish it was). It’s not learning about estate taxes. It’s not about any of that. Step one is simply thinking about what it is that you want to do. Now, there are some things you may want to think about when putting together your goals. Things like tax reduction, probate avoidance, generational wealth and…

Ever wonder what an estate planning attorney has for their own estate plan? Well, today is your lucky day, because I’m going to tell you what I’ve got set up for my own family today on the show! And, I’d love to tell you all about it right here, but the video is just so much better. I will give you a hint though. Here are some of the things I talk about: Power of Attorney Medical Power of Attorney…

I had a meeting with some potential clients the other day and they started off by telling me about a bad experience they’d had with another estate planning attorney. It wasn’t that the prices were high or that it wasn’t just a good fit. It went way beyond that. So today I wanted to go on a little bit of a rant and tell you what I think estate planning attorneys should not be doing when meeting with potential clients…

Medicaid trusts are a scam, plain and simple. Ask any estate planning attorney worth their salt and they will tell you these truths about medicaid trusts: 1. There is a look back period of 5 years. Until that 5 years is up, your assets are not safe. 2. You will have to give up COMPLETE control over your assets. If there is an emergency and you need your assets you will not be able to access them. 3. You will…

If you are here to learn about probate and nonintervention powers, then you’ve likely recently lost a loved one. I want to first say I’m sorry for your loss. Now, though, it’s time to get down to business so you can focus on remembering the life and times of your loved one and get through this process we know as “probate.” If you’ve done any research or talked to a probate attorney they’ve probably mentioned nonintervention powers before. I wanted…

A lot of people come into my office for estate planning and they are worried about someone contesting the will and messing everything up. They are worried about someone thinking their will is unfair and trying to get more. They are worried about someone thinking they weren’t making the right choice at the time and they want to right a wrong. And they are worried about someone believing circumstances had changed since the will was executed and wanting to “update”…

For many people their IRA is the biggest asset that will be given to their family when they die. What most people don’t know is that for many families, inheriting an IRA is the worst thing that can happen to them. Today I wanted to talk about why that is, the options that exist for an inherited IRA, and some ways to ensure that your hard earned money isn’t wasted via taxes or frivolous spending. Why Inheriting an IRA is…