When you think about the risk of getting seriously hurt or ill, the reality is that it’s more common than you may think. Unfortunately, if you cannot speak out for yourself in those situations, people may make decisions that you don’t agree with about your care. That...
Having an estate plan can seem like something that only extremely wealthy people need to pass on their vast estates and mansions to their children. The idea that estate plans are only for the rich may be why more than half of all Americans do not have one. Estate...
Your parents made sure your needs were met for many years. Now that the roles have shifted, you want to return the favor by ensuring your parent has financial and medical protection in the future. To make sure your parent has protection in these matters, you must talk...
You want to leave behind a legacy of success for your children and grandchildren. You want them to know what the family means to you. You hope that they will all stay close, even after you are gone. Nothing means more to you than knowing that your family is safe,...
Death is inevitable. While it may not be something you want to think about, it is an unavoidable and unpredictable part of life. Although you cannot predict your death, you can plan for it. An estate plan is a way for you to help your loved ones know what you want for...
It is hard to know what aging will involve for you. Some people remain mentally sharp and physically fit well into their 90s and live independently their entire life. Others may start to develop physical limitations in their seventies and may experience cognitive...
Estate planning can be as complex or simple as your financial and family needs. For those with just one possible heir and only a few large assets, a will might be all they really need. For those with multiple beneficiaries, complex assets or difficult family...
It is easy for even the most responsible and diligent of adults to procrastinate about estate planning. However, few things help people confront the looming specter of their own mortality more quickly and realistically than adding children to the family. Whether you...
When it comes to age and estate planning, what you often hear is that people believe they are too young. They imagine doing their estate planning when they’re elderly, perhaps long after they retire. But could this work the other way around? Could you be too old to...
When you are putting together an estate plan, one aspect of that plan should be your advance directive. An advance directive has two legal documents within it, your health care proxy and your living will. A health care proxy is important because it determines who will...
