Articles
Why You Need To Name Guardians For Your Children
It's bad enough that 64% of Americans don't have a will, but most parents of minor children have not named guardians for their children either. And you really need to name guardians for your children, because in some ways this might be even more important than having...
Choosing A Guardian For Your Child
A legal guardian is someone who is designated to take care of your child in case both you and the other parent of your child were to die before your child reaches adulthood. Yes, that’s a terrible scenario to think about, but unfortunately it’s a genuine possibility....
The Difference Between A Living Will And A Medical Power Of Attorney
So what’s the difference between a living will and a medical power of attorney? Depending on how your medical power of attorney is written there can possibly be some overlap between the two. And this sometimes confuses people. But even if there is some overlap you...
Choosing An Agent For Your Medical Power Of Attorney
Choosing an agent for your medical power of attorney is another important decision you need to make in order to create a good estate plan for yourself. Whoever you choose will have the legal authority to make medical decisions for you if you were to become...
Choosing An Agent For Your Power Of Attorney
Choosing an agent for your power of attorney is one of the most important decisions for you to make when it comes to creating a solid estate plan for yourself. A power of attorney, also known as a durable power of attorney, authorizes someone to act as your agent in...
What Happens If You Don’t Have A Medical Power Of Attorney?
If you don’t have a medical power of attorney, then someone who you would not have chosen might end up making medical decisions for you. The only situation where someone else could make medical decisions for you is when you are incapacitated. Incapacitated means you...
Getting An Emergency Power Of Attorney
The best time for getting an emergency power of attorney is usually before the emergency actually happens. And oftentimes it is the only time you can get one. I was once contacted by a woman whose father was in pretty bad physical condition and had been for quite some...
Can You Avoid Probate By Having A Living Trust?
Can you avoid probate by having a living trust? (please also see Do I Need A Living Trust) Well yes and no. Yes, for all the assets that you actually place into the trust you can avoid probate for those particular assets. For example, you could deed your house to the...
Your Estate Planning Documents During A Crisis
Here are some things to think about in regards to your estate planning documents during a crisis. The most recent example of a crisis that affected all of us was in 2020 and 2021 when COVID was in the depths of causing physical harm and financial havoc around the...
What’s The Difference Between A Will And A Power Of Attorney?
What’s the difference between a Will and a Power of Attorney is yet another question that I often get from people who contact me. People often confuse what each document can and cannot do for them. I've even had a few people tell me that they thought they were the...