Decide Where Help Would Actually Be Helpful
Assistance does not have to be all or nothing.
Someone may be perfectly comfortable making financial decisions but want help keeping track of bills.
They may still drive locally but need transportation to appointments farther from home. Continue reading
An inheritance is intended to benefit the person receiving it. It may provide financial security, preserve something meaningful within the family, or give a loved one opportunities they might not otherwise have.
Receiving an inheritance can also come with complications. A house may Continue reading
Emergencies rarely happen on a convenient schedule. A sudden illness, an unexpected accident, or an emergency hospitalization can leave families making important decisions with very little time to prepare. During those first few days, having estate planning documents in place is important. Continue reading
Estate planning documents often name several different individuals to carry out specific responsibilities. In some cases, the same person serves in multiple roles. In others, those responsibilities are divided among several trusted individuals.
An executor administers an estate after Continue reading
One of the goals of elder law planning is to help individuals and families make important decisions with as little disruption as possible. That doesn’t mean the courts are never involved. In certain situations, court oversight is necessary to protect an individual’s interests, resolve Continue reading
Estate planning documents are often discussed one at a time. A will directs what happens after death. A financial power of attorney authorizes someone to handle financial matters during your lifetime. A health care proxy addresses medical decisions. Each serves a different purpose, Continue reading
A parent lives in New York. One child is in North Carolina. Another is in Florida. Families like this are no longer unusual, but distance can add another layer of complexity when an aging parent begins to need more support.
Distance doesn’t weaken family relationships, but it can Continue reading
After an unexpected illness or the loss of a loved one, family members often find themselves searching for information they assumed would be easy to locate.
Where is the original will? Which bank accounts are still open? Is there a life insurance policy? Who is the financial advisor? Continue reading
Every family seems to have one person who naturally becomes the “go-to” caregiver. It may be a spouse, an adult child, a sibling, or another close relative. Over time, that person becomes the one who attends appointments, keeps track of medications, manages paperwork, and is the first Continue reading
Having one child can make certain estate planning decisions feel straightforward. There may be little question about who will inherit assets or who you trust to make important decisions.
At the same time, that one person may eventually be asked to take on a number of different responsibilities. Continue reading
