A common mistake people make when writing a Will is leaving all assets to one family member, usually a spouse. While there may be certain tax benefits to giving all of your estate to your spouse, there are greater benefits to making sure all family members, especially children, are going to be well cared for.…

Many people forgo drafting a will because they think that Wills are only necessary for people who have large estates to divide. This is a mistake for a couple of reasons. First, most people are worth more than they realize. Once you add up your assets, home, vehicle(s), jewelry, any investments or savings accounts, you may be surprised at how much you have to leave to your family.

Probate is the court-supervised process of finalizing a person’s affairs and distributing his or her property after death. This becomes necessary if someone dies without a Will or any other estate planning provisions in place. A special probate court handles all aspects of administering an estate in the absence of other legal planning.

Using only your Will to leave benefits to a child with special needs may actually work against their future financial security. Gifts and funds that are Willed directly to an individual can in reality become an asset for the state. Since such funds are considered to be income, they may cause your loved one to…

If your loved one is in a nursing home, that home is going to be their residence for an indefinite amount of time. It is very important to know that they are truly getting the best care available. Since your loved one will be dependant on the care provided by the nursing home facility, they…

Caring for a loved one is a situation that many people find themselves in, and the caregiver’s status as a guardian should be made official by the law. Often times, individuals begin taking care of a relative or loved one without thinking about the need for official legal documentation. If you are managing the health and financial decisions of loved one, becoming their legal guardian will simplify many common tasks.

The stress and emotion involved in losing a family member can only be explained by those experiencing the loss. Truly, this is the worse time in a person’s life to have to get involved with litigation. Whether someone feels that their rights have been denied by the will and probate court, or when a will…

You might not think it makes a difference, but a will made with software is not the same as a will created by a lawyer. The idea that the two are similar couldn’t be further from the truth. An elder law attorney will know the law and possible risks that software can not predict.

When talking about estate planning, people generally think about a will. A will is an essential part of estate planning, but it is only the beginning. A will expresses your wishes of asset disbursement after you pass on, but complete estate planning covers important items that may affect you while you are alive.

Second marriages are becoming a more common piece of the American experience. The remarried face unique and specific challenges in tailoring their life insurance policies to their individual situation

Deciding on a beneficiary can be a complicated process for the remarried. It’s rarely a simple decision, especially when children from a previous marriage are involved. In that case, it can be difficult to strike a balance between taking care of the current spouse and the previous spouse’s children.