You likely have a loved one that is elderly and that may be particularly vulnerable to elder abuse and neglect. If so, there are things you can do to protect your loved one from becoming a victim of elder abuse. Learning everything you can about elder abuse and neglect with particular emphasis on learning to recognize the signs of elder abuse and neglect is a good place to start. To help you do that, the Essex Junction elder law attorneys at Unsworth LaPlante, PLLC help you spot the signs that … [Read more...] about What You Need to Know about Elder Abuse
Do I Need an Estate Plan If I’m Single Without Children?
A common misperception about estate planning is the belief that it does not become necessary until you marry and/or become a parent. This simply is not true. To make sure you understand when and why you need to start estate planning, an Essex Junction estate planning attorney at Unsworth LaPlante, PLLC explains why you need an estate plan even if you are single without children. Estate Planning Is about More than Just Planning for Your Death The mistaken belief that estate planning is all … [Read more...] about Do I Need an Estate Plan If I’m Single Without Children?
Trust Creation Mistakes to Avoid
Most people incorporate a variety of tools and strategies into their estate plan to ensure that they achieve all their estate planning goals. A trust is among the most common of those tools. Given the complexity of a trust agreement, you should always work with an experienced estate planning attorney when creating a trust to avoid making common mistakes. To help you better understand, the Essex Junction trust attorneys at Unsworth LaPlante, PLLC discuss trust creation mistakes you should try to … [Read more...] about Trust Creation Mistakes to Avoid
Understanding Undue Influence – Part II
Whenever a client’s Estate Plan deviates from the expected disposition, it raises questions for the slighted beneficiaries. These questions usually revolve around methods to have the plan overturned. Most states give clients tools to protect their carefully crafted plans, even after their death. Read on to learn more. … [Read more...] about Understanding Undue Influence – Part II
Understanding Undue Influence – Part I
Whenever a client’s Estate Plan deviates from the expected disposition, it raises questions. Most of the time, clients have consulted with a competent attorney regarding their reasons for structuring the plan the way that they have. Sometimes, other factors are at play and the plan doesn’t represent the testator’s true wishes, but rather, another individual’s testamentary desire. That’s undue influence and there are ways to guard against it. Read on to learn more. … [Read more...] about Understanding Undue Influence – Part I
How Can an Elder Law Attorney Help Me?
Elder law is one of the newest areas of the law. Although elder law is a relatively new area of law, it is fast becoming a much sought-after and necessary area of the law given the exploding elderly population in the United States. As the Baby Boomers move into their retirement years, the sheer number of older Americans has created a need for attorneys who specialize in legal issues that impact the elderly. Whether you are an older individual yourself, or a caregiver for an elderly loved one, … [Read more...] about How Can an Elder Law Attorney Help Me?
Steps in Creating a Trust
As both your family and your estate grow, so will your estate plan. Additional estate planning tools and strategies will be incorporated into your plan to ensure that all your estate planning goals are met. One of the most common tools is a trust agreement. If you decide to include a trust in your estate plan, the Essex Junction trust attorneys at Unsworth LaPlante, PLLC explain common steps in creating a trust. Define your trust purpose. Although it may seem like an obvious step, it is … [Read more...] about Steps in Creating a Trust
10 Things You Can Do to Make Your Estate Plan a Success
If you go to the time and trouble of creating an estate plan, you want that estate plan to accomplish all your goals work as intended. Your attorney will provide you with advice and guidance during the creation of your estate plan; however, there are also things you can do to help your estate planning attorney to increase the overall success of your plan. Toward that end, an Essex Junction estate planning attorney at Unsworth LaPlante, PLLC explain ten things you can do to make your estate plan … [Read more...] about 10 Things You Can Do to Make Your Estate Plan a Success
What Assets Avoid Probate?
When you think about estate planning, you likely focus on creating a plan that distributes your estate assets when you are gone. Although that may remain your primary estate planning goal, you will probably also include additional, related goals as your estate plan grows. One of those goals may be probate avoidance. Avoiding probate entirely may be impossible; however, with some careful planning you dramatically reduce the amount of time and money spent on the probate of your estate. Toward that … [Read more...] about What Assets Avoid Probate?
Five Important Facts About IRA Estate Planning
If you are like most people that take retirement planning seriously, you are contributing into an individual retirement account. The idea is to be able to draw from these resources when you put your working years behind you, but what if you do not need the money? Under these circumstances, your account could be part of your estate plan. The exact details will vary depending on the type of account that it is, and there are two of them that are widely utilized. One of these is the … [Read more...] about Five Important Facts About IRA Estate Planning
