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
As the New Year Approaches, Schedule an Estate Plan Review
When a new year is approaching, people often make resolutions of various kinds. It can be self-improvement, a career goal, or a commitment to take care of a responsibility that has been placed on the back burner. If you put your estate plan in place years ago, a revision may be necessary. In fact, some people are surprised when they are reminded about the decisions that they made decades ago. Life Changes Things that happen in your life can make your existing estate plan obsolete, and you … [Read more...] about As the New Year Approaches, Schedule an Estate Plan Review
Charitable Planning in Times of Crisis
During times of uncertainty, we tend to feel helpless. This article explores how charitable giving gives us a sense of purpose in trying times. Read on to learn more. … [Read more...] about Charitable Planning in Times of Crisis
How Estate Planning Documents Help Prevent Elder Abuse
As loved ones and parents age, they become more vulnerable to fraudulent schemes. This article explores how a solid estate plan can help protect the elderly from becoming victims. Read on to learn more. … [Read more...] about How Estate Planning Documents Help Prevent Elder Abuse
Is Life Insurance Part of Your Estate Plan?
In a general sense, life insurance can enhance your estate plan, and it can satisfy a couple of specific objectives. We will provide an overview here, but first, we will explain the two most commonly used forms of life insurance. Whole Life Whole life insurance is coverage that will pay a death benefit, and it also accumulates a cash value. There is a guaranteed rate of return, so it serves as an investment instrument. This is permanent life insurance that will remain in place until and … [Read more...] about Is Life Insurance Part of Your Estate Plan?
