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Unsworth LaPlante, PLLC

Vermont Estate Planning Attorneys

Call: (802) 879-7133
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Posts by category

  • Category: tax
    • Secrets to Maximize Your Vermont Estate’s Tax Benefits
  • Category: income tax
  • Category: business succession planning
    • How to Protect Your Family Business in Your Vermont Estate Plan
  • Category: technology
  • Category: consumer
  • Category: Attorney
  • Category: Business succession
  • Category: no contest clause
    • Can a No Contest Clause Prevent a Vermont Will Contest?
  • Category: Trust
    • How Much Discretion Should Your Vermont Trustee Have?
    • The Role of Trusts in Vermont Estate Planning Explained
    • Can I Make Changes to My Vermont Trust?
    • Can I Be Held Liable for a Mistake Made While Administering a Trust?
    • Do Trustees Receive Payment for Administering a Trust in Vermont?
    • What Kind of Trust Should Parents of Young Children in Vermont Consider?
    • Steps to Take When Creating a Trust for Your Estate Plan
    • 7 Common Mistakes People Make When Creating a Trust
    • 10 Steps in the Trust Creation Process
    • If I Am Using a Trust to Distribute Estate Assets, Do I Still Need a Will?
    • I Was Appointed to Be a Trustee. Now What Do I Do?
    • Can I Still Control Assets Transferred into a Trust?
    • Do I Need to Name a Successor Trustee When I Create a Trust?
    • Can I Modify My Trust Agreement?
    • Common Mistakes Parents Make When Establishing a Trust
    • Trust Creation Mistakes to Avoid
    • Trustee Discretion – How to Avoid Too Much or Too Little
    • How Do I Choose the Right Trustee?
    • When Is an Irrevocable Trust the Best Choice?
  • Category: Financial Planning
    • Tax Planning for 2021
  • Category: taxation
    • IRS Warning: The 2026 Dirty Dozen Tax Scams
  • Category: tax planning
  • Category: trust administration
    • Trust Administration Attorney: Keeping Beneficiaries Informed
    • How Are Family Disputes Handled During Trust Administration in Vermont?
    • How and When a Trust Terminates in Vermont
    • Common Trust Administration Mistakes
  • Category: irrevocable trusts
    • Are Irrevocable Trusts Really Irrevocable – Part II
    • Are Irrevocable Trusts Really Irrevocable – Part I
  • Category: Long term Care Planning
    • The Hidden Costs Families Face During a Long-Term Care Crisis
    • How Long-Term Care Planning May Help Protect Your Savings in Vermont
  • Category: Retirement Planning
    • Retirement Planning in Your Vermont Estate Plan
    • Why Retirement Planning Should Be Part of Your Estate Plan
    • Merging Your Retirement Plan with Your Estate Plan
    • Best Countries for Retirement
    • Social Security Retirement Benefits – How to Decide When to Retire
    • How Does Vermont Rank for Retirees?
    • Practical Retirement Planning Tips
    • Weigh the Impact of Taxes During Retirement
    • Biden Would Like to Reform Social Security
    • An Overview of Proposed Secure Act 2.0
    • Taxes Can Impact Retirement Choices
    • 2021 Medicare Cost Increases at a Glance
    • Will Social Security Go Up in 2021?
    • Holistic Planning Should Start Early
    • 4 Signs You’re Not Ready to Retire
    • What Kinds of IRAs Should You Consider During Retirement Planning?
    • Vermont Senator & Presidential Candidate Wants to Expand Social Security
    • Key Issues That Will Impact Your Retirement Plan
    • Are 401 (k) Plans in Trouble?
    • Inheriting an IRA
    • What are Your Retirement Goals?
    • What Your IRA Beneficiaries Need to Know
    • Retirement Planning in Essex Junction: Reverse Mortgages and Seniors – Not the Cure-All
    • NAELA Issues Long Term Care Concerns
    • Panic in Detroit
    • Stretching an IRA
    • Have You Considered Retirement Outside the United States?
    • What You Need to Know About Social Security Survivors Benefits
  • Category: Incapacity Planning
    • How Can Advance Directives and Powers of Attorney Help You Avoid Guardianship?
    • Planning for Incapacity: Vermont Powers of Attorney Explained
    • How a Living Trust Helps with Incapacity Planning
    • Incapacity Planning and Your Successor Trustee
    • Incapacity Planning: How to Ensure That Your Wishes Are Honored
    • Prepare for Incapacity to Prevent a Guardianship
    • Is There a Way to Prevent a Guardianship?
    • Why Is a Power of Attorney Part of an Estate Plan?
    • Don’t Overlook Advance Directives for Health Care
    • Census Report: Burlington Senior Population Exceeds National Average
    • How Is a Power of Attorney Used in Estate Planning?
    • Incapacity Planning Is a Must
    • What Happens if it is Too Late for a Power of Attorney?
    • What Kinds of Healthcare Directives Do You Need?
    • What Happens if You Don’t Create a Durable Power of Attorney?
    • Vermont Residents Describe What it is Like to Live with Alzheimer’s 
    • What is a Springing Power of Attorney and Why Do You Want One?
    • Does a Durable Power of Attorney Give Authority to Make Health Care Decisions?
    • What Documents Should be Part of Your Living Will?
    • Should I Have a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care?
    • DOJ Unveils Online Complaint Form for Disabled
    • For-Profit Hospice Providers: Double Edged Sword
    • Free Report: Inherit A Home With a Mortgage: Here’s What You Need to Know
    • Incapacity Planning in Vermont
    • Tragic Reminder of Importance of Advanced Directives
    • Senior Citizens Reality: 1 in 4 File Bankruptcy
    • What is a Durable Power of Attorney?
    • Good News for Caregivers of Elderly and Disabled in Vermont
    • Appealing a Denial in SSI Coverage
    • How Well is Vermont’s End of Life Law Faring?
    • Alzheimer’s and Long Term Care
    • Protecting Yourself against Mental Disability
    • Power of Attorney: Putting Your Life in Another Man’s Hands
    • Creating an Advance Health Care Directive
    • Adult Guardianship
    • Essential Incapacity Planning Documents
  • Category: Life Insurance
    • Money in Your Pocket
    • How Much Life Insurance Do You Need?
  • Category: Beneficiary
    • Understanding Your Rights as the Beneficiary of a Vermont Trust
    • What Is the Difference Between a Beneficiary and an Heir?
    • Are Your Beneficiary Designations Up to Date?
    • Is It Time to Update Your Beneficiaries?
    • The Beneficiary Designation Form
    • Estate Planning for Divorces
    • Options for Leaving Money to Your Children
  • Category: Business Planning
  • Category: Estate Planning
  • Category: Wills
  • Category: Probate
  • Category: Trusts
  • Category: Special Needs Planning
  • Category: Medicaid
  • Category: Elder Law
  • Category: General
    • Power of Attorney in Vermont: What Families Should Know
    • What Happens If Your Healthcare Agent Cannot Serve When Needed?
    • Questions Families Should Ask Before Naming a Trustee for a Special Needs Trust
    • Should You Leave Written Instructions Alongside Your Estate Plan?
    • Creating an Emergency Care Plan for Your Pets
    • How Adult Children Can Help Aging Parents Organize Their Legal Affairs
    • How to Create an Incapacity Plan Before a Medical Emergency Happens
    • How Grandparents Can Plan for a Grandchild With Special Needs
    • What Information Should Your Family Be Able to Access in an Emergency? 
    • What Documents Should A Trustee Gather First After Someone Passes Away?
    • Why Estate Planning Isn’t Just For The Wealthy 
    • Estate Planning Attorney Advice for Vermont Couples Near Retirement
    • Medicaid Planning vs Spending Down Assets in Vermont
    • 8 Vermont Medicaid Myths Seniors Need to Understand
    • Blended Families and Inheritance Conflicts in Vermont
    • Things to Consider If Someone in Your Estate Plan Is Not a U.S. Citizen
    • Vermont Checklist for Choosing a Nursing Home
    • How to Protect Your Vermont Estate from Probate Delays
    • Vermont Medicaid Planning: What You Need to Know
    • How to Include Stepchildren in Your Vermont Estate Plan
    • How Vermont Families Can Plan for Long-Term Care Costs
    • A Vermont Guide to Handling an Alzheimer’s Diagnosis
    • Vermont Digital Estate Planning Checklist
    • How Divorce Influences Your Vermont Estate Plan
    • Should I Include a Testamentary Trust in My Vermont Estate Plan?
    • How to Choose the Right Guardian for Your Minor Children in Vermont
    • How to Include Your Grandchildren in Your Vermont Estate Plan
    • 7 Ways to Help Your Vermont Estate Avoid Probate
    • How to Be a Long-Distance Caregiver in Vermont
    • Why It Is Important to Review Your Vermont Estate Plan at Year End
    • Understanding Medicaid Spend-Down in Vermont
    • Are You Ready to Create Your Vermont Will?
    • Why Long-Term Care Planning Should Be Part of Your Vermont Estate Plan
    • 10 Reasons to Consult with a Vermont Estate Planning Attorney
    • Do I Need a HIPAA Authorization If I Have a Healthcare Power of Attorney?
    • 10 Steps Involved in Creating Your Vermont Last Will and Testament
    • Protecting Your Intellectual Property in a Vermont Estate Plan
    • Can a Beneficiary in Vermont Sell, Gift, or Pledge an Interest in a Trust?
    • Do Couples without Children Still Need an Estate Plan?
    • Postnuptial Agreements and Your Vermont Estate Plan
    • Why Is Avoiding Probate an Important Estate Planning Goal?
    • Review Your Estate Plan during National Preparedness Month in September
    • Adult Guardianships vs. Powers of Attorney in Vermont
    • How to Get Started on Your Vermont Estate Plan
    • Will Medicaid Cover Home Health Care for Seniors in Vermont?
    • How Property Basis Affects Your Estate Plan in Vermont
    • Can I Ensure that Someone Does Not Inherit from My Vermont Estate?
    • 7 Power of Attorney Mistakes to Avoid Making
    • Estate Planning for a Widowed Parent in Vermont
    • Can Last-Minute Medicaid Planning Help You in Vermont?
    • How Can a Spendthrift Trust Enhance Your Vermont Estate Plan?
    • Crucial Tips for Unpaid Caregivers in Vermont
    • Can I Do Anything Now to Avoid Guardianship When I Am Older?
    • How Estate Planning Can Help Prevent Disputes after You Are Gone
    • Can a Trust Protect My Assets from Lawsuits?
    • What You Need to Know about the Medicaid Estate Recovery Program in Vermont
    • Keeping Your Estate Plan Safe: How to Store Your Documents
    • Planning for Nursing Home Care in Vermont
    • Estate Planning Tips to Help Protect Your Assets
    • Estate Planning for Blended Families: Building a Legacy That Honors Everyone
    • What Happens to My Assets If I Die Intestate in Vermont?
    • Do I Need a Funeral Plan within My Comprehensive Estate Plan?
    • How Will Qualifying for Nursing Home Medicaid in Vermont Impact My Spouse?
    • Top 5 Medicaid Planning Mistakes
    • Keeping Your Estate Plans Private
    • Estate Planning Tools to Protect the Inheritance You Pass Down
    • 7 Reasons to Add a Revocable Trust to Your Vermont Estate Plan
    • Update Your Vermont Estate Plan for American Heart Month
    • When Is It Time to Consult with an Elder Law Attorney?
    • Reasons to Include a Testamentary Trust in Your Vermont Estate Plan
    • How Can I Incorporate Philanthropy into My Estate Plan?
    • Beware of the Top 5 Estate Planning Mistakes
    • Preventing Elder Financial Exploitation in Vermont
    • Does a Trust Pay Capital Gains Taxes?
    • Do I Need an Attorney to Help Me Create My Estate Plan?
    • What You Need to Know about Alzheimer’s
    • 7 Steps to Take Following the Death of a Loved One
    • Funding a Revocable Living Trust in Vermont
    • Special Needs Planning: Things To Know
    • How Do I Know If I Need More than a Simple Last Will and Testament?
    • Estate Planning for Young Families: 5 Essential Steps
    • Understanding the Fiduciary Roles in Your Estate Plan
    • Questions Parents Should Ask Themselves When Creating an Estate Plan
    • Vermont Resources for Family Caregivers
    • Is Your Estate at Risk for Probate Litigation?
    • Protecting Your Surviving Spouse in Your Estate Plan
    • Beyond Wills and Trusts: Exploring the Multifaceted Services of Estate Planning Lawyers
    • Addressing the Challenge of a Spendthrift Beneficiary in Your Estate Plan
    • Understanding Joint Ownership in Vermont
    • Managing an Inheritance: Navigating a Financial Windfall
    • Should I Put My Adult Child on the Deed to My Home?
    • Estate Planning for Young Adults
    • Pet Planning in Your Estate Plan
    • What Every New Trustee Needs to Know about Trust Administration
    • 5 Important Steps for a New Trustee to Take
    • 4 Reasons to Update the Beneficiaries in Your Estate Plan
    • Weighing the Advantages and Drawbacks of Appointing Co-Trustees
    • Vermont Caregiver Resources
    • What Happens to My Debts When I Pass Away?
    • Estate Planning Tips for Adults Without Children
    • 10 Estate Planning Tips to Help Your Plan Succeed
    • What Is Involved in Trust Administration in Vermont?
    • 5 Essential Estate Plan Components
    • Protecting Elderly Loved Ones from Financial Abuse
    • The Importance of Appointing the Right Trustee
    • What You Need to Know about Elder Abuse
    • How to Apply for Senior Medicaid in Vermont
    • Does My 401(k) Account Count for Medicaid Eligibility?
    • Senior Care Options
    • Do I Need an Estate Plan If I’m Single Without Children?
    • How to Pick the Right Nursing Home
    • Should I Hire a Lawyer to Help Me Administer a Trust?
    • Vermont Medicaid Eligibility for Seniors
    • Are Alzheimer’s and Dementia the Same Thing?
    • Common Estate Planning Questions Answered
    • How to Provide for Your Non-Citizen Spouse in Your Estate Plan
    • How Can an Elder Law Attorney Help Me?
    • Last-Minute Medicaid Planning – Can It Still Help Me?
    • What Are the Duties and Responsibilities of an Executor?
    • Steps in Creating a Trust
    • How to Spot Signs of Elder Abuse
    • Is a Trustee Paid?
    • Should I Have Long-Term Care Insurance?
    • What Can I Do to Discourage a Will Contest after I Am Gone?
    • Am I Required to Accept an Inheritance?
    • Why Do I Need an Advance Directive?
    • What Assets Avoid Probate?
    • What Should Be Included in My Estate Plan?
    • Can a Trustee Be Fired?
    • Veterans Aid and Attendance Benefits – What You Should Know
    • Common Trusts Explained
    • Is It Time to Review Your Estate Plan?
    • How Long Will a Beneficiary Have to Wait for Their Inheritance?
    • Why Do I Need to Include Medicaid Planning in My Estate Plan?
    • How to Protect Your Pet in Your Estate Plan
    • 6 Ways in Which Your Assets Might Be at Risk
    • Why You Need a Trust to Protect Your Young Family
    • Estate Planning Basics for Young Families
    • Understanding the Difference between Medicaid and Medicare
    • Questions to Consider When Choosing Your Executor
    • Why Should I Include Probate Avoidance in My Estate Plan?
    • How Can I Include Charitable Gifts in My Estate Plan?
    • Dog Ownership, Seniors, and Pet Planning
    • Five Things to Know About Probate
    • Estate Planning Considerations for a Second Marriage
    • How Many People Rely on Medicaid?
    • What if Your Power of Attorney Isn’t Durable?
    • Vermont Inheritance Laws for Minor Children
    • What are Some of the Top Asset Protection Strategies?
    • What’s Behind Soaring Medicare Prescription Costs?
    • Should Seniors Be Concerned About Cloud Security?
    • 5 Myths About Elderly Women in the U.S.
    • Independent Seniors who are Tech Savvy
    • On the Horizon: Medicaid, Medicare Changes
    • Big Changes in Nursing Home Scoring Algorithms
    • Is Long-Term Care Insurance a No Win?
    • Telehealth Enhancement Act of 2013
    • Protecting Fido: Establish a Pet Trust
    • Discussing Our Mortality With Loved Ones
    • Are Charitable Trusts Good for Taxes?
    • Bitcoins are Digital Assets
    • Healthcare Site Hit with Malicious Software
    • 3 Ways You Should be Protecting Your Retirement
    • Don’t Make Assumptions with Long Term Care
    • Understanding Special Needs Trusts
    • Use Caution When Writing Conditional Will
    • The One Hard Rule with Crummey Trusts
    • Can Long Term Care Coverage Make a Difference?
    • How Well Does Your Estate Planning Attorney Treat You?
    • Perspective: Lump Sum Retirement Payout or Pension Payments?
    • Heirs and Credit Card Debt
    • Vermont Telemed and Medicaid, Private Insurance
    • A Look at Medicaid’s 340B Program
    • When You’re Wealthy, but Want Your Kids to Earn Their Own
    • Vermont Same Sex Marriages
    • When Nursing Homes and Reverse Mortgages Clash
    • Donald Sterling Found to be Mentally Unfit
    • A Fresh Look at Medicare Advantage
    • Breaking Down SSDI and SSI
    • Medicare’s Vast Cardiac Rehab Program
    • Avoiding Mistakes in Your Power of Attorney
    • The Road to a Complete Estate Plan
    • The Role of Life Insurance in Estate Planning
    • The Dreaded Estate Tax
    • Marriage and Retirement
    • Yes, Estate Planning Matters
    • The Risks of No Contest Clause
    • Elderly Activism?
    • Disappointing Turnout for Alzheimer’s Testimony
    • Is Telemedicine the Solution for America’s Healthcare Disaster?
    • VT Seniors: Secondary Coverage or Second Class Citizens
    • A Look at HEMS Standards in Estate Planning
    • Elder Abuse Act: What Alabama Did, But Congress Cannot
    • What Are the Responsibilities of an Executor?
    • Do I Have to Use an Estate Planning Attorney?
    • Stay Ahead of Your Estate Planning Process: Part Two
    • Don’t Want a Will? Then Let the Courts Decide!
    • Celeste Holm Dies at Age 95
    • Estate Planning 101
    • Simple Estate Planning Mistakes You Can Avoid
    • Avoid the Family Feuds: Discuss Estate Planning Ahead of Time
    • Mediation May Save You Money in the Long Run
    • Between Retirement and Elder Years
    • Elderly Targeted in Obamacare Scams
    • How to Minimize Legal Fees in Estate Planning
    • How Much Should Estate Planning Cost?
    • Estate Planning Includes Your Business Too
    • Is Estate Planning Really a Priority?
    • Three Reasons You Need Estate Planning
    • Six Events that Call for an Estate Plan Change
    • What’s Missing? Common Trust Mistakes That Can Cost Later
    • Did You Skip Emergency Planning?
    • The Repercussions of Creating a DIY Will and Trust
    • Transferring Your Residence to Heirs
    • HIPAA: The Number One Missed Step in Today’s Estate Plan
    • Power of Attorney and Durable Power of Attorney: What is the Difference?
    • Common Errors Found in DIY Estate Planning Programs
    • Preparing Your Digital Assets for Estate Planning
    • Medicaid, Alzheimer’s and the Future
    • Home Funerals Making a Comeback?
    • Is Assisted Living Right for Your Loved One?
    • Retirement Truths
    • Single People Need Estate Plans: 10 Reasons Why
    • What Happens to Student Loan Debt after Death?
    • Ensuring Pro Athletes Have Asset Protection
    • What if a Will is Created under Undue Influence?
    • Planning Your Family’s Financial Future as a Female Entrepreneur
    • Protecting Mom and Dad from an Abusive Power of Attorney
    • When Should You Allow Your Children Access to their Inheritance?
    • Estate Planning is For The Elderly….Wrong!
    • Businesses Need Legal Advice for Wise Planning
    • Powers of Attorney and Wills Important as You Age
    • Good and Bad about Working after Early Retirement
    • Buy-Sell Agreements Help Stabilize Business after Partner’s Death
    • Grieving Is Devastating but Necessary
    • Saving the Farm is No Small Task
    • Protect Your Children from Losing Inheritance in Divorce Proceedings
    • Elder Financial Scams Growing
    • Flexibility is an LLC’s Middle Name
    • Living, Beating, Giving Hearts Important to Life
    • How are Retirement Benefits Divided upon Death and Remarriage?
    • Facing Long-Term Care? Consider an Irrevocable Living Trust
    • Challenging a Will no Easy Contest
    • Risky Not to Hire Professionals from the Start
    • Reasons for Prenuptial Agreements Are Changing
    • Proper Trust Administration Essential
    • Obtaining a Death Certificate for Trust Administration
    • Charitable Giving Through a Private Family Foundation
    • Choosing the Right Insurance Payout Option
    • SSI Eligibility Rules Important for Trustees’ Understanding
    • Passing Down a Legacy of Faith and Values
    • New Medicaid Income Eligibility Methodology
    • DIY Living Trust: Proceed with Caution
    • Funeral Costs Keep Rising
    • Know Your Veterans Benefits
    • Think Twice Before Taking a Pension Advance
    • Same Sex Couples and the Federal Estate Tax
    • Mediterranean Diet Cuts Risks, as Does Estate Planning
    • Who and How Do You Trust?
    • Having Fun? Then You’re Likely Retired!
    • Avoiding Probate Pitfalls: Non-Probate Assets and Small Estates
    • Financial Power of Attorney Explained
    • Prepaid Burial Planning: Is it really a good idea?
    • To Disinherit, Reduce a Bequest, or Choose Another Strategy?
    • Discussing Bequests with Your Heirs
    • Health Care at End of Life is Your Decision
  • Category: legacy planning
    • How to Incorporate Your Legacy into Your Estate Plan
    • How a Serious Illness Could Hurt Your Legacy
    • Considerations in Legacy Planning
    • Inheritance Planning: Consider the Recipients
    • What Is the Difference Between Legacy Planning and Estate Planning?
    • When Families Battle Over Sentimental Assets
    • Succession Planning, Cookie and the Three Sons
  • Category: Will
    • 5 Common Vermont Will Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
    • How Do I Modify My Vermont Will?
    • Do I Need an Attorney to Make a Basic Will in Vermont?
    • Should You Include a Pour-Over Will in Your Vermont Estate Plan?
    • Choosing the Right Executor for Your Last Will and Testament in Vermont
    • Is an Oral Will Valid in Vermont?
    • How to Avoid Mistakes When Creating Your Last Will and Testament
    • The Role of a Will in Vermont
    • Free Report:Is Legacy Planning for You?
  • Category: Taxpayer Relief
    • Portability and American Taxpayer Relief Tax Act of 2012
  • Category: Medicare
    • Why Medicare May Not Be Enough
    • Medical Care is Expensive for Seniors, Even With Medicare
    • Budget Agreement Limits Part B Increases
    • What’s Going on With the Massive Medicare Increases?
    • CMS Final 2016 Medicare Payment and Policy Updates
    • Is Your Medicare Advantage in Danger?
  • Category: Living Trusts
    • Top 10 Uses for a Living Trust in Your Estate Plan
    • How Might an Irrevocable Living Trust Fit into My Estate Plan?
    • Questions to Ask Yourself When Creating a Trust
    • Using a Living Trust to Plan for the Possibility of Incapacity
  • Category: Gift Tax Exclusion
    • What Is the Annual Gift Tax Exclusion
  • Category: Taxes in Vermont
    • Free Report: Do I Pay Taxes When Someone Leaves Me Money
  • Category: Legal Education
    • Graduation . . . What’s Next?
    • That Would Never Happen: The Most Dangerous Words in Estate Planning
    • Hulk Hogan and Disclaimers…?
    • When Estate Planning Fails: Family Infighting and the $10 Billion Lakers Sale
    • Trustee Selection: Why It Matters and How to Get It Right
    • Tax Planning for 2025 and Beyond
    • “Let’s Go Crazy” … Over Prince’s Estate
    • What Football and Estate Planning Have in Common
    • How Specific Devises Impact Inheritance
    • No More Cheeseburgers in Paradise
    • The Big Lesson from Tony Bennett’s Embattled Estate and Troubled Trust
    • A Hole in Hackman’s Plan
    • Estate Planning: There’s Something Here for Everyone – Part II
    • Estate Planning and Baseball
    • Proper Estate Planning Brings Peace of Mind During a Disaster
    • Pumpkin Kisses and Harvest Wishes
    • Estate Planning: There’s Something Here for Everyone – Part I
    • Tread Carefully with Specific Bequests
    • The Purple Onion…an ode to Tangible Personal Property
    • 529 Plans – The “Holy Grail” of Estate Planning
    • R-E-S-P-E-C-T Find Out What It Means To…Your Estate Plan
    • What Taylor Swift Can Teach Us About Estate Planning
    • What You Need to Know about the Corporate Transparency Act
    • There’s No Better Way to Say “I’ll Be There for You” than with an Estate Plan
    • Estate Planning Lessons from the Movies – Part II
    • Tax Planning for 2024
    • The Seedier Side of the Holiday Season
    • Estate Planning Lessons from the Movies – Part I
    • It’s a Great Time to Consider a Donor Advised Fund
    • Medicaid Planning
    • What Bruce Willis Can Teach Us About Incapacity Planning
    • What Happens When You Don’t Trust Your Trustee – Part II
    • Planning for the “Silver Tsunami”
    • Discharge of Indebtedness Income and Student Loan Forgiveness
    • More than Just Salad Dressing: The Ongoing Saga of Newman’s Own Foundation
    • The Intersection of Asset Protection Planning and Estate Planning – Part II
    • Lessons from Patagonia
    • The Intersection of Asset Protection Planning and Estate Planning – Part I
    • Understanding Undue Influence – Part II
    • Death and Your Digital Footprint
    • Understanding Undue Influence – Part I
    • How Do I Trust Thee…Part III
    • How Do I Trust Thee…Part II
    • How Do I Trust Thee…Part I
    • What Makes a Will or Trust Invalid
    • How Do I Title Thee…Part 1
    • Business Succession Planning May Be Easier than You Think
    • The Toll of Serving as Fiduciary
    • What Estate of Marion Levine Means for Life Insurance
    • Estate Planning – Something You Shouldn’t Do Yourself
    • The Evolution of our Unified Estate and Gift Tax System
    • The Intersection of Legacy Contacts and Estate Planning
    • It’s Better to Give Than to Receive
    • Tax Planning for 2022
    • It Can Be Scary to Die Without an Estate Plan…the HORRORS of Intestacy
    • Neither Age Nor Health Determines Whether You Need an Estate Plan
    • Charitable Planning in Times of Crisis
    • How Estate Planning Documents Help Prevent Elder Abuse
    • Estate Planning Reduces Stress During High Anxiety Times
    • It’s Important to Have a Coordinated Estate Plan
    • Advantages of Using a “Grantor Trust” in Planning
    • Dangers of Do-It-Yourself Estate Planning
    • Dynasty Trusts
    • Joint Tenancy Problems in Estate Planning
    • Biden Administration Could Reduce Estate Tax Exclusion
    • Starting the New Year Right
    • Updating Your Plan: Beneficiary Designations
    • Updating Your Plan: Your Trust or Will
    • Updating Your Plan: Powers of Attorney
    • Fair Isn’t Always Equal and Vice Versa
    • What’s an “Atom Bomb” or “Contingent Remainder” Beneficiary?
    • Leaving Assets Can Be Tricky – Part 3
    • What the 2020 Election Could Mean for Your Estate Plan
    • Preparing for the Unexpected…and the Eventual
    • Generational Wealth is Key to Leveling the Playing Field
    • The Basics: Powers of Attorney for Healthcare
    • Use the Exclusion or Lose It
    • Planning for Incapacity
    • Will Your Estate Plan Still Work If You Move?
    • Building Flexibility into Your Plan
    • Assignment and Nominee
    • Leaving Assets Can Be Tricky – Part 2
    • Leaving Assets Can Be Tricky
    • Removing Life Insurance Without Triggering the Transfer for Value Rule
    • The Basics: “HIPAA” Powers
    • Removing Life Insurance from the Taxable Estate
    • The Basics: Financial Power of Attorney
    • Whom Do You Want to Get Your Assets?
    • Best Places to Retire: State Taxation
    • Low-Interest Loans: An Estate Planning Technique
    • Uncompensated Transfers
    • Irrevocable Medicaid Trusts
    • Academy’s Spring Summit Virtually Perfect
    • Families Gather in Novel Ways in Pandemic
    • Economic Fallout from Coronavirus May Provide Opportunities
    • Shrunken Asset Values Open Estate Planning Opportunities
    • Coronavirus and Nursing Homes
    • Planning for the Sandwich Generation
    • Joint Tenancy Pros and Cons
    • Beneficiary Designations and Other Non-Probate Transfers
    • The SECURE Act and What It Means for You
    • How Will You Age in Place and Be Able to Die at Home?
    • Preparing for Coronavirus
    • Planning for the SECURE Act
    • Reasons an Estate Plan Could Be Challenged: Part 4 – Lack of Testamentary Capacity
    • Reasons an Estate Plan Could Be Challenged: Part 3 – Fraud
    • Tax Planning for 2020
    • Estate Planning Conference Discusses SECURE Act and More
    • The Questions of Estate Planning, Part 6: Why
    • The Questions of Estate Planning, Part 5: How
    • The Questions of Estate Planning, Part 4: Where
    • The Questions of Estate Planning, Part 3: When
    • The Questions of Estate Planning, Part 2
    • The Questions of Estate Planning, Part I: Who
    • Continuing Legal Education in San Diego
    • Reasons an Estate Plan Could Be Challenged: Part 2 – Undue Influence
    • Reasons an Estate Plan Could Be Challenged: Part 1 – Formal Requirements
    • Planning for Special Needs Children
    • Planning for the Unexpected
    • Planning for Education Expenses
    • 529 Plans: Planning for Education with a Tax and Asset Protection Bonus
    • Use Trust Protectors for Added Protection and Flexibility
    • Income Tax Basis
    • How Will You Obtain the Care You Need?
    • Make Your Own Plan
    • Income Tax Basis in Estate Planning
    • Many Reasons to Plan
    • Why Crowdfunding May Cost You Medicaid Eligibility
    • Planning for Step-Children
    • Disinheritance
    • Your Planning Can Help Your Loved Ones
    • The Importance of Communicating Your Plans
    • How Much is Too Much?
    • Staying Current on Estate Planning
    • Kiddie Tax is Worse Than Ever
    • What is a GST Trust?
    • Making Trusts More Flexible
    • Trust Protectors Add Flexibility
    • Modifying an Irrevocable Trust
    • What are UGMA and UTMA Accounts?
    • What Are 529 Plans and What Are Their Advantages?
    • ABLE Accounts
    • New Estate Tax Proposal
    • State Income Taxation
    • State Income Taxation of Nongrantor Trusts
    • New Tax Proposals
    • Beneficiary Designations, etc., Aren’t a True Substitute for a Trust
    • Selecting an Agent
    • Nongrantor Trusts Can Be Very Useful in Certain Situations
    • How Are Trusts Taxed?
    • Grantor Trusts Provide Flexibility and Ease
    • Turning the Page on 2018 and Looking Forward to 2019
    • Giving Back
    • Proposed Regulations Address “Clawback” Issue
    • Aretha Franklin Died Intestate: What Does It Mean for Her Family?
    • Estate Planning is for You, Not Just Your Parents or Grandparents
    • Planning for the Client Moving Overseas
    • What’s a 529 Plan and What Are the Benefits to Using One?
    • Planning for Frequent Flyer Miles
    • Incapacity Planning
    • A Special Option for Special Kids
    • Basics of Estate Planning: Getting the Most out of Charitable Gifts
    • Law in the U.S. can be Participatory
    • Basics of Estate Planning: Advising Clients on Selecting Fiduciaries
  • Category: Estate Planning
    • Young Families Estate Planning in Vermont
    • How to Handle Digital Assets in Your Vermont Estate
    • Top Questions Vermonters Ask About Estate Planning
    • What Are the Benefits of Including an Incentive Trust in Your Estate Plan?
    • When to Revise Your Vermont Estate Plan: Life Changes to Watch
    • Options for Incorporating Charitable Gifts into Your Estate Plan
    • Estate Planning for Vermont Seniors: Key Considerations
    • 7 Reasons to Conduct an End-of-Year Review of Your Estate Plan
    • 5 Estate Planning Steps for Young Families in Vermont
    • Are You Accidentally Creating an Intestate Estate?
    • Do I Really Need an Attorney to Create My Vermont Estate Plan?
    • Can You Decline an Appointment as Executor in Vermont?
    • Incorporating the Yearly Exclusion into Your Vermont Estate Plan
    • Funeral Planning Mistakes You Cannot Afford to Make in Your Vermont Estate Plan
    • Celebrate National Dog Month with Pet Planning in Your Estate Plan
    • 7 Common Gifting Mistakes That Could Derail Your Estate Plan in Vermont
    • Options for Passing Down Assets in Your Vermont Estate Plan
    • How to Incorporate the Family Vacation Home into Your Estate Plan
    • Updating Your Estate Plan Is Crucial When You Notice Cognitive Decline
    • 5 Estate Planning Strategies to Help Your Estate Avoid Probate in Vermont
    • Estate Planning for Residual Income
    • How to Keep the Details of Your Estate Plan Private
    • Estate Planning for the Frequent Traveler
    • Why Estate Planning Holds Vital Importance for Members of the Sandwich Generation
    • Estate Planning for Women: Differences and Similarities
    • Understanding Fiduciaries in Your Estate Plan
    • What Is a Durable Power of Attorney in Vermont?
    • Should My Family Be Part of My Estate Planning Journey?
    • Estate Planning for Blended Families
    • Estate Planning for the Single Parent
    • What You Need to Know about an Inherited IRA or 401(k)
    • Divorce and Your Estate Plan
    • What Happens If I Die Without a Will in Vermont?
    • 10 Things You Can Do to Make Your Estate Plan a Success
    • What You Need to Know before You Execute a Power of Attorney
    • Top Five Insider Estate Planning Tips
  • Category: Uncategorized
    • How to Prepare for Aging in Place
    • Should I Distribute My Estate Equally Among My Adult Children?
    • Older Americans Month Honors Wisdom
    • Essential Estate Planning Strategies for Comprehensive Asset Protection

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Essex Junction, VT

26 Railroad Ave
Essex Junction, VT 05452
United States (US)
Phone: (802) 879-7133
Fax: (802) 879-0408

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Unsworth LaPlante, PLLC

26 Railroad Ave
Essex Junction, VT 05452
United States (US)
Phone: (802) 879-7133
Fax: (802) 879-0408

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