This is the third in a three-part series of articles on Powers of Attorney by my friend and colleague Steve Hartnett, an estate planning expert. The first article examined the Financial Power of Attorney. This second article examines the Healthcare Power of Attorney and Advance Directive. Read on to learn more … [Read more...] about The Basics: “HIPAA” Powers
Estate Planning
The Basics: Powers of Attorney for Healthcare
Powers of Attorney are part of even the simplest estate plan. A Power of Attorney allows your Agent to act for you. There are Powers of Attorney for financial matters and also those for health care. This article by my friend and colleague Steve Hartnett, an estate planning expert, concerns the Healthcare Powers of Attorney and Advance Directives. Read on to learn more … [Read more...] about The Basics: Powers of Attorney for Healthcare
The Basics: Financial Power of Attorney
Powers of Attorney are part of even the simplest estate plan. A Power of Attorney allows your Agent to act for you. There are Powers of Attorney for financial matters and also those for health care as discussed by my friend and colleague Steve Hartnett, an estate planning expert. Read on to learn more … [Read more...] about The Basics: Financial Power of Attorney
Dont End Up Rich, Famous, and Intestate
Many who have yet to create an estate plan tell themselves “When I become rich and famous I’ll do it because then I will really need one”. Surprisingly, many of the rich and famous still don’t get around to it, creating a legal nightmare when they die. Consider the following short list of rich and famous persons who failed to leave behind an effective estate plan. Abraham Lincoln: Despite being a lawyer himself, even the 16th President of the United States died intestate. Jimi Hendrix: … [Read more...] about Dont End Up Rich, Famous, and Intestate
The Government Estate Plan for Intestacy
If you are one of the millions of Americans who has failed to create an estate plan, you are officially signed up for the government estate plan. When you fail to execute as much as a Last Will and Testament or Living Trust prior to your death, your estate will be handled according to the government’s rules and laws since you are considered to have died intestate. So how does the government estate plan work? For starters, except for the most modest estates, it is likely that everything you … [Read more...] about The Government Estate Plan for Intestacy
Top 4 Estate Planning Mistakes to Avoid Making
Your estate plan will likely be among the most important endeavors you will undertake over the course of your lifetime. Ideally, your estate plan should protect and provide for you and your loved ones, both while you are alive and after you are gone. It only makes sense, therefore, to avoid making mistakes during the creation of your plan. To help you, we will discuss the top four estate planning mistakes to avoid making. Waiting Too Long to Start Planning. One of the biggest … [Read more...] about Top 4 Estate Planning Mistakes to Avoid Making
The Importance of Liquidity When Planning Your Estate
For many people, the impetus to create an estate plan comes from the desire to protect and provide for loved ones. The primary objective of your estate plan may be the creation of a plan for the distribution of your assets upon your death; however, simply devising a plan to distribute your assets to loved ones may not be enough to ensure that your loved ones are protected and provided for if something happens to you. For example, have you thought about the impact estate liquidity will have on … [Read more...] about The Importance of Liquidity When Planning Your Estate
Low-Interest Loans: An Estate Planning Technique
The coronavirus has caused upheaval in society and the economy. But, this unique time also opens up opportunities in estate planning. Read this blog by my friend and colleague, Steve Hartnett, an estate planning expert, to learn more. Low-Interest Loans: An Estate Planning Technique … [Read more...] about Low-Interest Loans: An Estate Planning Technique
Avoiding Family Chaos in the Coronavirus Age
The novel “coronavirus” (also called “SARS-CoV-2”) causes the disease “COVID-19.” It first appeared in late 2019 and was reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) on December 31, 2019. Here’s a link to the WHO’s site for the latest global information. COVID-19 has impacted the lives of millions of people and countless events around the world. The coronavirus has infected over four million people around the world, including over a million in the United States. It has killed over 80,000 … [Read more...] about Avoiding Family Chaos in the Coronavirus Age
Irrevocable Medicaid Trusts
Medicaid is a state-federal partnership that provides medical benefit assistance to certain needy people, especially those over 65 years of age. It is known as Medi-Cal in California. However, you need to meet financial requirements such as asset limits to qualify. Assets in an irrevocable trust not for your benefit typically don’t count as available. Read the following blog by my friend and colleague Steve Hartnett, an estate planning expert, to learn more. Irrevocable Medicaid Trusts … [Read more...] about Irrevocable Medicaid Trusts
