Providing care for a parent, or other elderly family member, is something many of us truly want to do. That doesn’t mean it is an easy thing to do though. On the contrary, caring for an older adult can be physically and mentally exhausting if you happen to live hundred, or even thousands, of miles away. To help you, an elder law attorney at Nash, Bean, Ford & Brown, LLP offers tips on providing care from a distance. Family Caregivers As the population of older American continues to grow … [Read more...]
The Marital Deduction –What You Need to Know
When you create, or update, your estate plan, it is important to take into account the impact federal (and state) gift and estate taxes could have on your estate. Failing to anticipate your estate’s tax obligation, and plan to limit that obligation, could result in your loved one’s receiving a significantly less valuable estate than you intended to pass down. If you are married, you may be planning to rely heavily on the marital deduction to avoid taxes; however, doing so creates its own set of … [Read more...]
Questions to Ask an Elder Law Attorney
As the population of older Americans continues to grow at a historic pace, the rest of society has scrambled to try and keep up with their needs. Seniors face many of the same legal issues as their younger counterparts; however, they also have some unique legal needs and concerns. To service those needs, a new area of the law evolved known as elder law. The elder law attorneys at Nash Bean Ford & Brown, LLP offer some questions and answers to help you better understand elder law. How do … [Read more...]
Did You Remember Your Digital Assets in Your Estate Plan?
It would be a gross understatement to say that we have all become dependent on electronics. In fact, almost everything we do now has an electronic component to it. How much of your life is now stored electronically? How many daily tasks do you accomplish electronically? What you may not have considered is how technology has also created a whole new class of assets – digital assets. An estate planning attorney at Nash Bean Ford & Brown, LLP can explain how to include those digital assets in … [Read more...]
Why Do I Need an Estate Plan If I Have Very Few Assets?
Do you have an estate plan in place? If not, the reason may be based on the mistaken belief that you don’t need one. People often put off creating an estate plan because they think estate planning is only necessary for those who have acquired a significant amount of assets. To help dispel that myth, a estate planning attorney at Nash Bean Ford & Brown, LLP explains why the value of your estate has nothing to do with the need for an estate plan. Estate Planning Misconceptions Most people … [Read more...]
Do I Need a Lawyer to Help Me Administer a Trust?
Were you recently informed that you are the Trustee of a trust? If so, and this is the first time you have served as a Trustee, the prospect of administering a trust may sound daunting. That may cause you to wonder if you need an attorney to help you. A trust administration attorney at Nash Bean Ford & Brown, LLP explains why retaining the services of an attorney would likely be a wise choice on your part. Trust Basics – Elements of a Trust If you have been named as the Trustee of a … [Read more...]
What Is Required of a Trustee?
At some point, you may decide to incorporate a trust into your comprehensive estate plan to help you achieve one (or more) of your estate planning goals. If so, one of the most important steps in creating your trust will be to choose someone to be the Trustee. Unfortunately, people often realize after the fact that they chose the wrong person as their Trustee. To help ensure that you don’t make the wrong choice, a trust administration attorney at Nash Bean Ford & Brown, LLP explains what is … [Read more...]
Are All Assets Subject to Probate?
Although the primary focus of your estate plan may be to ensure that your estate assets are distributed according to your wishes after you are gone, there are other goals that you may wish to consider when creating your estate plan as well. For example, you may wish to consider the impact probate will have on your estate and on the people you leave behind. Specifically, it is wise to know which estate assets will be part of the probate process when it comes time to probate your estate. Toward … [Read more...]
Preventing a Will Contest with Careful Estate Planning
If you have executed a Last Will and Testament, you are undoubtedly counting on the terms of that Will being followed during the probate of your estate. After all, a primary motivation for creating a Will is the ability to dictate how your estate assets will be distributed when your are gone. If someone successfully challenges your Will, however, your wishes will not be honored and your estate will be distributed using the state’s intestate succession laws. A probate attorney at Nash Bean Ford … [Read more...]
Why Updating Your Estate Plan Is Important
If you have taken the time to create an estate plan, you have given a valuable gift to your loved ones and to yourself. Your estate plan can help grow your assets, protect you in the event of incapacity, and provide for your family in your absence. That plan, however, must be current in order for you and your loved ones to truly benefit from it. A estate planning attorney at Nash Bean Ford & Brown, LLP explains why updating your estate plan is almost as important as creating the plan in the … [Read more...]
