The Work of a Legal Assistant If you Google “Legal Assistant” you would find job descriptions that list seemingly boring administrative tasks with perhaps a few interesting things mixed in. You might even find the ever-popular joke: Legal assistant (n.) a person who babysits lawyers People have a lot of ideas about what we (Chris,…
Details
Preparing for Coronavirus: The #1 Legal Document Every Adult Needs to Have As the coronavirus continues to disrupt daily life and leave Americans uncertain of the future, you don’t have to feel helpless during this pandemic. In fact, now is a great time to be proactive and plan ahead should you or a loved one…
Details
Five Common Mistakes with “DIY“ Estate Plans In light of the current pandemic, many people are becoming aware of the importance of creating or updating their estate planning documents. With the extension of some states’ stay in place orders, it may be tempting to create your own documents all on your own. Whether you are…
Details
Important Steps to Protect Your Special Beneficiaries All children are a blessing. From the day they are born, you begin making plans to ensure that your child or grandchild has a bright future. What will their interests be? What job will they have? Who will they marry? While these are common concerns for most families,…
Details
Protect Your Finances From Coronavirus Complications Many Americans spend a lot of time and effort in managing their finances. While most are worried about how the coronavirus (COVID-19) will impact their income—whether that’s because they are temporarily furloughed, find themselves suddenly without a job, or watching their investment and retirement accounts dwindle—there is another way…
Details
What should I do if I’ve received a Covid-19 Stimulus Check for a deceased person? It has come to our attention that some of our clients have received an Economic Impact Payment, authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), for a person who is no longer living. If you receive an Economic Impact…
Details
CORONAVIRUS / COVID 19: Essential Estate Planning Considerations for Yourself and Loved Ones With the threat and uncertainty of COVID-19, many people may be thinking about what they should be doing to prepare for and handle their personal estate planning needs or those of an elderly family member. Here is a checklist of estate planning…
Details
If A Decedent Dies Without A Will, How Are The Assets Distributed? Each state has statutes called “Intestacy” statutes that are referred to when an individual dies without a Will. These statutes dictate intestate succession, which is how “probate” property is to be distributed to the decedent’s heirs. What is probate property, or, stated another…
Details
The SECURE Act and Your Estate Plan On December 20, 2019, President Trump signed the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act (SECURE Act). The Act became effective on January 1, 2020 and impacts retirement accounts. Among other things, the Act increases the start date for required minimum distributions (RMDs) from 70 ½ years…
Details
Myth: A Will Avoids Probate Many people believe that once they have created a Will–whether drafted by an experienced attorney or using a do-it-yourself solution or online form–they have avoided probate. Unfortunately, they are wrong. A Will is a way to designate a person to wind up your affairs once you have died, determine who…
Details