Oscar-winning actor Philip Seymour Hoffman’s will has been filed for probate and provides a cautionary tale when it comes to estate planning mistakes. Here are four things he could have done to correct them: Create a Revocable Living Trust. Hoffman was a public...
Estate Planning
How Advance Medical Directives Became a Way of Life in One American Town
With just over 50,000 residents, La Crosse is a lot like other small American towns – but there is one thing that makes La Crosse stand out: 96% of La Crosse residents who have died have had an advance medical directive in place. Nationally, the percentage of...
Receiving an Inheritance One Day? Here’s What to Do Now.
Baby boomers are set to inherit up to $8.4 trillion over the next 15 years, according to The Center for Retirement Research at Boston College. A recent New York Times article explored the complicated issues that these inheritances can bring, including transferring...
How Much Does A Will Cost?
How Much Do You Charge for a Will? If you came to this page to find out what I’ll charge you for a Will or you are considering calling me (or any other attorney) to ask, “How much do you charge for a will?” stop. It’s not the right question. The question you need an...
What To Do With Your Estate Plan Before You Travel
Consider Your Estate Plan Before You Travel We are fast approaching the holidays, when travel is the busiest and careful planning is necessary to nab the best airfare or book that New Year’s beach cottage before it slips away. One thing that is probably not on your...
How to Care for Children with Special Needs Through Estate Planning
For many people, the basics of estate planning are simple enough, but for those families with loved ones who are disabled or have special needs, the estate planning process is more involved – and definitely more critical. The latest statistics show that five percent...
Taking the Complexity Out of Estate Planning
Remember that old joke: How do you eat an elephant? Answer: One bite at a time. At the heart of that gag is the truth about how you tackle any seemingly complex task, taking it one step at a time so as not to overwhelm yourself. Many people neglect to create an...
The 10 Keys to Planning and Living Your Best Retirement
The 10 Keys to Planning and Living Your Best Retirement Have you ever noticed how long vacations or even three day weekends give us all the tiniest snippet of a glimpse into what retirement might be like…i.e., extra time to do what we want. But to have a fulfilling...
Is It Time To Kick Your Kid Off The Couch?
How to Get Your Boomerang Kid Off Your Couch & Ensure He Becomes an Adult You Are Proud to Say You Raised A recent Economist article says a “perfect storm” of the poor economy of the past few years, resulting in fewer job prospects for college grads and other...
Divorce After 50: Common Mistakes That Can Ruin Retirement
Beyond the emotional impact that divorce can have on couples of any age that decide to split, it can have a potentially devastating effect on the retirement plans of those who divorce later in life. Divorce after 50 usually results in a loss of income for both...