The Elimination of the Oklahoma Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare
Did you know that as soon as your child turns 18, you lose automatic access to their health, school, and financial information? When a child turns 18 and becomes a legal adult, it’s a momentous occasion—filled with...more
You just landed your first “real” job and are looking forward to the exciting opportunities ahead. Your new job is accompanied by a 401k and opening a savings account. You have a car and you are thinking about buying your...more
Dear Jonathan: My parents just updated their estate plan and told me that they named me in their wills, their trust and their financial and health care durable powers of attorney to act for them when they can no longer act...more
A power of attorney is among one of the most important incapacity planning documents you can have. It designates someone you trust with taking care of your affairs if you become unable to do so....more
Our attorneys field questions every day about the nuanced estate planning issues that arise due to a client's unique circumstances, but there also are many fundamental estate planning considerations that apply "across the...more
For young adults, the inevitable is typically not at the forefront when it comes to making future plans, precluding many from giving any thought to what may happen to their assets on death. In reality, all young adults should...more
In the unfortunate situation where you are not available to care for your child or pet, it is prudent to plan ahead by nominating a guardian for your child and/or pet. Advance planning avoids potential court fights over...more
Many people think they don’t need “estate planning” because they don’t have enough assets to generate an estate tax; however, there are four basic estate planning documents everyone should have regardless of net worth. 1....more
Over the past few months, life has changed dramatically for a majority of North Carolinians. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for individuals to have estate planning documents, including a will, durable powers of...more
The COVID-19 pandemic has created an atmosphere of stress of a magnitude which is virtually unprecedented in most of our lifetimes. The reality of this crisis has forced many individuals to examine what they can do to protect...more
Many people believe that once they have executed their estate planning documents, those documents can remain in the safe deposit box until the day when they may be needed. However, your estate planning documents should be...more
Inside this Issue: - Executors and trustees: The name game - What are the benefits of a durable power of attorney? - Digital assets and your estate plan: This asset type requires special planning - ESTATE PLANNING...more
You have planned your life carefully. With your spouse you have drawn up a will and established trusts to organize your estate after your deaths. You have made decisions about the guardianship of your children should anything...more
It’s advisable to review and update your estate plan with any change in personal circumstances, financial circumstances, changes in the law, or just the passage of an extended time. But if you’re in the midst of a divorce, or...more
Believe it or not, as of your child's 18th birthday, your child graduated from being a "minor" to becoming a "legal adult." While your child is home from college this summer or preparing to head off to college in the fall,...more
Over the last week, you may have noticed an uptick in reruns of Beverly Hills 90210 in honor of the late Luke Perry, who played bad boy Dylan McKay on the show. I myself grew up watching 90210, and was shocked and saddened by...more
At Valentine’s Day, we celebrate those we love whether our loved ones are our children or grandchildren, spouses, committed partners, or a romantic interest. While flowers and chocolate tend to be the traditional gifts to...more
In This Issue: - Time passages: Estate planning through the years - Basis consistency rules come into play when inheriting property - Estate tax laws continue to change; so should your plan - ESTATE PLANNING...more
While business owners frequently devote substantial resources to growing their business, they often forget to think of themselves along the way. Originally published in The Press-Enterprise and other Southern California...more
We all know we are not immortal. Death is a certainty for all of us. But the topic of death and our own mortality can be one of discomfort, or even denial. We’ve all made or heard the usual excuses for avoiding or delaying...more
A “blended family” is more than just a staple of TV sitcoms. Today, it’s not unusual for a household to include children and even grandchildren from prior marriages, as well as adopted family members or same-sex couples....more
President Abraham Lincoln. Civil rights activist Martin Luther King, Jr. Rock guitarist Jimi Hendrix. Eccentric billionaire Howard Hughes. Singer/songwriter Bob Marley. NFL quarterback Steve McNair. Singer/songwriter Prince. ...more
Proper estate planning for young families is essential, despite often being overlooked by both clients and attorneys. Many young families view their estate as being “simple” because in their minds they “don’t have much,” and...more
What are the “ABC’s” of estate planning? Over the next few weeks we will discuss some simple but important concepts as we discuss the “ABCs” of estate planning. Today we will discuss “A” and “B”....more
With the introduction of the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (Act), the world of estate planning has been injected with a dose of certainty after more than 10 years of uncertainty as to federal estate, gift and...more