Rodge Cohen: Dodd-Frank Fixes "Too Big To Fail"
A comprehensive estate plan provides how your estate is handled in the event of death or incapacitation. It also establishes your desires for how medical and life-sustaining treatments are communicated and administered. ...more
As your child approaches their milestone 18th birthday, it's crucial to understand the changes and responsibilities that accompany reaching the age of majority in the eyes of the law. This moment marks their transition into...more
When we think about making plans to secure our future, generally the discussions revolve around education, career, family, and finances. Creating a comprehensive estate plan, including effective advanced directives, can elude...more
When it comes to estate planning, consider taking a page out of the Boy Scouts Handbook: Be prepared. The last thing you want is for your family to be scrambling to pick up the pieces after your death. Of course, you’ll need...more
Health care and financial powers of attorney are critical components of an effective estate plan. Indeed, while much of your estate plan focuses on actions that take place after your death, it’s equally important to have a...more
What are the most important elements of estate and tax planning for US expatriates? Are you planning to move out of the United States? Are you a US taxpayer who lives and works outside of the country? What are some of the...more
When thinking of creating an estate plan, here are a few things to consider before finalizing your final wishes: Should you create a Will or a Trust? The essential difference between a will and a trust is that a...more
Many think estate planning is only a concern for those who are later in their stage of life or wealthy. They put it off for years, or entirely. Estate planning is for everyone and essential to maintain financial security...more
Though some situations cannot be avoided, legal documents can be employed to clarify your wishes and priorities. If you become debilitated by an illness or injury, an advance directive can detail which treatments and...more
Prospective clients often call and tell me they “need a simple living will.” They usually mean they want a will – and likely a trust, general power of attorney, health care power of attorney, living will, and real estate...more
At the very least, your estate plan should include a legally valid will governing the disposition of assets upon your death. But comprehensive estate planning often goes much further....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
More than 50% of Americans lack an estate plan, which can lead to tricky situations down the road when a loved one gets sick or passes away. A living will, or advanced directive, in particular, can be a critical document in...more
Estate planning is the tool that allows individuals to control how their assets and lives will be managed in case of their incapacitation or death. One common misconception is that estate planning is solely for the wealthy....more
A sensitive and often complicated conversation that individuals have with their aging parents relates to protective measures in the event of the parents’ incapacity. A power of attorney and the variations of such concerning...more
Many people think that estate planning is just about what happens when someone dies. However, an equally-important part of estate planning is ensuring that you are cared for while you are still alive. If you become...more
Estate planning experts usually cite the need to include advance health care directives in a comprehensive estate plan. But there’s often disagreement about the legal names given to those directives and their optimal use,...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
First and foremost, let’s address a common misconception we’re seeing right now: a Living Will is NOT the same as a Last Will and Testament. The terms “living will” and “medical directives” are hot topics currently as many...more
Whether you have been named power of attorney or have named someone to act as yours, it is crucial to understand the legal obligations and restrictions of power of attorney and living wills. In this webinar, Whitney O’Reilly...more
By unexpectedly raising apprehensions regarding mortality and quality of life issues that many Individuals were not addressing prior to the pandemic, the Covid-19 pandemic is provoking individuals to think about their...more
Naturally, COVID-19 has led to a large degree of uncertainty, which emphasizes the importance of having your estate plan in place – or establishing one if you have not done so already. ...more
Believe it or not, as of your child's 18th birthday, your child is an "adult" in the eyes of the law. With colleges and many businesses shut down due to COVID-19, your adult child might be living back under your roof and...more
In uncertain times like these, COVID-19 reminds us to be prepared for the unexpected. Do you have an estate plan in place? If so, now is the time to review those plans and make any necessary updates. If not, consider...more
The numbers of confirmed cases of U.S. citizens with COVID and of those who die from COVID related symptoms are continuing to rise. COVID-19 has caused life-threating respiratory conditions, extended hospitalizations, and a...more