In the aftermath of Hurricane Florence in 2018, I wrote this article to help individuals and families navigate the legal and financial issues that often follow a devastating storm. I remember the incredible outpouring of...more
11/12/2024
/ Asset Management ,
Beneficiaries ,
Estate Planning ,
Estate Tax ,
Guardianships ,
Hurricane Season ,
Incapacitated Persons ,
Minor Children ,
Power of Attorney ,
Probate ,
Wills
Normal aging can be challenging, but caring for an aging family member with dementia is particularly difficult. Over the years, we have often seen caregivers suffer from exhaustion, compromising their mental and physical...more
Estate planning professionals help clients look ahead and anticipate future contingencies. By necessity, however, estate plans are crafted based on laws and circumstances existing at the time they are put in place. This...more
I suspect that many of you, like me, have deleted an email from a friend that says he is away on a trip and needs you to wire him money.
According to experts, despite increased phishing emails and robocalls, it is far...more
According to recent statistics, four out of every ten families are blended families.
As you might expect, estate planning for blended families is often complicated. Proper planning requires not only careful financial and...more
As estate planners, we have seen it all over the years. What we have learned is that people make some common mistakes.
Whether due to procrastination, lack of follow through, or ignoring their own mortality! This article...more
6/13/2019
/ Beneficiaries ,
Divorce ,
Estate Planning ,
Estate Tax ,
Living Will ,
Power of Attorney ,
Property Owners ,
Revocable Trusts ,
Spouses ,
Succession Planning ,
Tax Planning ,
Trusts
I’m writing this in Wilmington, North Carolina at a time when many in this area still are struggling after Hurricane Florence.
The weekend before the storm was bright and sunny. I would have rather gone to the beach, but...more
9/28/2018
/ Beneficiaries ,
Beneficiary Designations ,
Elder Care ,
Elder Issues ,
Estate Planning ,
Estate Tax ,
Personal Property ,
Probate ,
Revocable Trusts ,
Successors ,
Trustees ,
Trusts ,
Wills
A key goal for those of us who practice with Ward and Smith is to inform our clients and future clients of potential developments that may impact them. With respect to Trust and Estate Law, the potential for repeal of the...more