Celebrities like Jay Leno and Emma Hemming Willis (married to Bruce Willis) are speaking out about their experiences with guardianship and caregiving. If you are caring for a family member with dementia too, a time will...more
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
We all make important decisions and engage in regular financial transactions without giving a second thought about our capacity to do so. But what if you suddenly lost the ability? What would happen? While most of us don’t...more
A power of attorney (“POA”) allows a principal to assign their agent authority to make certain legal and financial decisions on their behalf. Because a POA can give an agent tremendous power over the principal’s affairs,...more
Physicians and healthcare providers, like many others with demanding professions, often postpone or overlook their own estate planning and preparation. Estate planning is a fundamental process for individuals at any stage of...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
Reaching the age of majority is a critical milestone in a young person’s life. It brings with it important changes and new freedoms. The newly minted adult may now vote, enter into contracts, join the military and marry....more
Acting as an agent under a power of attorney is a big responsibility and it isn’t something everyone can take on. It is possible to resign or refuse the position....more
By now, most of us have seen the media coverage and are well aware of Britney Spears’ controversial conservatorship case. Spears became “the international face of a movement,” which, according to the Wolters Kluwer article...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
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
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
2020, a year full of uncertainty, is coming to a close. Our estate planning and tax team is here to help remove some of the uncertainty and speculation prevalent in today’s environment. Many people believe the holiday season...more
It is important to have advance directives in place, whether in the midst of a pandemic or not. All adults should have three types of advance directives. ...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
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
House passes advance directives legislation - The House passed H.950 on Friday, a bill that allows for the remote witnessing of advance directives during the COVID-19 pandemic. Any advance directives created between Feb....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
People have a right to make their own health care decisions. Advance Directives for Health Care (ADHC) can help people communicate their treatment choices if there comes a time when they can’t tell what they want. This...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
We hope that you and your loved ones are healthy and safe. 2020, the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic and this new reality of social distancing and isolation will not soon be forgotten...more
With the coronavirus pandemic, many people have asked, “what happens if I die without an estate plan?” Without a properly prepared estate plan, California does your planning for you. ...more
Friends and colleagues- My thoughts are with you during these uncertain times. First and foremost, I want you and your family to stay safe and healthy. Social distancing is a small price to pay for guarding the wellness...more
The COVID-19 virus, or Coronavirus, has thrown the world in to a tailspin. Businesses have closed their doors, once crowded streets are deserted and people are self-isolating in their homes. During this crisis, there are...more