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
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
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
Currently, there is no lack of opinion regarding the millennial generation. As a millennial, it is not hard to understand why. However, despite the potential dividing views on this particular generation, there is one common...more
Have you ever had a loved one experience a mental health crisis that has left them unable to temporarily manage their affairs? You are not alone as millions of Americans suffer from mental health problems. For years,...more
What is an Estate Plan? An Estate Plan is a set of legal documents that memorialize how you want your assets distributed at your death. A good Estate Plan will also include documents that provide for options to manage...more
If you’re a small business owner, you probably don’t have a minute to spare in your busy workday, especially if you’re struggling to recover after a turbulent 2020. Estate planning may be one of the last things on your mind. ...more
Continuing with this month’s focus on special needs planning and decision-making, and building off of a prior post introducing the concepts of guardianship and conservatorship, this post will focus on the initial procedural...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
If you’re like most people, there is a laundry list of things you’d rather do than think about your estate plan. While it can be a challenging area to discuss, your estate plan is essential to ensure you and your family are...more
Taking the time to complete your health care power of attorney and living will is a great step toward ensuring that your health care wishes will be followed if you are unable to make decisions for yourself. A health care...more
COVID-19 has changed our lives in so many ways. Social distancing and wearing masks at the grocery store have become the new normal. We are all doing our best to make sure our families are safe, which in many cases has...more
If you’re like many people, you have not put much thought into who will make your health care decisions if you are unable or what kinds of decisions might need to be made. However, during these unprecedented times, you may...more
Planning for illness, infirmity and incapacity is always an important part of providing for your financial and personal security. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, though, we are all potentially facing an increased risk of...more
You’ve already read about the importance of discussing death and dying, and why in Massachusetts you must have the document, and then have the conversation, so you know that having a health care proxy is important. If you do...more
A person’s will is the centerpiece of his or her estate plan. Typically, it’s the most important document used in estate planning and is created before any other. A document that complements a will is a letter of instruction....more
While we may know better, an 18-year-old college student is generally considered an adult under New York law. Your rights as a parent to make decisions for your child change suddenly when he/she turns age 18. You no longer...more
Despite scientific research, an 18 year old college student is generally considered an adult under New York law. Parents’ rights to make decisions for their child change suddenly when he/she turns age 18. Parents no longer...more
With all the changes in the new tax laws, some people may be hesitant to move forward with an estate plan. It is important, however, to keep in mind that most clients will not be subject to the federal estate tax and...more
A recent California appellate case, Stewart v. Superior Court (2017) 16 Cal.App.5th 87, validates the primacy of medical powers of attorney and (as they are more currently known) advance health care directives. Medical...more
If a person is pulled between the pressing needs of elderly parents and his or her own children, he or she is part of the “sandwich generation.” This position can lead to frustration, anguish and even financial loss. This...more
The sandwich generation: A slice of life - Do you feel like you’re pulled between the pressing needs of your elderly parents and your own children? If so, you’re part of the “sandwich generation,” the term coined to...more