The Responsibilities of a “Fiduciary”
It may be necessary for you to act as a power of attorney for a family member or a friend. Your person may be planning for when they might become unable to take care of their affairs. For example, they…
How Estate Planning Can Benefit Seniors
In terms of setting up wills and estate plans, older Americans outpace their younger counterparts. Still, a significant number — 19 percent of those over age 72 and 42 percent of those between 53 and 71, according to survey data…
Estate Planning: What You Need to Know
While estate planning may seem to be for the wealthy, a person's estate is simply the property that they own, and most people own a little bit of property. Property ownership includes individual as well as jointly owned bank accounts,…
A Young Adult’s Guide to Estate Planning
Most young adults, even professionals aged thirty or more, believe they are too young to worry about estate planning. Young adults in their twenties and thirties often think they don't own enough to constitute an estate. However, an estate is…
Dementia Can Put Financial Wellbeing at Risk
Dementia can cause your financial well-being to suffer when your mental capabilities diminish. If you are age 50 or older, easy access to your financial assets like stocks and bonds, checking and savings accounts, money market accounts, and other assets…
An Overview of Powers of Attorney (POA)
Power of Attorney (POA) documents should be established as part of your estate planning. All states recognize powers of attorney, but rules and requirements will differ from state to state. The document gives one or more individuals the legal authority…
Ensure Your Final Wishes Are Accomplished
There can never be enough emphasis placed on making end-of-life preparations. Many put off making these plans thinking there is always time. The sad reality is that none of us are guaranteed time. Others may be bothered by the thought…
Review Your Estate Plan Annually to Make Sure It Is Up-to-Date
Just like you should visit your doctor for a yearly check-up, you should review your estate planning documents annually to make sure they are up-to-date. Children grow up, marriages dissolve, property gets sold, residences change. That’s why we recommend that…
Things to Consider When Designating Your Legal Representative
It is important to consider who you would trust to manage your finances when you are no longer able to. A power of attorney (POA), otherwise known as an agent to your principal, has the legal authority to represent and…
A Guide for Appointing a Power of Attorney
In the event you may become incapacitated and need a trusted person to manage your affairs, a power of attorney will declare who this trusted agent is. These legal documents can grant broad authority to one or more power of…