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Every comprehensive estate plan should include a power of attorney and a healthcare declaration to address catastrophic events that do not cause the person’s death.  The unexpected can happen at any time. Understanding Power of Attorney: What You Need to Know A Power of Attorney (POA) is a legal document that allows someone else—referred to […]

It often takes years to build a successful closely held business.  Often this success is principally due to the efforts of one, or a few individuals.  Building a succession plan that addresses the unexpected death of a key person is part of the estate planning process for the small business owner. Why Business Owners Should […]

Estate plans should not be considered one-time events.  When life evolves, often our desires and needs evolve as well.  A periodic review is always a good idea. Your Estate Plan Is Complete — What Comes Next? Congratulations — you’ve taken a major step by creating your estate plan. You’ve made thoughtful decisions, signed important documents, […]

For families with high net worth, marital trusts (set up for the surviving spouse after the death of the first spouse), can create significant tax advantages while still fully benefiting the surviving spouse. What Is a Marital Trust?A marital trust is a type of irrevocable trust designed to transfer a deceased spouse’s assets to the surviving […]

The ideal time to estate plan is before cognitive decline begins; once a person has lost their mental capacity, many estate planning options are no longer available to the family. Planning Ahead: Legal Strategies to Address Cognitive DeclineCognitive decline is a reality many of us may encounter as we grow older. While it can be […]

Funding your trust, i.e. putting your assets into the name of your trust, is a necessary but often overlooked part of the estate planning process. Creating a Trust Isn’t the Final Step—You Still Need to Fund ItYou did everything right—or so you thought. After months of meetings and decisions, you finally signed your trust documents […]