Tag Archives: estate planning attorney
How Does an IRA Fit Into Your Estate Plan?
When you think of IRAs, you probably think of retirement. But what happens to your IRA money after you’re gone? The answer depends on how you go about creating your estate plan and selecting beneficiaries, and you might be surprised to find out that your money could end up with the wrong people or… Read More »
Legal Planning to Address Alzheimer’s Disease
After procrastinating for several years, you decided to engage an estate planning attorney to prepare your estate plan. Now that the plan is completed, where do you store your Advance Directive /Health Care Power of Attorney, Living Will and HIPPA Authorization so that they are available in an emergency? At McDonald Law Firm, we… Read More »
New Baby? The Importance of Estate Planning for New Parents
Estate planning is often one item that gets pushed back on nearly everyone’s to-do list. The reasons you might be delaying vary: lack of time, not thinking you have enough assets, not knowing how to start, or fear of contemplating death. Whatever the reason for not putting an estate plan together up until now,… Read More »
What to Do After the Death of a Spouse
When a spouse passes away, thinking about “the estate” might be the last thing on your mind. And while it’s necessary to give yourself ample time to process the loss of a love one, it’s also imperative that you speak with your estate planning attorney so that you know what to do after the… Read More »
4 Tips for Avoiding a Trust or Will Contest
A trust or will contest can derail your final wishes, rapidly deplete your estate, and tear your loved ones apart. If you are concerns about the possibility of challenges to your estate plan, the best way to prevent a trust or will contest is with proper planning. 4 Ways to help your family… Read More »
Estate Planning for Military Families: Are You Protected? (UPDATED: August 2019)
No matter the time of year, it is always a good opportunity for members of the military and their loved ones to consider setting up — or revising an existing —estate plan. Military families need to consider special estate-planning issues that others do not. This is particularly true when one or more family members… Read More »
Impacts of the Trump Presidency on Estate Planning: Your Quick Guide
Estate Planning Under Trump It’s official — at 12:00 p.m. on January 20th, 2017, Donald J. Trump was inaugurated as the 45th President of the United States of America, in essence completing the 2016 presidential election cycle. With that bit of uncertainty behind us and a fresh administration starts out, here’s what you need… Read More »
Warning: If You Own Property This Way, You May Accidentally Disinherit Your Own Children
Owning property as Joint Tenants with Right of Survivorship is easy, common, and often disastrous. Sadly, children – both minor and adult – are often disinherited. While there are several forms of joint ownership, the one most people use (and the one considered in this blog) is called Joint Tenants with Right of Survivorship. When… Read More »
How to Get Organized to Meet With Your Estate Planning Attorney
OK, great! You’ve finally decided it’s time to meet with an estate planning attorney and get your affairs in order. It’s time to make sure your family is protected. Now that you’ve scheduled the first appointment, what’s the next step? You can do one of two things: (1) Simply wait for the meeting date… Read More »
