Estate Planning
Do an Estate Plan Your Way, Like John McCain
We lost two great Americans very recently: John McCain and Aretha Franklin. On the surface, they had great taste in music in common, but choose very different paths in their legacy planning. If you have been watching John McCain’s Funeral proceedings over the last few days, you may have heard that much of what was occurring…
READ MORE →Don’t Forget Your Pets: Pet Trusts Provide for Furry Family
A pet trust is a legal arrangement that provides for the care and maintenance of pets in the event of their owner’s death or incapacity.
READ MORE →6 Estate Planning Myths Debunked
US News and World Reports wrote an excellent blog post detailing the six most common estate planning myths. I thought I would share the list with you because it is a great overall reference: A will is perfect for making sure property in your name alone is distributed properly, such as a house, jewelry, cars etc.…
READ MORE →Privacy Matters: Wills Vs. Living Trusts
Wills Vs. Living Trusts. The terms are used interchangeably but are they really the same thing? The quick answer is definitely not. One affords more privacy in the long run than the other. Most of us are not celebrities, but we may for one reason or another want to keep our private matters private, even…
READ MORE →Estate Plan: Party of One
Estate Plan: Party of One We often hear how hard it is for clients to choose from various family members to execute an estate plan, but what if you are single and without children (at least nearby)? “About 35.4 million Americans lived alone in 2016, comprising 28.1 percent of all U.S. households, according to the…
READ MORE →Student Loans & Estate Planning: Read Before Applying
My friends and clients who have upperclassmen in high school have been mentioning their university tours and investigating how they (and/or their kids) will pay for college. Many are considering student loans and apparently, they are not the only ones — 44 million Americans have student loan debt and owe over $1.48 trillion (yes, with a…
READ MORE →Summertime: Read This Before You Go On Vacation or Off to College
This Memorial Day, one of my clients was acknowledging a loss of her own (in addition to the loss of many brave men and women who fight for our country). It marked the 20th anniversary of the loss of her brother while away on vacation on the Colorado River in Laughlin, Nev. Despite the years,…
READ MORE →3 Ways to Estate Plan Like a Royal
Whatever the size of your “kingdom,” you’ll most likely need to have an estate plan. In Arizona, if you own personal property (including cars, jewelry, furniture, heirlooms, etc.) that is worth more than $75,000 – or real estate with more than $100,000 in equity, your estate will go to probate. But with a proper plan,…
READ MORE →Happy Mother’s Day: Celebrate, then Plan
You’ve made brunch reservations and bought flowers. The kids have made a special card and you bought her favorite perfume or other special gift. Mother’s Day is special because Moms are special. What would we do without them? What would we do without them? Whether they have been Moms for 1 year or 41 years, their…
READ MORE →Funeral Planning Costs Less in Arizona
According to an article in the East Valley Tribune, burying a loved one in Arizona will cost less than in other states.
READ MORE →Thinking of Becoming an Organ Donor?
Thousands of Arizona residents are currently waiting for donated organs, so the need is great. If you are interested in donating, here are the steps you can take: Join approximately 3.3 million on Donate Life Arizona and Register. The site is not only a wealth of information, but you can register so that in the…
READ MORE →Three Documents Your 18-Year-Old Needs, 2021 Edition
Here in Arizona, as kids turn 18, they are considered adults and parents don’t have the same legal authority to make choices for them any longer. If your 18 year old is temporarily or permanently unable to make choices (due to an illness or injury), no one would be able to intervene in medical or…
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