Celebrating 5 Years as a CELA
This month I celebrate the five year anniversary of earning the National Elder Law Foundation’s Certified Elder Law Attorney, or CELA, designation.
What Happens to My Mortgage When I Die?
Understanding what happens to your debt when you die is an important part of estate planning—and you don’t have to be rich to have an estate. Everything you own and owe makes up your estate. For many people, that includes a house with a mortgage.
What Happens If an Unmarried Partner Dies?
A proper estate plan will help those left navigate the disposition of assets and the probate court system, especially for unmarried couples and some married same-sex couples.
What are Top ‘To-Dos’ in Estate Planning?
The biggest misconception people have about estate planning is that “they are not that old and can do it later,” say almost half (49%) of advisors in a recent Key Private Bank Advisor Poll on estate planning. Yet, the majority (73%) of advisors say the ideal age to start putting an estate plan in place is before 40—earlier than many people think.
Are Your ‘Affairs’ Really in Order?
With the threat of COVID-19, we’ve all come face-to-face with our mortality, but are you prepared for the worst?
What is not Covered by a Will?
While a will is one of the most important estate planning documents you can have, there are things that a will won’t cover.
The Return of In-Person Events
As the number of people who have been fully vaccinated in the US continues to grow, in-person events are returning. Precautions such as limiting attendance, spacing between seats, and masks when distancing can’t be maintained are making indoor, in-person events safer for most people. Just this week, John McNair was one of several professional speakers […]
Why are Beneficiary Designations Important in Estate Planning?
Vanguard has sent me a beneficiary designation verification letter. For the primary beneficiary, it says it will be the person I am married to at the time of my death. For the secondary beneficiary, it says, my descendants “per stirpes.” I have one child. Should the beneficiary designation include his name?
Does My Family Have to Pay My Credit Card Debt When I Die?
Especially with the average U.S. household having $7,027 in revolving credit card debt and Americans owing a total of $416.1 billion in credit card debt, according to a recent Nerdwallet study, some Americans will have credit card debt for the rest of their lives. However, what happens to credit card debt when you die?
Are Childhood Collections Part of Your Estate Planning?
COVID-19 has altered how we spend our time. Most forms of socialization were scaled back or continued virtually. The forced isolation reignited a passion for hobbies and collecting.