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Celebrating 5 Years as a CELA

Certified Elder Law Attorney John McNair

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?

House inheritance for Medicaid Beneficiary

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?

unmarried couples estate planning complicated

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?

estate planning to-dos

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.

What is not Covered by a Will?

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

John McNair presenting to TORCH

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?

Estate Planning Assets

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?

credit card debt paid by adult child?

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?

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