New Asset Transfer Look-Back for VA Aid & Attendance Coming Soon: The Window of Opportunity is Closing Quickly! Background: The VA offers a valuable benefit to wartime veterans through Aid & Attendance, i.e., those who served even 1 day in a time of war and served at least 90 days in one of the branches of the service. The veteran must also have not received a dishonorable discharge. If the veteran is age 65, and the veteran or their spouse can receive assistance in daily … [Read more...] about Look-Back for VA Aid & Attendance
Planning for Winners, Part 2 of 2
Lottery winners often end up in bankruptcy. Learn how an estate planning attorney can help you avoid mistakes and plan for your newfound wealth. This article looks at ways to protect the wealth and ways to benefit charity and others. This is a two-part series concerning planning for lottery winners. The first part concerned avoiding pitfalls. Here we take a look at planning strategies to consider. Now that the lottery winner has avoided some of the possible pitfalls, let’s look at some … [Read more...] about Planning for Winners, Part 2 of 2
Planning for Lottery Winners, Part 1 of 2
How many of us have wanted to win the lottery? I have. How would winning the lottery effect your estate plan? This article is the first of a two part series. Here we take a look at avoiding pitfalls, even if you did not win the lottery. The second part concerns planning strategies to consider. Last week, a very lucky individual in San Jose, California, purchased the winning Mega Millions Jackpot ticket, matching all six numbers. The winner can choose between payments totaling $543 … [Read more...] about Planning for Lottery Winners, Part 1 of 2
Estate Planning Considerations – Taxes
This sixth article focuses on how taxes should be considered in planning an estate. This is part of a series of blogs on important estate planning considerations. I’ll intersperse these blogs with other timely blogs. When planning, taxes are an important consideration. Of course, that does not mean they are the only consideration, or even the most important consideration. That’s the reason taxes appear as the final estate planning consideration on the list. Taxes really break down into … [Read more...] about Estate Planning Considerations – Taxes
Estate Planning Considerations – Beneficiary Designations
This article focuses on beneficiary designations and the need for coordinating them with the overall plan. This is part of a series of blogs on important estate planning considerations. I’ll intersperse these blogs with other timely blogs. The first article in the series showed how an estate plan prepares one for incapacity during life and not just for the distribution of assets at death. The second article in the series focused on how an estate plan should take into consideration the … [Read more...] about Estate Planning Considerations – Beneficiary Designations
Last Will and Testament 101
Estate Planning: Last Will and Testament 101 I hear people all the time say why do I need a last will; it’s all going to go to my spouse anyway. Then I tell them the following story. I recently ran into an old friend whose spouse had passed away unexpectedly. She soon found out that her spouse did not have a will. She assumed that because they were married, everything would go to her when her spouse passed. Boy was she wrong. When a Kentucky married resident dies without a will, their … [Read more...] about Last Will and Testament 101
Planning for the Unexpected
Estate Planning is not just for people you consider "old"; it is for everyone. Take Charlotte Fox for example. She was one of the most famous mount climbers ever, who fell down her stairs at home. Are you planning for the unexpected? This article looks at the elements of a basic plan. Planning for the Unexpected June 6, 2018 by Steve Hartnett 0 Comments Charlotte Fox was an adventurous woman. She was a serious mountain climber and reached the summit of some of the world’s … [Read more...] about Planning for the Unexpected
Life Changes
Life changes...Heraclitus said, “The only thing that is constant is CHANGE.” As our children create new chapters in their lives and we begin new phases of ours, we look upon these milestones years later and remember life’s changes. As Christina’s children, Ethan and Ella, get ready to go to new schools, Windy’s child, Abigail, embarks on a new journey as she faces school for the first time. Life is constant change. We will all face changes and transitions as we travel through life: going to … [Read more...] about Life Changes
You Never Know: Planning for the Unexpected Death
This article examines the unexpected death of two people who died from doing very typical things. Risks might be re around the corner, even in seemingly safe endeavors, so you should be prepared. The article looks at the elements of a basic plan. Ordinary Day Scenarios On a hot summer day, few things are more fun than swimming. Hannah Collins went swimming on such a day in the Edisto river near Charleston, South Carolina. She swam often and was nicknamed “river rat” by her father. But, while … [Read more...] about You Never Know: Planning for the Unexpected Death
Back to School List – Estate Planning Firm
There are several types of lists you think of when going back to school: supply list, apparel list, must have list, and the list goes on. As you are planning and getting those kiddos back into school, there are several things you should be thinking about too...FINDING THE RIGHT ESTATE PLANNING FIRM. I know, it typically does not rank at the top of the list, but why not let it be at the top of the list this year. You have procrastinated long enough. When you search for the Right Estate … [Read more...] about Back to School List – Estate Planning Firm
