The Plain English Attorney Blog
Far too many attorneys overcomplicate things, making topics convoluted and difficult to understand to the average person. This blog is committed to explaining legal planning topics in an easy to understand format, in plain English. Enjoy the blogs, and please let us know if there is a topic you would like covered.
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There are potential changes to Supreme Court decisions coming, and it could impact a lot of my clients. In this case, I'm referring to the marriage equality ruling for nationwide same gender marriage in 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges. Prior to 2015, a lot of my couple clients who weren't able to marry...
An Estate Checkup?
Many people look at estate planning as a “one and done” item on their checklist. However, keeping a solid estate plan, especially one with a revocable living trust as the base of the plan, requires an annual check-in just to be sure the plan is up to date. More...
A Happy New Year to all! Today (January 6, 2024) marks both the day I return to work from my annual break as well as the launch of a new course called Freedom Estate Plans. The information inside is not really new for those of you who have read my book Estate Planning Basics or who have followed...
I recently was “called on the carpet” by a deceased client’s daughter, the financial advisor, and his staff, because trusts were set up to avoid probate and protect her brother as a beneficiary from bad decisions. However, half an IRA went directly to the son and the money was...
An older post that deserves to be reread this time of year...
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‘Twas the night before probate, and all through the house
Not an asset was spared, for there was no spouse
Nor were there children, or any appointed heirs
For the deceased had no plans, nor had he cared
The forms were...
As an attorney, author, and content creator in the estate and Medicaid planning arenas, I have very long work days throughout the year. However, I do take three consecutive weeks off at the end of the year, and my clients have always been curious about this since most attorneys are only taking...
Funding a Revocable Living Trust is critical to ensuring your estate avoids probate. Unfortunately in my line of work, I see too many trusts where nothing, or almost nothing, is actually funded in the trust. That is why I make sure at least every six months or so to post this chapter from my book...
When you have special needs children who are classified as disabled or handicapped, especially if they can't fully care for themselves even with government financial support, you may be in a position where you need to plan more for them, even if they are no longer minors. If this is true for you,...
Charities often face problems raising money for long term stability, but at the same time they often become so consumed with fundraising for current needs or short-term expansions that they never really get around to establishing a planned giving program that can bring in large sums of money all...
One of the best gifts you can leave your loved ones when you pass on is the gift of your own smooth estate plan. Unfortunately, 72% of the adult U.S. population has not created their own estate plan, and instead they are relying on the plan the government has for them. As an attorney, I have...
Amending a trust should be an easy process, right? In most cases and circumstances, it is easy but also easy for people to make mistakes. In even a few recent cases, these concepts are even eluding attorneys.
A revocable living trust is an estate plan that is completely amendable and revocable by...
People don’t always plan ahead the way they need to, and it’s pretty easy to put off uncomfortable topics like estate planning. That is, until one tragedy or another gives my clients that added push to come in and finally address putting together an optimal estate plan. While there...
