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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As I was recently reminded while reviewing some legal documents for a prospective client, not all power of attorney forms are created equal. In fact, some people may mistakenly believe they are covered when that is far from the truth. Here are the five big things every good power of attorney should ...
PLEASE READ TO THE END AND CONSIDER HELPING.
Last August, I was happy to attend a reunion in Rhode Island and catch up with my classmates from Mount Saint Charles Academy High School. Amidst all of the updates, shared achievements, and school news, there was also the bad that always comes when we g...
My law firm and other businesses are committed to providing planning education in the areas of estate, financial, and care assistance planning, and we are adding open livestreams through The Plain English AttorneyÂŽ YouTube channel. Our 2024 kickoff event is Estate Planning 101 where we will cover th...
A general question I hear from new clients is whether or not they have to worry about "death taxes." The term "death tax" is actually political, and candidates use it as a campaign football. In actuality, there are several different taxes related to estates and inheritances that may or may not apply...
Gun Trusts are becoming more and more popular, but there are a lot of misconceptions and myths surrounding them. Just as with avoiding probate in estate planning with a revocable living trust, gun trusts attempt to avoid as much red tape as possible during life and after death. Here are just some of...
Medicaid Planning can be much more complex than Estate Planning, and that's because the government is paying out money rather than simply regulating a process. The hopeful truth in a horrible process is that our country is not going to simply let our seniors go without the care they need, but the go...
Time keeps passing, and the New Year is often a time to focus on upgrading our lives. It is (or should be) the same with businesses, and the law office is also undergoing some changes to keep up with the times. Here are some the items we'll be focusing on in the coming year:
* More Digital Answers:...
âTwas 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
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The forms were stacked high, with supporting documentation
Billable hours were spent, mos...
"Never, Would I Ever..."Â Estate Planning
When many people are thinking about estate planning for the first time, it is not exactly the most comfortable thing to think about. Because of that, there are a lot of contingencies, pathways, and options that people fail to consider. But that's what a goo...
Level One Adulting Starter Pack: A Basic Estate Plan
Many of our trust clients have children who are over eighteen, and around the time of that milestone birthday for the first child, the parents realize they canât keep making financial, legal, and health decisions for their children anymore. And t...
Whether a Revocable Living Trust is right for your particular situation or not is never as simple as looking at your net worth, despite what other attorneys may claim. That is because how much wealth you have doesn't mandate what your estate goals are.
If you are trying to decide between using a La...
A 50% divorce rate is an unfortunate statistic in our current society, and, unfortunately, many people fail to handle the divorce properly resulting in a lot of unintended consequences. These negative results go far beyond simply delaying divorce or not getting everything you are entitled to in the ...
