When families think about aging and healthcare, many assume that Medicare will cover the cost of long-term care. Unfortunately, this is one of the most common – and costly –misconceptions. In reality, Medicare provides very limited covera…
Read More
As we head into the holidays and the year winds down, it’s the perfect time to review and update your estate plan. Life changes, financial shifts, and evolving laws can all impact your plan’s effectiveness. A year-end review ensures your wishes a…
Read More
Creating a trust is one of the smartest moves you can make in your estate plan. It helps your loved ones avoid probate, keeps your affairs private, and gives you control over how your assets are distributed. But here’s the mistake too many people m…
Read More
Creating a living trust is one of the most effective ways to manage your assets, avoid probate, and provide clear instructions for your beneficiaries. In Ohio, many people place their real estate into a living trust, but handling property in this way…
Read More
A living trust helps you control how your assets pass to loved ones. But what happens when your personal life changes through divorce, remarriage, or blending families? Many people set up a trust once and never revisit it, even after major life event…
Read More
Real estate investing is one of the most effective ways to build long-term wealth. But while investors often focus on cash flow, appreciation, and tax strategies, many overlook a critical piece of the puzzle: estate planning. Whether you own a single…
Read More
When families set up a trust, one of the most important decisions is choosing a trustee. Often, parents want to be fair and appoint more than one child to serve together as co-trustees. On the surface, that seems like a balanced approach. Everyone sh…
Read More
When a loved one passes away, managing the details of their estate can feel overwhelming. If that person created a trust, you might assume everything is locked in and unchangeable. But can a spouse change a trust after death? It depends on the type o…
Read More
If you’re thinking about putting your home in an irrevocable trust, you’re probably trying to protect your assets, prepare for long-term care, or ensure your estate avoids probate. In Ohio, an irrevocable trust can be a powerful estate planning t…
Read More
One of the most important decisions in estate planning is choosing the right executor or trustee. The executor or trustee is a “fiduciary and is the person who will manage your estate after your death. This individual, whether an executor under…
Read More
First published in 2020, this comprehensive guide walks you through the essentials of estate planning, giving you the knowledge you need to safeguard your loved ones and their future.
Put in its most simple terms, estate planning involves putting your affairs in order so as to maximize the benefits that your assets can provide to you during your life and to those you desire to benefit from it after your death. Estate pla… Read More
What Does a Proper Estate Plan Include?
A proper estate plan to provide for the needs of your family may include:
An adequate Will or Trust
A written agreement concerning the status of your assets
If you already have an estate plan, it should not be considered permanent. Conditions, as well as your desires, may change. Estate plans should be reviewed at least every two-three years but, additionally, any important change in your life demands… Read More
What Happens if You Don't Have a Will or Trust?
If you do not have a Will or a Trust and have not used other probate-avoiding techniques, upon your death your assets will pass according to the laws of the state which has jurisdiction over your assets. The “state plan” may not provide for th… Read More
What Other Probate Avoiding Techniques Are There In Addition to Living Trusts?
The following methods are often used to avoid probate: joint tenancy title, community property title, bank account trusts, pay on death accounts, life insurance proceeds, retirement proceeds (IRA’S, TSA’S, 401K’s, etc.), retirement pla… Read More
What Should I Bring to My First Meeting?
People often ask what they should bring with them to their initial estate planning consultation (we call this “the Discovery Meeting”) with one of our attorneys.
As we discuss in Our Planning Process, the Discovery Meeting is our oppor… Read More
I Already Have an Estate Plan. Why Should I Think About Changing It?
We find that many people already have an estate plan, but it does not meet their current planning needs. They may have a Will that was prepared many, many years ago, or they may have a trust that prepared more recently, but those plans may not be… Read More
What Does an Estate Plan Cost?
As you might imagine, we get that question all the time. It is a difficult question to answer because fees are determined by the type of plan we put together, and that is determined by your goals, objectives and asset mix. The planning fees can ra… Read More
How Much of an Estate Do I Need to Have In Order to Set Up a Trust?
There is no “bright line rule” for determining whether a person needs a trust as a part of their planning. The answer for any particular person will depend on their own planning needs and planning goals.