A Power of Attorney (POA) is an important legal document that everyone should have. However, before creating a POA it’s important to understand what they do and what your options are. This video gives a brief explanation of what a POA is and what s…
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We get this question a lot from people. The answer surprises a lot of people. It has a lot less to do with “how much” you have, and more about your planning needs and goals. This video explains the reasons.
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If you think that your only option in making your estate plan is to give assets “outright” to your beneficiaries, this video will explain how we can build beneficiary protections into our estate planning.
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Medicare and Medicaid are often confused by people. While they are both government-run health care programs, they are very different from one another and it is important to understand those differences. This video explains the differences.
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You’ve probably heard of Living Trusts, but if you think they’re overly-complicated or only for super-rich people, then this video will help you understand how living trusts work and why people use them.
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You may have noticed that we use the phrase “Protecting Those You Love and Preserving What You Have” to describe our services. This phrase really describes our approach to our work and sums up what makes us different. When we work with our client…
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These days, it’s become more important than ever to make the right plans for your IRAs and to have them integrated into your estate planning. With the right planning, you can maximize the benefit to your beneficiaries, while also providing sign…
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Almost everyone we meet with for estate planning comes to us wanting to avoid Probate. Some of those people have been through the process with the estate of a loved one. Their experience in the Probate process gave them the background to understand t…
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Often, business owners will come to me with questions or concerns about their Limited Liability Company (LLC). When I ask for a copy of their Operating Agreement, I’m often met with a blank stare or an embarrassed “We don’t have one of…
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A Limited Liability Company (LLC) is a powerful and effective entity choice for forming a business. The LLC entity provides all of the liability protection business owners need – the same protection achieved with a corporation, but it is easier and…
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Download our free “Estate Planning Checklist: The Essential Guide for Making your Best Estate Plan in Ohio.” The checklist walks you through the steps you need to address to have the plan that is right for you and your loved ones.
Protecting your Family’s Future – All about Wills, Trusts & Probate
Download our free “Protecting your Family’s Future – All about Wills, Trusts & Probate” book. 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.