Caution:  Writing Your Own Deed to Avoid Probate Can Lead to Unintended Consequences

One common way to try to avoid probate of real estate after the owner dies is to hold the title to the property in joint names with rights of survivorship with children or other beneficiaries.  While the best way would be to set up a revocable trust and fund the trust with the property, it can be accomplished…

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Starting a New Business? You Probably Want to Form an LLC – Here are 6 Reasons Why

Entrepreneurs often want to know what type of business entity they should set up for their companies. Limited liability companies (LLC) offer several surprising advantages, whether you’re expanding a brick and mortar retail operation or scaling an online business. Traditional corporations, also called C corporations, pay taxes on profits, while shareholders pay taxes on dividends,…

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Listen Up Retirees:  There Will Be No Cost of Living Increase For Social Security Benefits in 2016

  The latest news released by the Social Security Administration has not been well-received by the 65 million retirees, disabled workers and their families who rely on Social Security benefits for their day-to-day living expenses:  For the third time in seven years, Social Security recipients will not see a cost of living increase to their…

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Estate Planning Must-Dos Before Traveling for Thanksgiving and the Holidays

As Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s and the winter holidays approach, you might be daydreaming about a skiing trip to Mammoth or a Hawaiian vacation to escape the cold. Or you might be savoring (or, perhaps, less then eagerly anticipating) the thought of reconnecting with your extended family, who’s typically scattered across the country. Whether you’re…

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Aging.gov:  A New Resource for Older Americans and Their Families

More than 10,000 people turn 65 in the U.S. every day according to Aging.gov (http://www.hhs.gov/aging/), a new website recently launched by the Obama administration.  The goal of this website is to act as gateway for older Americans and their families, friends and caregivers to locate information about leading a healthy lifestyle, options for health care,…

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7 Key Things You Must Know About Living Trusts: Part 1

While most Baby Boomers have wills in place, millions of soon-to-be-retired Americans haven’t yet established estate plans and made critical decisions about future care. Many also don’t appreciate the sheer diversity of planning instruments available to ensure their wishes, protect their assets and prevent fighting among beneficiaries. A living trust, for instance, provides a slate…

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New Rules Will Make It Harder to Qualify for Long-Term Care Help From the VA

The Veteran’s Administration (VA) offers a pension benefit to low-income veterans (or their spouses) who are in nursing homes or who need help at home with everyday tasks like dressing or bathing.  The pension, called Aid and Attendance, is currently underused, but impending regulations will soon make it available to even fewer veterans. The new regulations will for the first time specify asset limits for qualification and impose a look-back period and transfer penalties similar to Medicaid’s. The looming changes mean that those considering applying for Aid and Attendance should act quickly.

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Key West : The End of the Road (literally)

To celebrate my birthday each year, I’ve started going to Key West, FL, on Columbus Day weekend to run(and by run, I mean jog-walk-shuffle-cry-hobble) in the Southernmost Marathon*. Now, most people think I’m crazy-bananas for wanting to spend my vacation pounding the pavement in the sweltering humidity of the Keys…and to those people, I say “You…

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Protecting Your Family Farm from the Biggest Single Risk: The Cost of Nursing Home Care

  Perhaps you and your spouse worry about succession of your farm – whether you’ll be able to keep it in your family or you’ll need to sell it. Or maybe you’re facing an imminent medical problem in the family. In either case, you’re understandably concerned that so-called “creditors and predators” might undo all your…

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Even Vampires Need Estate Planning

(Note: I am not a vampire; I’m not even a legal eagle; however, as a mere mortal who happens to work in the best estate planning law firm in this non-supernatural realm, even I know it’s important to plan ahead!)

Yes, even the undead need an estate plan.  After you stop laughing you need to hear me out.  As we’ve learned from the likes of The Vampire Chronicles, the Twilight saga, and HBO’s True Blood, vampires aren’t immortal.  They do die, and it’s usually unexpected and messy.

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Why Reviewing Older Life Insurance Policies Matters [Better, More Efficient Benefits May Await!]

Perhaps you first obtained life insurance 10 or more years ago, but you haven’t updated your insurance plan (or thought about it much) since. You should consider reviewing your policies. A re-assessment has the potential to pay off significantly. The insurance industry has come to understand that we are all living longer than they originally…

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Tennessee Community Property Trusts: An Exciting Solution for Married Clients Who Have Appreciated Assets

You and your spouse have worked hard and saved. You’ve enjoyed the good fortune of having assets that have appreciated over time. At the same time, you’re confused about which estate planning solutions can help you preserve your assets and allow you to pass on your wealth without your having to pay exorbitant state or…

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Captive Casualty Insurance: A Surprisingly Powerful Solution for Business Owners

Whether you’re an entrepreneur searching for ways to reduce risk associated with a venture, or you’re a professional curious about novel ways to protect your family and build equity, captive insurance might be a useful solution to explore.   This exciting approach to insurance (yes, there can be such a thing) can help with both…

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