What if you put together an estate planning tool now, but it’s no longer relevant for what you want in the future? Coming up with a plan that addresses your current needs but also allows for flexibility over the years can be a challenge. This is why it’s best to find a NH estate planning lawyer who can help you as your needs evolve. A trust is a powerful estate planning tool. It gives you privacy, flexibility and Read More
How Do I Know If I Need an Advanced Directive in My Estate Plan?
What happens if you become sick, injured, or otherwise unable to speak up for yourself and the medical care you’d like to receive? If you find yourself dealing with these issues, it can also put your loved ones in a very difficult situation trying to navigate what they believe to be your wishes or care options. You may need to document if you have certain concerns or desires surrounding medical care. This may be Read More
What Does Inflation Mean for Your Retirement Savings?
You may have earmarked your retirement savings not just for your own purposes after you exit the workforce or downgrade your current work role, but also to support your loved ones in estate planning. One of the biggest challenges for retirement savings is inflation. Rising prices can erode the value of the money you've set aside no matter how much you've set aside over the course of your working years. This is Read More
Why You Should Share Your Funeral or Memorial Instructions
Do you have specific wishes or plans related to a funeral or memorial? If so, your family may not know these plans unless it was discussed with them and documented in a place they can find it. It is a common misconception that the proper place for your final burial and funeral wishes is in your will. Many wills are not located, read or filed until days or weeks after the death. Setting up a memorial service, Read More
What Are the Downsides Of Going Through Probate?
Probate refers to the legal process in which your estate is distributed to your heirs, either according to your wishes or according to intestate succession rules. One of the most common aspects of estate planning is to minimize the impact of probate and to remove as many assets as possible from your probate estate. You can work with a lawyer in New Hampshire or Maine to create an estate plan that carries out your Read More
Does a Home Belong in a Trust for Estate Planning Purposes?
Planning ahead for real property is important but also specific to the considerations of the person creating the estate plan. Determining the most effective and tax efficient way to transfer a piece of real property requires answering important questions, such as what you hope to happen to the future of the property, who may be responsible enough to take it over and what they intend to do with it, and possible Read More
Five Documents Possibly Needed For Your Estate Plan
An estate plan can be as simple as just a will, but it can also include many other documents and strategies designed to help you reach your individual goals. Working with a knowledgeable estate planning attorney is extremely important for identifying what does and doesn't belong in your estate plan. Furthermore, having an established relationship with an estate planning lawyer makes it easier to reach out, should Read More
How Many People Have Estate Plans That Pass Without a Will?
Having a will is one of the most important ways for you to outline what is key for you in your estate plan. You can use a will for multiple purposes in estate planning, such as naming a guardian for a minor child and distributing your property. Skipping a will could be a big mistake especially if your state's intestate succession laws do not align with how you would have transferred your own property. Check out your Read More
Using Both a Will and a Trust in Your Estate: When it Makes Sense
It is a common misconception that you only need a will or a trust for estate planning purposes. Only by working with an estate planning attorney can you understand how both of these tools can help you accomplish estate planning goals and when it is most appropriate to have each. If you already have a trust, it’s a common myth that you don’t also need a will. In a perfect world having your trust may be sufficient if Read More
Which Of My Expenses Are Associated With My Estate?
Settling an estate can be a complex process, which is why it is so important to discuss who will serve as your executor well in advance. This person should be prepared to handle these different tasks and be aware of the fiduciary responsibility they hold to your estate and your beneficiaries. Expenses of an estate must be identified and properly paid out along with any other probate related debts before Read More
