A New Year's Resolution your family will appreciate

Dust off that Will and Trust you had drawn up years ago. Where is it now, anyway? In a desk? Safe deposit box? 

When was the last time you looked at it? Changes happen over time. Changes to your family, changes to your assets, and changes to the laws.

For 2015, resolve to have your documents reviewed. Perhaps they're fine, perhaps they just need a minor tweak to make them current. Either way, we are here to help. Now is the time for a review, so contact us today.

If you don't have an Estate Plan, now is the time. Contact us and, based on your needs, we will put together an Estate Plan suited to your specific situation, generally including:

• Pour-over Will
• Revocable Living Trust
• Advance Health Care Directive
• Durable Power of Attorney

Contact me today at 888-814-5552 or send me an email.

Estate Plans are Critical for Singles

Most people understand the importance of an effective Estate Plan for the “married with children” portion of the population. Few think about the divorced, widowed, and singles. For these groups, an Estate Plan is just as important!

If you are single, and do not have a valid Will or Trust, your lifetime of accumulations go where the state says they go. Each state sets standard formulas for distribution when a person dies without a Will or Trust, or “intestate”. That means a single person’s estate may be distributed to distant relatives, potentially against the decedent’s wishes, or if there are no relatives, then to the state. Would you want the result of your life’s work to end up in the hands of the state?

The Wall Street Journal recently published an article on this topic, warning, “it can be especially important for single people to work with estate-planning professionals.”

I encourage you to read the Wall Street Journal article, linked below. If you are single, or if you know a single person who does not have an Estate Plan, contact me today for a free consultation. In the New Year, resolve to set aside an hour to discuss with me how to secure your legacy.  

A general Estate Plan will usually include:

• Pour-over Will
• Revocable Living Trust
• Advance Health Care Directive
• Durable Power of Attorney

Contact me today at 888-814-5552 or send me an email.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/estate-planning-essentials-for-single-people-1417917773

National Estate Planning Awareness Week

Did you know that over 120 million Americans do not have an up-to-date estate plan? 

In 2008, Congress adopted this week, October 20-26, as National Estate Planning Awareness Week. This week is the perfect opportunity to set aside time to plan for your family's future by creating or updating your estate plan. 

To learn more about estate planning, visit the Estate Planning section of our website for more information. Contact Elizabeth today to learn how easy creating or updating your estate plan can be.