Like many people, you probably have a general idea of what the legal process known as probate entails, even if you have never been directly involved in the probate of an estate. You may also be aware that some attorney focus all, or some, of their practice on issues related to probate. You may not, however, be aware of the numerous scenarios in which you might find yourself that would … read more
How to Determine If Your Elderly Family Member Needs a Guardian
One of the most difficult decisions you will ever have to make in your lifetime is the decision to seek a guardian for a parent or other adult family member. Realizing that your loved one is no longer able to safely care for himself/herself is hard enough to accept. Deciding that you need to step in and seek guardianship over the individual can be downright heartbreaking. It often feels … read more
If You Are in a Romantic Relationship in North Carolina, You Need to Talk About Estate Planning
Having a talk about estate planning is not exactly high on most people's lists of what they need to talk about with their partners, but that doesn't mean it's a topic you should ignore. If you are in a committed romantic relationship, talking about estate planning is absolutely essential. While you and your partner might have specific desires about what you might want to happen in the … read more
Probate Avoidance in North Carolina: Basic Ideas and Strategies
Most people have never read anything about probate avoidance in North Carolina, and know little about the topic. While the idea of probate, and probate courts, is not exactly an exciting topic for discussion, understanding the basic ideas surrounding this important area of the law is valuable, especially if you are thinking of creating an estate plan. Most people who create plans in the … read more
7 Reasons Why You Should Avoid Being Your Own Attorney or Creating Online Documents
Many people ask me each year why they should see a local attorney for their estate documents instead of creating online documents. My answer is always the same - each state has different laws, each family has different needs and I've seen terrible results from do-it-yourself and online planning 1. Each state has different rules, requirements and legal documents. Every state in the U.S. … read more
Free Report: Common Questions About North Carolina Powers of Attorney
Powers of attorney are some of the most useful and flexible estate planning tools available today. Powers of attorney, or POAs, are capable of adding significant protections to any estate plan, and no plan is complete without at least one of them. The use, creation, and application of powers of attorney is not difficult, but a lot of people are confused about how these documents … read more
Reading of the Will
It is not uncommon for people who talk to an estate planning attorney to ask questions about the reading of the will. After all, all of us have seen countless television shows and movies where attorneys gather together family members of a deceased person to read the terms of that person's last will and testament. This reading of the will is often an opportunity for dramatic turns in the … read more
Basic Questions About Estate Planning – How Can I Give Fair Inheritances?
One of the most important issues confronting people who create estate plans is the question of how to give fair inheritances. After all, you don't want to leave an estate plan that would cause strife or discord between your family members and loved ones, and leaving fair inheritances goes a long way in protecting family relationships. Today we are going to take a look at what you might … read more
What are Some Commonly Misunderstood Estate Planning Terms?
Many of our clients in the Greensboro, North Carolina area can get confused by some commonly misunderstood estate planning terms. This is entirely understandable and normal. Estate planning is not a field a lot of people have experience in, nor is it the most exciting topic in the world. These misunderstood ideas and terms are common with many people, and you shouldn't feel bad for … read more
Free Report: North Carolina Estate and Inheritance Plans – Part 2
The last will and testament is probably the single most important piece of any good inheritance and estate plan. Even though many people choose to create tools that make a will less important as an inheritance planning device, it is still vital to have a will in your estate plan regardless of what other tools you choose to create. Through properly drafted last will and testament you can … read more
