Like most people, when you think about estate planning you likely focus on the need to decide who will receive which assets of yours when you die. Although the distribution of your estate assets is certainly an important part of a comprehensive estate plan, it is rarely all that needs to be included in an estate plan. The additional components that you decide to include in your estate … read more
Incapacity Planning
Creating an Estate Plan in 2016 – Medical Directives
If you think that creating an estate plan in 2016 is something you want to do, you'll need to know about medical directives. Also known as advance directive, health care directives, and by similar names, medical directives are estate planning tools that allow you to exert control over your health care options prior to you becoming incapacitated or otherwise unable to make or communicate … read more
When Your Aging Family Member Needs Help: Guardianship, Elder Law, and Your Legal Options
When people talk to us about the concerns they have about an aging family member, we often have to guide them through a variety of issues, including guardianship, incapacity planning, and other elder law-related topics. For many of these people, this is the first time they've spoken to a lawyer. The legal process itself can be intimidating and stressful, and be doubly so when you don't … read more
What is a Guardian Ad Litem, and how is it Different From a Guardian?
It is fairly common for people in North Carolina who don't have a legal background to get confused by legal terms such as "guardian ad litem," "guardian," and similar phrases or terminology. Understanding what a guardian is, and does, is essential when you create an estate plan, but taking the time to differentiate a guardian from a guardian ad litem can also help you understand why both … read more
North Carolina Inheritance Planning: Commonly Asked Questions
North Carolina Inheritance Planning: Commonly Asked Questions from Cheryl David As long as you are a mentally competent adult, you can make inheritance choices in the state of North Carolina. Learn more about North Carolina inheritance planning in this presentation. … read more
Free Report: Incapacity Planning in North Carolina: Using Specific Tools
When creating a financial power of attorney, the agent you select must be a capable adult. Alternatively, you can choose an organization to serve as your agent. For example, you might choose your bank, a law firm, or some other capable representative to manage your financial affairs for you. Topics covered in this report include: Financial Power of Attorney Advance Medical … read more
A Few Words of Caution About DNR Tattoos
Last year, we blogged about DNR tattoos and why they might be potentially problematic from an estate planning point of view. However, the subject has continued to draw interest, and a lot of people are wondering if getting a DNR tattoo is something they should do. While you should never make any legal decision without first consulting with a qualified estate planning attorney, here are … read more
Basic Estate Planning Questions, Part 4. Not Having a Plan
In our third blog posts on basic estate planning ideas, we are going to take a step back and look at what happens to you and your estate if you don't create a plan. If you are an adult living in the Greensboro, North Carolina area, you are never under any legal obligation to create an estate plan, or any estate planning tools of any kind. In fact, if you never get around to creating an … read more
Free Report : Understanding Intestacy in North Carolina
A look at some commonly asked questions that many people have about intestate estates in North Carolina. Topics covered in this report include: Instestate estates and estate debts Taking position of property Avoiding intestacy … read more
Basic Estate Planning Questions, Part 3 – Incapacity Planning
In our third blog post on basic estate planning questions, we are going to turn our attention to a vital piece of every estate plan, incapacity planning. Incapacity planning is a process that everyone who creates an estate plan in North Carolina will go through. As you create your incapacity plan, you and your attorney will develop a variety of tools that will come into effect should you … read more
