A couple of weeks ago we started a new blog series aimed at answering some basic estate planning questions that people unfamiliar with the field might have. Even though we have been blogging about estate planning for quite some time, some of our new readers might not be as familiar with the concepts we talk about as those who have been following along with us. To help educate any … read more
Incapacity Planning
Greensboro Incapacity Planning and Your Revocable Living Trust
A part of most contemporary estate plans, the revocable living trust is one of the more powerful tools available to people who want to protect against the needless cost and time imposed by the probate process. Yet while you might understand that revocable living trusts give you the ability to reduce or eliminate the necessity of probate, you might not realize that these tools also afford … read more
Casey Kasem, Incapacity, Estate Planning, and Family Conflict
For millions of Americans, Casey Kasem's unmistakable radio voice is indelibly etched into their memories as the host of the American Top 40 Countdown. Unfortunately, the 82 year-old Kasem has recently become the center of a bitter family conflict between his daughter and his spouse. Kasem suffers from Lewy body disease, a form of dementia very similar to Parkinson's disease. The … read more
Practical Incapacity Planning Issues You Need to Understand
All of us lose abilities as we age, but not all of us will experience incapacity. When you are incapacitated you can no longer make the choices you have made your entire life. Whether you become incapacitated because you have suffered a serious injury, have a mind-altering illness, or because of any other reason, you need to be prepared for the possibility by creating an incapacity plan … read more
Greensboro Incapacity Planning Will Help Your Family
Many people in the Greensboro, North Carolina area have considered incapacity planning, but have not really taken the time to sit down with an estate planning lawyer to craft a plan. While the reluctance to craft an incapacity plan is often due to our refusal to accept the possibility that we might one day become incapacitated, we can help get over this hurdle by better understanding … read more
Incapacity Planning Tip Sheet
If you live in the Greensboro, North Carolina area, it’s never too early to begin thinking about incapacity planning. Whether you are a young adult, parents with young children, a person nearing retirement, or someone who has health conditions that could lead to your possible incapacitation, preparing for the possibility that you might no longer be able to communicate or make decisions … read more
Understanding Brain Death and Incapacity Planning
The recent news stories involving Jahi McMath and Marlise Munoz have drawn renewed attention to the concept of brain death and how it plays a role in incapacity planning. When you make an incapacity plan, it’s important to understand medical terminology like brain death and other ideas so you can make knowledgeable choices. To that end, let’s take a look at some important ideas … read more
Incapacity Planning Means Every Adult Needs to Have Power of Attorney
A lot of people in the Greensboro, North Carolina area have heard the term “power of attorney” but do not really know what it is. To put it simply, a power of attorney is a legal document that gives you the ability to grant someone else the legal authority to make decisions for you. Whether you want that person to act in a limited fashion, have broad decision-making abilities, or only … read more
Marlise Munoz, Advance Directives, and Questions of Death
One of the reasons we’ve recently discussed the Marlise Munoz case, and others like it, is because it touches on one of the most difficult estate planning questions around; talking about death. Everyone knows that our lives are limited, but the subject is such a taboo topic that we rarely speak about it even amongst our closest friends and loved ones. The question of what happens to … read more
Texas Court Orders Pregnant Woman Removed From Life Support
A couple of weeks ago we wrote about the case of Marlise Munoz, a Fort Worth, Texas woman who was left brain dead after suffering a pulmonary embolism. Her husband, Eric Munoz, had been fighting with the Texas hospital caring for Marlise, demanding that they take her off the life-support, he says she would not have wanted to receive. To complicate the matter, Marlise was pregnant at the … read more
