The central idea behind estate planning is to prepare for the legal realities that follow after you die leaving behind property. Needless to say, the possibility of dying isn’t something most younger people really take seriously. Even older people are reluctant to think about these issues because they’re often difficult to deal with. Both the fact that estate planning can be tough to … read more
Estate Planning
Estate Litigation in Greensboro: What Does Arbitration and Mediation Have to do With It?
Not all estate litigation in Greensboro winds up argued before jury or judge, and some conflicts end because of the mediation or arbitration process. But if members of the general public don’t have a good idea of what estate planning is or what estate litigation involves, they certainly have little understanding of the mediation and arbitration processes. To get a better idea of what … read more
Proceed Carefully With Powers of Attorney in North Carolina
The central idea behind the power of attorney in North Carolina is the ability to give someone else the right to make decisions on your behalf. Whether you are hiring a real estate agent to represent you in negotiations, empowering your attorney to manage some of your affairs for you, or giving an adult child the ability to make medical decisions for you should you fall too ill to make … read more
The Estate Planning Portfolio: Essential Documents
Anyone in Greensboro, North Carolina who is developing an estate plan will create several foundational documents. Even though the laws that govern these documents differ between states, and the individual documents you create, will be different than those other people create, the types of documents most people have are the same. There are a handful of documents that almost everyone will … read more
Your Estate Plan and Your Divorce
If you live in Greensboro, North Carolina and have recently gone through a divorce, or are considering getting a divorce, it’s important for you to take the time to think about how your divorce will affect your estate plan. Divorces are a stressful time, and regardless of how attentive you have been to your estate plan in the past, most people forget to think about updating their plans … read more
Your Will Should Change If You Have an Omitted Child
People in Greensboro, North Carolina who get pregnant and have a child should schedule an appointment with an estate planning attorney as soon as possible. There are specific laws in North Carolina that apply when you have created a will but have left out a child. Anytime you omit a child from your will you should go back and update the terms to reflect your new circumstances. Omitted … read more
3 Estate Plan Questions to Think About Before Your Next Vacation
Question 1. Do I need someone to manage my affairs at home while I am gone? Many people taking a vacation in Greensboro, North Carolina know that they will have to find someone to take care of the house, pets, or other important issues while they are gone. Yet most of these people don’t do anything more than ask a family member or neighbor to look after things. While this is normally … read more
Estate Planning Errors Plague Even Celebrities
When people in Greensboro, North Carolina make a last will and testament as part of an estate plan, they typically do so after seeking the advice of an experienced estate planning attorney. It seems natural to consult a lawyer when you have questions about inheritances, but not everybody does this. In fact, even some of the most well-known celebrities can fail to find, or heed, qualified … read more
3 Questions About Fiduciaries
Question 1: What is a fiduciary? As part of the estate planning process you will probably have to appoint one or more fiduciaries. A fiduciary is someone who not only has the legal authority to make certain types of decisions for you, but who also has a specific duty imposed upon them by the law. Fiduciaries include your attorney, accountant, financial advisor, real estate agent, and … read more
A Good Active Gift Strategy Takes a Little Planning
If you are making a will in Greensboro, North Carolina and are using it to pass inheritances, you may want to think about developing an active gift strategy as well. While you can easily develop an estate plan that focuses on giving gifts through inheritances, developing a living gift giving strategy can provide you with some significant tax benefits. You’ll need to speak to your lawyer … read more
