Blog
Revocable Versus Irrevocable Trusts
By Robert J. Green, Esq. While trusts are not necessary for all my clients, many of them are interested in avoiding probate and after exploring all the options find that…
Read More
Special Considerations for Women When Estate Planning
American women live on average 4.8 years longer than American men.Because women typically outlive their spouses, their estate planning documents are usually the ones that actually determine what happens to the family assets. However, the longer life span of women also means that women are more likely to experience a period of time at the end of their lives when they are unable to make their own decisions because they are incapacitated due to some medical condition.
Read More
How Old Do You Need to Be to Benefit from an Estate Plan?
Most people that I meet associate the phrase “estate plan” with the rich and the elderly. I have written here before about why it is untrue that only the wealthy need an estate plan. Today we will examine how a person’s youth impacts their need for estate planning.
Read More
A Last Will & Testament is Not the Same Thing as a Living Will
Your Last Will & Testament is also where you appoint a legal guardian for your minor child in case both of the child’s parents are deceased. Doing so guides the court system and the family regarding the your wishes. For parents of young children, this may be the single most important part of a Last Will & Testament.
Read More
Compliance Checklist for Creating and Operating Your Business
One of the difficulties in running a business is figuring out which types of laws and regulations apply. Figuring out the intricacies of federal and state law is difficult enough. Then, depending on where your business is located, you also need to consider local ordinances and regulations such as the county or city code. This complexity can sometimes lead to a bury your head in the sand approach where it is hoped that ignorance of the law will be a defense if something goes wrong. However, that is not the case. It is assumed that business owners are aware of and understand the laws that are applicable to their businesses.
Read More
If You or a Loved One Has a Disability, You May Need a Special Needs Trust
A Special Needs Trust (also known as a “Supplemental Needs Trust”) serves a very specific purpose: it helps recipients of certain public benefit programs remain eligible for those programs.
Read More
How Often Does an Estate Plan Need to be Updated?
A question I regularly hear regarding all types of estate planning documents is “how often should this be updated?” The answer depends, of course, on the individual circumstances. However, there are some general guidelines that can be helpful. Two questions to think about regarding updating your legal documents include – have there been any major life events since the documents were last updated, and have you looked through the documents in the past 2 years?
Read More
Snowbirds Need to Pack Something Extra Before Heading South For The Winter
Many of our clients in North Idaho and Eastern Washington are “snowbirds”. I know some clients are even headed south early this year to escape the smoky air we’ve endured lately. If you are headed somewhere warm to spend the winter months, you will want to be sure you have packed more than just your sunscreen.
Read More
Is Court-Appointed Guardianship or Conservatorship in Your Future?
If you are an adult in Idaho and become unable to make your own decisions in life due to injury, illness, or some other form of incapacity, there are two basic ways in which another person becomes the stand-in decision maker for you. The first way is through the use of a previously written and signed Power of Attorney Document in which you will have stated who it is that should make your decisions for you if you cannot do so. That stand-in decision maker is called your “Agent” or your “Attorney in Fact.” However, if you have not previously completed valid Power of Attorney documents, a judge will need to appoint someone to become your decision maker through a court process known as Guardianship and Conservatorship. If a judge has to appoint your stand-in decision maker, that person will be called your “guardian” and/or “conservator.”
Read More