How to Make Changes to Your Will
As life circumstances change (births, marriages, divorces, and deaths), it may become necessary to make changes to your will. If an estate plan is not kept up-to-date, it can become useless. The best way to make changes is either through a codicil — an amendment to the will — or by creating a new will. […]
Five Reasons to Have a Will
Your will is a legally-binding statement directing who will receive your property at your death. It also appoints a legal representative to carry out your wishes. However, the will covers only probate property. (Probate is the court process by which a deceased person’s property is passed to his or her heirs and people named in […]
Do I Really Need a Lawyer for a Will? 3 Pitfalls to Watch for When Doing it Yourself.
Short answer: no. While you don’t need a lawyer to create your will, there are pitfalls to watch for if you elect to go it alone. The Validity of Your Will First, there are some technical requirements to making sure your Will is valid. Witnesses and notarized signatures are required. I’ve had many folks come in […]
Dementia and Alzheimer’s are Pushing Us Towards a New Directive – VSED
What is VSED? In short, it’s retaining control over your life in another facet – food. With Voluntary Stopping of Eating and Drinking directives, individuals spell out their wishes for care if they are stricken with dementia or Alzheimer’s. Let’s be clear about this, these directives come into play when a person is in advanced […]
When Should I Write a Will?
“When” is a great question. This always comes up as a topic of discussion when I host seminars. Inevitably someone says something along the lines of “now that I’m getting older it’s time to start thinking about getting my affairs in order.” This comment usually elicits some head nodding. It’s not a bad idea, get […]