The Qualified Personal Residence Trust (QPRT) is designed to hold title to the client's principal residence or vacation home, whereby the client gives the property away to his children, but retains the right to use the property...
Estate Planning Is Not Just For Mom And Dad Anymore
Creating a will or trust is something we usually expect our parents to do. When we are in our 20's, it can feel like we're too young to have to worry about what happens to our stuff when we are gone, because we barely have any stuff to give away. As we get past our...
When is the reading of the Will?
Never. The reading of the Will is a Hollywood fiction and a dramatic plot twist in many novels. However, today there is no gathering of the family in the lawyer’s oak filled and dusty library to discuss the final wishes of the family’s loved one. There is no morbid...
Have You Considered Your Digital Assets in Your Estate Plan?
What digital assets you say? We don't always consider that we have such things but most of us do. Your email account, for example. Do you get invoices via email? How will your Agent under a Power of Attorney even know about a bill that has to be paid if that Agent...
Estate Planning can be Easy
Really? “It wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought it was going to be!” That is a common phrase I hear from clients after they sign their Will who were initially apprehensive about meeting with me. It is very common for people to be scared about thinking of death or...
There is No Time Like the Present to Update Your Estate Plan
Every estate planning attorney can tell you stories about bad, incomplete or absent estate plans that created havoc for families. From unfunded trusts- you do know that a trust must be funded, right?- to simply outdated plans, we have seen it all. In some cases, this...
Do you Own Real Estate in States Other Than New Hampshire? Beware Probate costs!!
Most people do not realize that their estate might have to be probated more than once: once in New Hampshire because they are New Hampshire residents and once again in Massachusetts, Florida, Arizona or wherever they may own real estate. Some of those states can have...
Nursing Home Costs and Protecting the At-Home Spouse
As a senior, there is a good chance that you, or your spouse if you are married, will need long-term care at some point. The Nursing Home Costs of that care will not be cheap. In fact, if you failed to plan ahead, your long-term care (LTC) costs could deplete your...
The Family Vacation Home in Estate Planning
As the season for enjoying our lake or beach property is winding down, the issue of dealing with those properties in an estate plan may arise. The family vacation home is sometimes a very tough estate planning challenge. This is especially true when the beach or lake...
Saving for College or How to Use a Section 529 Plan in Estate Planning
A Section 529 Plan (named for the Internal Revenue Code establishing these accounts) may be a great way to not only help your children or grandchildren with their education but also could be a great estate planning tool. With a 529 plan, you initially fund it with a...