Posts by bwslaw
How Do I Choose Someone to Manage My Estate or Trust?
When most people think about estate planning, they focus on what they want to leave behind. Who gets the house, how savings should be divided, what happens to a family business. But one of the most consequential decisions in the entire process is often the one that gets the least attention: choosing the right person…
Read MoreWhat Is a Power of Attorney and When Do I Need One?
There are moments in life when the ability to act on someone else’s behalf becomes not just helpful, but absolutely necessary. A sudden illness, an unexpected accident, or the gradual decline that can accompany aging can all leave a person unable to manage their own affairs. Without the right legal documents in place, the people…
Read MoreCan I Give Money to My Children and Still Qualify for Medicaid?
Many parents and grandparents share the same instinct: they want to provide for their children and protect their family’s financial future. At the same time, the rising cost of nursing home care makes Medicaid a necessity for countless families across North Carolina. When those two goals collide, a common and understandable question emerges. Can you…
Read MoreHow Long Does Probate Take in North Carolina?
Losing a loved one is one of the hardest experiences a family can go through. In the weeks and months that follow, many families find themselves navigating legal and financial processes they never expected, including probate. If you’ve been named executor of an estate or you’re wondering what happens to your loved one’s assets, understanding…
Read MoreDo I Need a Trust If I Already Have a Will?
Many people feel a sense of relief after finally creating a will. You’ve taken an important step to protect your family and ensure your wishes are honored. But then you hear about trusts, and suddenly you’re wondering if you’ve done enough. It’s a question we hear often at Providence Law: “I already have a will,…
Read MoreWhat Happens to My House If I Need to Go Into a Nursing Home in North Carolina?
When you or a loved one faces the possibility of long-term nursing home care, questions about protecting your home can keep you awake at night. For many families in the Charlotte region, the family home represents not just financial security but also decades of memories and a legacy they hope to pass to their children.…
Read MoreWhy You Should Not Fund Qualified Accounts into Trust
Recently, a colleague asked me about re-titling qualified and non-qualified accounts into a revocable trust. My reply after advising her that “my response is informal, general information…I do not know the specific details about your clients’ assets…you need to consult an attorney who can give you targeted advise before you move any assets…” was as…
Read MoreReview Your Beneficiary Designations Regularly, Please!
Review Your Beneficiary Designations Regularly, Please! (your will does not control who gets your IRA…) All too often during estate planning engagements, we discover problems with beneficiary designations made for clients’ retirement accounts or life insurance policies. And, often clients think that their will makes their IRA pass, for example, to their current spouse, when…
Read MoreSocial Security Disability Basics
What to Expect from your Social Security Disability Claim Applying for Social Security Disability benefits is a long, complicated ordeal for most applicants. While we always advise that you would be best served by hiring an experienced Social Security Disability Attorney to guide you through the process, this article will provide some basic information about…
Read MoreDo You Have a Financial Plan to Go with Your Estate Plan?
Do you have a financial plan that incorporate the following key areas? Estate Planning: Provides guidance to help you get your financial house in order. Review your assets for proper ownership and beneficiaries. Consult and coordinate your plan with your attorney, CPA, and other advisors. Address the financial impact of lifestyle changes (death, divorce, disability,…
Read More