Blog
Do 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 MoreWhy You Should Update Your Estate Plan
I wonder if folks get tired of hearing me say this, so I’m including a link to an article that will do it for me. You may need to copy and paste the link. Enjoy! Best, Anna http://www.forbes.com/sites/russalanprince/2014/07/03/why-you-should-update-your-estate-plan/
Read MoreWhat’s the Big Deal with Powers of Attorney and Health Care Directives?
What is a Power of Attorney? A Power of Attorney (“POA”) is a tremendously useful legal document that allows you to delegate someone to have authority to act for you. That person may be called your “agent” or “attorney-in-fact.” A Power of Attorney may be described as general, limited (or special), springing, and/or immediately-effective, durable,…
Read MoreWhy I Still Make House Calls
My colleagues gasp when I announce proudly that I enjoy making house calls. But it’s true. When I started out, it was a necessary way to building my business. But at this point, I keep making house calls for other reasons. Clients feel more comfortable at home. Especially older folks and those with physical problems…
Read MoreFinancial Planning – What You Need To Know
Please Find Out 1) What You Pay for Money Management and 2) Whether (or Not) That Person a Fiduciary My approach to estate planning doesn’t just involve drafting documents. Don’t get me wrong…the documents are important. But attention to the underlying assets can have an even greater effect on “who gets what–when, how, and how…
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