720-730-7274
I get calls from women all the time who have lost their husbands. These women are already distraught from the loss of their lifelong partner and spouse, and I can feel their emotional and psychological pain over the phone calls we have. I do wish I had better skills in grief counseling and could help ease their pain, but often that is far outside … [Read more...]
Using Living Trusts: Simplifying Transfers After You Die
There is a story about a miserly old man who is nearing death. He calls his three closest friends to come visit him on his deathbed. He tells them that he has heard he cannot take his wealth with him, but he wants to give it a try. He hands each of his friends a bag of gold coins and requests that each person place the bag of gold coins in his … [Read more...]
Is a Living Trust Protected From Creditors in Colorado?
The short answer to this question is: No. I seem to keep trying to write the shortest blog post ever, but somehow the complexities of legal questions don’t seem to allow for that to be the case. A living trust does not offer creditor protection under Colorado law, even if someone thinks they are super clever to get around the law. I have had … [Read more...]
Who Should Have a Living Trust in Colorado?
I have many clients who call me and tell me they have heard they want to set up a living trust. I often ask where they heard that they need a living trust and I get all types of different answers. Some read about trusts on the Internet, which others have been told they need a trust by their friends or neighbors. Some tell me they attended a … [Read more...]
Can i Have An Estate Plan from Out of State?
When I got married, I went to open a joint checking account with my wife. As part of the process, the banker asked for my driver’s license. I handed over the license and the banker asked me if the address was current. I laughed and said, “Nope, that was about 7 addresses ago.” I was in law school at the time, and I had moved just about every … [Read more...]
Lessons From a Coffee Mug: You Can’t Fix Stupid in Estate Planning
My website designer / web marketing guru / all things concerning my internet presence person has a coffee mug that says “I’m a Lawyer. I can’t fix stupid, but I can fix what stupid does.” I do think the coffee mug may be a bit overzealous and overly optimistic in that saying. I understand that there are many areas of law where this saying might … [Read more...]
What to Expect When You’re Expecting and Planning…to Die!
My oldest daughter is currently enrolled in an AP United States history class. She took an AP World history class and enjoyed it quite a lot. This year, her AP United States history class has been a little more difficult for her. She has struggled with reading the textbook and taking notes, which seemed to be one of her favorite parts about her … [Read more...]
How Can I Split Assets Among My Children In My Estate Plan So They Don’t Fight?
Like most people who have more than one child, we have to be careful about what we give to one child and not the others. When my children were younger, they were keenly aware if one child had a birthday, that child was going to get a present. The other children, particularly the younger children, found this to be quite unfair, as they were not … [Read more...]
Three Important Questions You Should Consider Before Meeting With An Estate Planning Attorney
I often sit down to meet with people who want me to do absolutely everything for them, and they are somewhat shocked that I do not tell them everything to do with their estate plan. Sometimes I have to explain that I cannot decide who should get their assets, as I do not know their family situation, nor do I know who they think deserves assets, or … [Read more...]
Something is Better than Nothing: Get your Estate Plan Set Up Now…You Can Adjust Later, If You Need
I completed an estate plan for a client on December 30, 2021. This particular client had first contacted me over two years ago. When we first spoke, the client had a lot of questions on how to proceed. I answered the questions to the best of my ability, and then the client wanted to talk to their insurance agent, CPA, investment advisor, … [Read more...]
