Estate Planning Archives - Page 4 of 9 - Michael Bailey Law, LLC

“We The People” Are A Lot Alike: Why I Am The People’s Estate Planning Attorney

I cannot count the number of times college age students tell me they want to be an attorney. When I ask them why they want to go to law school I sometimes get confused looks. Many tell me that they want to make a difference in the world by saving the environment, protecting the innocent, or they are motivated to protect someone from the … [Read more...]

Can I Leave Money to My Church When I Die?

The simple answer to this question is: Yes, you can. However, not all gifts to a church, or any charity for that matter, are the same. You can choose to give money to a charity as an outright gift, or as a gift inside of of your estate planning documents like a trust. You can choose to leave money to a charity, or leave property in kind to a … [Read more...]

How Do I Leave My Car to My Family After I Die?

I have several clients who restore old cars, usually classic cars, and then either keep them, or sell them to other collectors. They often want to leave the car to their family and ask me, “How do I leave my car to my family after I die?” These really are some neat cars, so I understand wanting to keep the cars in the family. I have seen some … [Read more...]

Why It’s Vital To Have A Living Trust In Colorado

There are many reasons why a living trust is a good idea. You may want to keep your assets out of probate. You may want to provide for your minor children. You may have property in multiple states. You may be a blended family. You may be taking advice from a television personality or financial person on television who tells you to have a … [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 … [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...]

Do I Need An Estate Plan, Will, Or Trust?

I refer to myself as an estate planning attorney, and I prepare estate plans. Oftentimes I will be asked what that means, and I explain that I help people prepare their will, trust, financial power of attorney, medical power of attorney, living will, or other documents related to the end of life. People either understand my further explanation, … [Read more...]

At Home or Virtual: The Benefits of Getting Your Estate Plan Done From Home

I have seen a lot of movies set in the future, where video calls were the preferred method of communication, and apparently that was amazingly cool. In “Back to the Future II” the character Marty McFly (Played by Michael J. Fox) was on a video call with his boss, and then was fired by fax. Apparently this was the futuristic way to communicate in … [Read more...]

How Do I Leave My Car, Boat, House, Money, Family Cabin, Family Business, Family Farm, Monkey, Cat, Dog, or Anything Else To My Family After I Die?

I get asked the question above a lot! OK, so not the whole question at once...mostly I am asked about one part, or the other, and not all of the items at the same time, but I do get asked about how to deal with specific assets quite a bit. I am not sure if people think that each different thing they own needs to be treated separately, or if … [Read more...]

For Grandparents: How Can You Pass On Your Legacy To Your Grandchildren?

When it comes to estate planning, leaving a legacy may be important. Of course, the concept of a legacy raises several different questions: What is a legacy? How you do build a legacy, and how do you leave one for your grandchildren? Is a legacy what you leave to them after you are gone - assets and things? Or, is a legacy more? Is a legacy … [Read more...]