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Whenever I talk to someone about a trust, I let them know that once the trust is drafted, signed, and notarized, that is not the end of what needs to be done. Assets need to be put into the trust, a process called funding the trust, and I give instructions to clients on what they need to do to put assets into the trust, but that process is a … [Read more...]
Why My Office Has A Wait And Why That’s Not A Bad Thing For You
The short answer to this question is, I am not sure. People sometimes tell me why they are willing to wait 10 to 12 weeks to meet with me and get started on their estate plans, but not everyone does so. I do have a few ideas based on what some people tell me. I am certainly thankful and grateful people are willing to wait the necessary time to … [Read more...]
How to Start a Family Conversation About Estate Planning
Most families that I know don’t really want to have a conversation about estate planning, or death, or dying, or any of those unpleasant subjects. And, most families that I know don’t want to have a conversation about family finances and the family financial situation. I have found this to be especially true of older parents or grandparents. My … [Read more...]
You Know You Need a Will, but You Don’t Know Where to Start? Start by Reading This!
I get a lot of questions from people about how to start the process of setting up a will. I often inquire as to whether they want to start the process of drafting a will, or whether they are asking about what type of decisions go into a will and what they should be thinking about as they start a will. The answer to starting drafting a will is … [Read more...]
Why Don’t I Practice Other Areas of Law?
I answer a lot of phone calls. Many of the calls are for people who want my help with their will, trust, or estate planning, but other calls are not about that. Because I have the word “estate” in the description of what area of law I practice, I also get a lot of calls for real estate law. The word “estate” in common between these two areas of … [Read more...]
How Do You Execute a Living Trust In Colorado After A Death?
A trust is a very useful and helpful estate planning document. The trust itself contains the instructions for what to do with assets owned by the trust, usually in the form of a written trust agreement. The written trust agreement should have the names of beneficiaries who are to receive the assets of the trust, whether the named beneficiaries … [Read more...]
Lost in Translation: Avoiding Common Language Pitfalls in Estate Planning
My website designer and web marketing guru likes it when I use what he calls “Olde English,” which usually is something like an older version of a word, or an expression that comes from long ago. He asked me the other day where I learned so many words, and I told him it was likely a combination of things, but that I have read the King James … [Read more...]
Just Get Started! Overcoming Procrastination and Fear In Setting Up Your Estate Plan
As I was growing up, my parents subscribed to the daily newspaper, the Fort Collins Coloradoan. I still have some articles clipped from the newspaper that reported on high school basketball games in which I participated. I always read the sports section of the newspaper first, but the comics were the second thing I read. I always liked the “Far … [Read more...]
Estate Planning For the Average Joe: Simple Strategies to Protect Your Assets
Most people I meet are not rich. Instead, they are normal, hard-working people who have spent a lifetime working to pay off a house, build up some savings, and take care of their family along the way. Some people have been able to save a little more than others along the way, while some have not been able to save much at all, but they got their … [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...]
