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To fully explore what type of trust is right for you, or to further understand the differences, you should consult with an experienced estate planning attorney. You can schedule a free initial consultation by clicking below. … [Read more...]
Can You Have Both A Will And A Trust? In Colorado, Yes You Can!
Whenever someone asks me if they need a will or a trust, I tell them that the answer depends on their circumstances. I then offer to discuss their life circumstances during my free hour long consultation to determine what options would fit their needs. Many clients are surprised to learn that even if they set up a trust, they also need a … [Read more...]
An Estate Planning Carol: How Your Estate Plan is the Perfect Final Gift For Your Children
In Charles Dickens’ classic Christmas tale “A Christmas Carol” the miserly Ebeneezer Scrooge is taught the true meaning of Christmas. The lesson is taught by three ghosts, the ghost of Christmas Past, ghost of Christmas Present, and ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. In the end, Ebeneezer Scrooge learns his lesson and becomes a generous, happy … [Read more...]
What You Need to Do Before Meeting With Your Estate Planning Attorney
It is no secret that I offer a free initial consultation to everyone who is looking to set up an estate plan. The offer is on my website, and I tell everyone who calls me that I offer a free initial consultation. What may not be so clear is what happens during that initial consultation. Sometimes I have someone who thinks the initial … [Read more...]
Not All Estate Plans Are the Same – Make Sure You Have the Right Tool for the Job
I recently was having a conversation with my friend who told me about a time right after he moved to Colorado. It went something like this: “I was so blown away at the scene I witnessed while walking out of my church in Lafayette after a snowstorm. I had just moved to Colorado and was new to the area and checking out new churches. This church … [Read more...]
Don’t Forget Someone! What Happens if All Children are Not Named in an Estate Plan?
In January, I heard the news that NBA legend Kobe Bryant was killed in a helicopter crash. I was shocked at the news, as was most everyone else that I knew. My cousin’s husband, who played in the NBA for a while, spoke about playing against Kobe Bryant with reverence, as Kobe Bryant was certainly an excellent basketball player. Something like … [Read more...]
Why Would You Want a Trust? Three Big Reasons You Want One
I am often asked what is the difference between a will and a trust. I suppose I get this question a lot because a will and a trust both seem to do the same thing - distribute assets at a person’s death. While that is a similarity between the two documents, each document accomplishes the distribution in a different way. A will goes through the … [Read more...]
The Coronavirus and Estate Planning – Has Anything Changed?
The outbreak of the COVID-19 virus has led to unprecedented actions, quaratines, closing of restaurants, limited gathering of people, and given us new phrases. Who knew what “social distancing” might mean just a few weeks ago? I certainly would not have used that term to describe staying 6 feet or more away from most people, and probably … [Read more...]
Why Simple Wills & Trusts Aren’t So Simple
Almost every client I meet says to me, “well we’re very simple. We just want something simple and want something that should be easy.” I think that what most people mean when they say “we’re simple” is they don’t have much. They’re referring to the things they own - their assets. Something like, “We just have a house and a retirement account … [Read more...]
“But I Don’t Want To!” Why You Need to Talk to Your Kids About Your Estate Plan
In my last blog post, I wrote about why kids, usually adult children, need to talk to their parents about the parents’ estate plan. In this post, I want to talk about how parents need to talk to their children about their estate plan. Mostly, both sides need to have the discussion about an estate plan and it needs to start somewhere. I advised … [Read more...]
