Author Archives: Andre O. McDonald
Types of Life Insurance and How They Can Be Used in Estate Planning
Many of us do not start thinking about life insurance until we get our first full-time job and the company’s human resources representative asks us if we want to enroll in the employer’s group life insurance policy. Most people think “Why not?” and sign up, naming a family member as the beneficiary of their… Read More »
To Have, but Not to Hold? Common Law Marriage and Estate Planning
Marriage as a legal institution has taken a variety of forms throughout history. As society evolves, how we identify marriage in our society also changes. In some states, a couple may be deemed married without having participated in judicial or religious ceremonies, called common law marriage. This creates some potential issues when planning for… Read More »
Estate Planning Tips for Parents of a Special Needs Child
Children with a wide variety of special needs (disabilities) can live more productive lives than ever before with today’s medicine and health care advancements. Many scientists regard the term “special needs” as a euphemism for disability. Yet, the difference between the two terms is primarily one of acceptance and preference as both terms describe the… Read More »
Simultaneous Deaths: What If My Spouse and I Die at the Same Time?
The chances of a married couple dying in a common accident or within a very short time of one another are probably quite slim. However, it does happen. And it happens frequently enough that most states have laws to address the issue and the problems that can arise from simultaneous deaths. What are these… Read More »
Selling Real Estate After The Death of a Loved One: Things You Need to Know
After the death of a loved one, such as a parent, there are a variety of tasks that must be handled to wrap up your loved one’s final affairs. Selling real estate that belonged to your deceased loved one is one of the more daunting ones. But before you call a real estate agent,… Read More »
What is a Will?
If you asked a group of people, “What is a will?” you may be surprised to find out that many people do not know exactly what a will can (and cannot do). However, having a clear understanding of the purpose, benefits, and limitations of a will is extremely important. What is a Will, and… Read More »
National Home Remodeling Month: Can I Remodel My Own Estate Planning Documents?
Do you know that, according to the National Association of Home Builders, May is National Home Remodeling Month? Many people associate spring with cleaning out the old, brushing off the dirt accumulated from the long winter, and starting projects around the house that have been neglected for far too long. Perhaps, however, your home… Read More »
Estate Planning Considerations for Unmarried Partners
When it comes to protection for unmarried partners, there are several estate planning options to consider. Depending on the value of your money and property, your desired level of protection from your partner’s creditors, and other factors unique to your situation, one or more of these strategies may be beneficial. A word of caution:… Read More »
Estate Planning & Undue Influence Over a Will-Maker
When an individual becomes quite elderly or ill, they also become susceptible to manipulation from those who will defraud or steal from them. Targeted attacks on vulnerable older people to exert what attorneys deem “undue influence” constitutes elder abuse. It disrupts the older persons’ impulse to provide for loved ones and instead leaves assets… Read More »
Emergency Planning: Why You Shouldn’t Wait
Emergency planning sounds like something your mother used to lecture you about, right? And how often have you wished that you’d followed your mother’s good advice? Nobody really wants to think in advance about accidents or illness. But if no advance emergency planning has been done, and if an elderly parent has broken a… Read More »
