It makes sense for you to name a transfer-on-death (TOD) beneficiary for your vehicles. That way, your vehicle can be transferred to the beneficiary quickly and easily, without probate court approval. Beware: the beneficiary inherits any outstanding debts on the vehicle, as well as the vehicle. If you have a Trust, be sure to make … continue reading the entire article
Wills and revocable trusts are beneficial planning documents used to pass assets on to beneficiaries after death. However, there are very distinct differences. To make the best decision for your family, you should know the three major distinctions between wills and revocable trusts. Privacy When a will is administered, it must go through the court … continue reading the entire article
A family’s life savings can easily be spent in a matter of months when a family member needs long-term nursing home care. The loss of life savings and assets, including the family home, can be devastating. There are several different Missouri Medicaid (MO HealthNet) long-term care programs for which Missouri seniors may be eligible. One … continue reading the entire article
Although there is no set time to review your estate plan, the new year is a good opportunity to reflect on any significant changes in your life during the past year to determine if your plan still meets all your goals. Time has a way of passing quickly, and it is easy to put your … continue reading the entire article
The topic of probate brings up a lot of concerns from people who come to us for estate planning. Many have heard horror stories from families and friends. They know enough to know that they want to avoid probate, but they don’t know why or how. Probate is simply an administrative process supervised by the … continue reading the entire article
What if an accident, illness, or even simply the effects of aging left you unable to tell your doctors what kind of medical treatment you wanted, or made it impossible to manage your financial affairs? No one likes to think about such grim possibilities, but the truth is that almost every family will eventually face … continue reading the entire article
At times we may find ourselves caring for a loved one who is unable to function independently. Whether their disability is from injury, illness, or other causes, legal and financial issues arise when the person receives sizable funds such as an inheritance or lawsuit settlement. The money is intended for the use and care of … continue reading the entire article
As you go about your busy schedule, estate planning may not be your top priority. In the back of your mind, you know it is important to start the conversation. Maybe you think you have plenty of time for that later or you aren’t quite sure where you want to be financially, but you continue … continue reading the entire article
When was the last time you reviewed the beneficiaries on your accounts? Time goes by quickly and, as they say, “life happens.” Things change in your life and because you are so busy, there’s a tendency to put it at the bottom of your To-Do list or even forget about it altogether. You may understand … continue reading the entire article
It’s a difficult subject to consider, but are you prepared if you or your loved ones must be admitted to a nursing home? Of course, we all want to be able to live out our days in our homes. The reality is that most will be faced with the difficult decision of admitting a loved … continue reading the entire article