We hear this question all the time: “Can’t I just grab a will off the internet, do a transfer-on-death deed for my land, put my kids on my bank account, and be done with my estate plan?” The Simple Answer? It’s just not a good idea. For the plan to work as you would...
Using Local Insight And Legal Know-How
To Protect Your Interests
Trust
The Importance of Planning for the Unexpected
Planning, Planning, and more Planning. The sudden rise of the coronavirus, COVID-19, has left many unprepared and confused. There are numerous reports of shortages of antibacterial hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, and even toilet paper. While we can’t predict when...
Why Seniors Should Need Estate Planning
Seniors need estate planning more than most groups, because they are more likely to encounter a serious illness or disability. When it comes to establishing wills and estate plans, older Americans outpace their younger counterparts. Still, a significant number — 19...
How Living Trusts Can Help Seniors
Do you have a living trust? Have you considered one? As we age, it can become increasingly difficult to manage our assets. Most of us will, at some point, need assistance with these details to help ensure that our financial and other assets aren’t depleted. If you or...
Do I Need an Estate Plan?
estate plan When many people think about estate plans, they ask themselves, do I need one? Are they only for the old or the rich? However, it is important for you to know that everyone needs an estate plan. Estate plans are written into the law, and under this state...
More Than Your Normal Estate Plan
What is in your plan? When you think of estate planning you usually think of death and how your property is divided. But there is more to it than just putting together documents. At Dafoe Law, we look at the big picture and take little steps to help make everything...
Why Your Estate Planning Project Must Morph into a Process
Many people put their estate plan on their to-do list as a one-time project: “Create estate plan” or “Meeting with lawyer 10:30 a.m. Thursday for estate plan.” Your estate planning attorney should help you think of it as more. Thinking of your estate plan as a single...
Elder Law – Life Care Planning: An Introduction
Medicaid planning is part of elder law, but often is something that is only thought of during a crisis. Life Care Planning is more holistic. It focus on the elder’s quality of life. It starts before you have a crisis. Life Care Planning assists elders in receiving the...
Why a Trust Is the Best Option for Avoiding Probate
Trust: Probate Avoidance 101 As Ambrose Bierce once darkly observed, “Death is not the end. There remains the litigation over the estate.” Obviously, ideally, when someone passes away, the paperwork and material concerns associated with the estate are so flawlessly...
3 Reasons You Want to Avoid Probate
When you pass away, your family may need to visit a probate court in order to claim their inheritance. This can happen if you own property (like a house, car, bank account, investment account, or other asset) in only your name. Although having a will is a good basic...