Trusts and Your Estate Plan

How We Can Help

We help create your Wills, Trusts and and comprehensive Estate Planning solutions tailored to your specific needs and goals. Our dedicated team is here to support you in developing personalized Living Wills, Powers of Attorney, Health Care Directives, and robust Estate Plans.

You're Unique, So Your Plan Should Be Too.

We listen carefully to what you need.  We work closely with you to create a strategy that effectively protects your assets and ensures the future well-being of your family.  With our guidance, we can help you develop and maintain family privacy and fulfillment of your your wishes.

Protecting Your Family And Your Future

ElderLaw-Attorney (2)

What is a Trust?

A Trust holds your money or property in a special way. It helps you avoid probate and keeps your plan private. It's a strong tool to help you and your family.

A trust functions as a legal arrangement where assets, such as money or property, are placed in a "bucket" to hold your assets.  You create specific instructions in case of incapacity or death as to how your trust assets should be distributed.  It can avoid probate and is a private family matter.  Essentially, it's a strategic tool for protecting your children, wealth management and ensuring that your assets are handled according to your wishes, without interference from the State or Court.

 

 

Effective Trusts & Estate Planning Services

A trust may offer you a variety of advantages, such as:

  • Avoiding Probate
  • Protecting Adult Children from their Potential Mistakes
  • Minimizing or Avoiding Tax Consequences
  • Keeping Financial Information Private
  • Setting Money Aside for Your Children and Grand Children
  • Setting Aside Money for Potential Disability or Long-Term Care
  • Assisting with Supplemental Needs or Special Needs
  • Obtaining Medicaid for yourself or a loved one

Types Of Trusts

  • Revocable Living Trust
  • Living Trust
  • Joint Trust
  • Spendthrift Trust
  • Irrevocable Trust
  • Medicaid Trust
  • Land Trust
  • Testamentary Trust

Are Estate Plans Necessary For Everybody?

Links and Resources

How to Handle Sibling Disputes Over a Power of Attorney

By Andrea Jakob | December 30, 2019
Estate Planning, Wills And Trusts

A power of attorney is one of the most important estate planning documents, but when one sibling is named in a power of attorney, there is the potential for disputes with other siblings. No matter which side you are on, it is important to know your rights and limitations. A power of attorney allows someone…

Read More

Aretha Franklin’s Lack of a Will Could Cause Huge Problems

By Andrea Jakob | December 30, 2019
Estate Planning, Wills And Trusts

According to court documents, legendary singer Aretha Franklin did not have a will when she died, opening up her estate to public scrutiny and potential problems. Failing to create an estate plan can cause lots of headaches for heirs, in addition to unnecessary costs. Franklin, who died August 16, 2018, at age 76, left behind…

Read More

Understanding Tenancy: The Different Ways to Co-Own Property

By Andrea Jakob | December 30, 2019
Estate Planning, Wills And Trusts

When two or more individuals own property — whether it’s a condominium, a home, or a piece of land — the relationship between the owners is very important. The form of ownership of the property affects how property is transferred to someone else. It is important to make sure you have the right form of…

Read More

What Happens If You Die Without a Will?

By Andrea Jakob | December 30, 2019
Estate Planning, Wills And Trusts

We all know we are supposed to do estate planning, but not all of us get around to it. So what happens if you don’t have a will when you die? Your estate will be distributed according to state laws, which may or may not be the way you want it to be distributed. Dying…

Read More

Fear of Losing Home to Medicaid Contributed to Elder Abuse Case

By Andrea Jakob | December 30, 2019
Estate Planning, Wills And Trusts

A California daughter and granddaughter’s fear of losing their home to Medicaid may have contributed to a severe case of elder abuse. If the pair had consulted with an elder law attorney, they might have figured out a way to get their mother the care she needed and also protect their house. Amanda Havens was…

Read More

Problems With Guardianship System Is Focus of John Oliver Show

By Andrea Jakob | December 30, 2019
Estate Planning, Wills And Trusts

John Oliver recently highlighted problems with the guardianship system on his HBO show, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. The comedian provided a scary and funny explanation of how guardianship works, ending with a public service announcement by William Shatner, Lily Tomlin and others explaining steps you can take to avoid the guardianship. The show…

Read More

Are Medicare Advantage Plans Steering Enrollees to Lower-Quality Nursing Homes?

By Andrea Jakob | December 30, 2019
Estate Planning, Wills And Trusts

A new study has found that people enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan were more likely to enter a lower-quality nursing home than were people in traditional Medicare. The study raises questions about whether Medicare Advantage plans are influencing beneficiaries’ decision making when it comes to choosing a nursing home. Medicare Advantage plans, an alternative…

Read More

How to Appeal a Medicare Prescription Drug Denial

By Andrea Jakob | December 30, 2019
Estate Planning, Wills And Trusts

If your Medicare drug plan denies coverage for a drug you need, you don’t have to simply accept it. There are several steps you can take to fight the decision. The insurers offering Medicare drug plans choose the medicines — both brand-name and generic — that they will include in a plan’s “formulary,” the roster…

Read More

Long-Term Care Insurance Policyholder Wins Suit Against Company for Hiking Premiums

By Andrea Jakob | December 30, 2019
Estate Planning, Wills And Trusts

A long-term care policyholder has successfully sued her insurance company for breach of contract after the company raised her premiums. At age 56, Margery Newman bought a long-term care insurance policy from Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. She chose an option called “Reduced-Pay at 65” in which she paid higher premiums until she reached age 65,…

Read More

New Federal Law Puts Focus on Preventing Elder Abuse

By Andrea Jakob | December 30, 2019
Estate Planning, Wills And Trusts

A new federal law is designed to address the growing problem of elder abuse. The law supports efforts to better understand, prevent, and combat both financial and physical elder abuse. The prevalence of elder abuse is hard to calculate because it is underreported, but according to the National Council on Aging, approximately 1 in 10…

Read More

“Leave A Legacy, Not A Mess”

Emerald Publications – September, 2007

Get The Ultimate Life Organizer

There's a lot to think about when you're collecting information for your estate plan. Download our free 17 page Complete Life Organizer and make sure you have everything covered!

ultimate-planner