Blog

If a loved one has been diagnosed with dementia, it makes proper estate planning more important and it also raises issues of whether the person has the ability to make his or her own planning decisions. Only people who have legal capacity to sign legal documents can do so. Legal capacity is the level of judgment and decision-making ability needed…Read More

Many businesses have customer lists that they consider their own private property. It is common, however, for sales representatives and other employees to regard customer lists as theirs too, something they can take to a new employer. Employment agreements, confidentiality agreements, non-competes, and non-solicitation agreements can all be used to eliminate confusion over whether a customer list is transferable or…Read More

“I just need a simple will.” It’s a phrase estate planning attorneys hear practically every other day. From the client’s perspective, there’s no reason to do anything complicated, especially if it might lead to higher legal fees. Unfortunately, what may appear to be a “simple” estate is all too often rife with complications that, if not addressed during the planning…Read More

A family feud over an inheritance is not a game and there is no prize package at the end of the show. Rather, disputes over who gets your property after your death can drag on for years and deplete your entire estate. When most people are preparing their estate plans, they execute wills and living trusts that focus on minimizing taxes…Read More

With such similar sounding names, many Americans mistake Medicare and Medicaid programs for one another, or presume the programs are as similar as their names. While both are government-run programs, there are many important differences. Medicare provides senior citizens, the disabled and the blind with medical benefits. Medicaid, on the other hand, provides healthcare benefits for those with little to no income.…Read More

Preparing for the future is an uncertain business, but there are steps you can take during your lifetime to simplify matters for your loved ones after you pass, and to ensure your final wishes are carried out. Planning for what happens to your property, or who cares for your family members, upon your death can be a complicated process. To…Read More

When planning your estate, you must consider how you hold title to your real and personal property. The title and your designated beneficiaries will control how your real estate, bank accounts, retirement accounts, vehicles and investments are distributed upon your death, regardless of whether there is a will or trust in place and potentially with a result that you never…Read More

Will I Be Penalized This Year If I Do Not Have Health Insurance? Tax season can always be stressful, and now the effects of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) add another element to be considered. This year's tax season is the first time filers will be asked to provide basic information about their health care coverage. The ACA, or Obamacare…Read More

It’s called your “golden years” but for many seniors and baby boomers, there is no gold and retirement savings are too often insufficient to maintain even basic living standards of retirees. In fact, a recent study by the University of Michigan found that baby boomers are the fastest growing age group filing for bankruptcy. And even for those who have…Read More

Which entity is best for your business depends on many factors, and the decision can have a significant impact on both profitability and asset protection afforded to its owners. Below is an overview of the most common business structures. Sole Proprietorship The sole proprietorship is the simplest and least regulated of all business structures. For legal and tax purposes, the…Read More