Planning for your retirement years requires more than just saving money and deciding where you will live during your “Golden Years.” In fact, one of the most important aspects of retirement planning is planning for the possibility that you (or a spouse) will need long-term care (LTC) at some point prior to the end of your life. Given the average cost of nursing home care, it is essential to factor that cost into your retirement plans. One option for covering the high cost of LTC is to purchase … [Read more...] about Kirkwood Nursing Home Planning — Is Long-Term Care Insurance Worth the Cost?
Kirkwood Estate Planning Lawyers Explain How to Protect Your Beloved Pet
Are you certain that all of your family members are protected and provided for in your estate plan? Your initial reaction to that question is undoubtedly a “yes!” If you are one of the millions of Americans who own a pet, however, you may need to reconsider your answer unless you have already included your pet in your estate plan. Like most people in the United States, you probably consider your dog, cat, or other pet to be part of the family. If so, why wouldn’t your pet also be a … [Read more...] about Kirkwood Estate Planning Lawyers Explain How to Protect Your Beloved Pet
Kirkwood Probate Attorney Explains How to Avoid Probate
When done properly, the art of estate planning should accomplish much more than just providing the framework for the distribution of your estate assets after your death. Which additional estate planning goals you choose to include in your comprehensive estate plan will depend on your own unique needs and goals. One popular estate planning goal, however, is probate avoidance. If you are unfamiliar with the probate process, it helps to first learn how what happens during the probate of an estate … [Read more...] about Kirkwood Probate Attorney Explains How to Avoid Probate
Kirkwood Living Trust Lawyer Explains Trust Administration
Although once used almost exclusively by wealthy families, trusts are now commonly found in the average person’s estate plan. If you are contemplating the addition of a living trust to your estate plan, one of the most important decisions you will need to make when creating your trust is who to appoint as your Trustee. One of the most common reasons for a trust to fail is appointing the wrong Trustee. Typically, that happens because the Settlor doesn’t really understand what the duties and … [Read more...] about Kirkwood Living Trust Lawyer Explains Trust Administration
Kirkwood Medicaid Lawyer Explains Why Planning Ahead Is Crucial
When you contemplate your estate plan, and the goals and objectives involved in that plan, you probably focus on things such as protecting your loved ones and distributing your assets according to your wishes upon your death. Qualifying for Medicaid may not be something that initially comes to mind; however, including a Medicaid planning component in your comprehensive estate plan is a good idea if you wish to protect your hard-earned assets. To help you understand the importance of Medicaid … [Read more...] about Kirkwood Medicaid Lawyer Explains Why Planning Ahead Is Crucial
Kirkwood Veterans Benefits Lawyers Explain Top 5 VA Benefits
The men and women who have served in the Armed Forces, along with their families, are owed a debt of gratitude that can never truly be repaid. Each and every one of them has sacrificed so that all Americans can enjoy the freedom and safety that comes with living in the United States. Although it may be impossible to ever truly repay a veteran for his/her service, the U.S. government does offer a number of benefits to veterans and their dependents. Many eligible veterans, however, are unaware of … [Read more...] about Kirkwood Veterans Benefits Lawyers Explain Top 5 VA Benefits
Kirkwood Estate Planning Attorneys Answer ” How Long Will It Take to Get My Inheritance?”
The death of a loved one is usually followed by a period of grief and other heightened emotions. Along with the emotional impact of the decedent’s death, however, there are also some practical and legal ramifications. The biggest of those is the distribution of the decedent’s estate. If you are a beneficiary or heir of the estate, you probably have a number of questions about your inheritance; however, you may feel it is disrespectful to ask or you may be unsure who to ask. Because we … [Read more...] about Kirkwood Estate Planning Attorneys Answer ” How Long Will It Take to Get My Inheritance?”
When Should Kirkwood Medicaid Planning Begin?
Depending on your current age, you may have heard about the need to include Medicaid planning in your estate plan but thought you are too young to worry about that yet. After all, Medicaid planning is something seniors need to think about when they need nursing home care, right? While that is partially correct, the fact is that for Kirkwood Medicaid planning to be 100 percent effective it needs to be included in an estate plan a long time before the need for long-term care (LTC) arises. With … [Read more...] about When Should Kirkwood Medicaid Planning Begin?
Estate Planning Moves in A Recessionary Economy
As we all know, the United States has experienced what has come to be known as the “Great Recession” over the past few years. For many people, this means that home values have plummeted as have stocks and other investments. While there is no way to view this in a positive light, there are some estate planning moves that you can make during a recessionary economy that can have long term benefits for you and your loved ones. Consider the following: Creating a GRAT—a Grantor Retained Annuity … [Read more...] about Estate Planning Moves in A Recessionary Economy
What Is Joint Tenancy with Rights of Survivorship in Missouri?
In Missouri, as is the case in other states, both real and personal property may be titled in many different ways. An individual may hold title to property. A corporation may hold title to property. A trust may even hold title to property. Finally, property may be jointly titled when two or more people share ownership of the property. If you share ownership of property with another person it is imperative that you understand the different types of joint ownership in Missouri. Titling property as … [Read more...] about What Is Joint Tenancy with Rights of Survivorship in Missouri?
