“An immature or troubled child could try to misuse your money or goad you into handing over assets you might need later. Complicated family dynamics, or just your desire for privacy, may make you hesitant to open up.” Talking about who will control your assets is always a tricky thing, says AARP.org in a recent […]

“The official figure for elder financial fraud used by a congressional committee is around $3 billion a year, but that’s based solely on reported cases of fraud. Other estimates are 10 times that much.” Aging baby boomers are a giant target for scammers. A report issued last year from a federal agency, the Consumer Financial […]

“Survivorship periods don’t usually surpass 60 days. If this period surpasses 120 days, it could put the tax-free estate transfer of assets to a surviving spouse at risk.” A survivorship clause in a will or a trust says that beneficiaries can inherit only if they live a certain number of days after the person who […]

“Now you can actually have a voice in who is chosen, but you need to do it while you have capacity.” For many years, people have had the right to designate an agent to handle a number of different legal, business and medical matters. That includes finances, medical decisions, wills and even funerals. What Americans […]

“Under Illinois law, an individual holding a power of attorney is a fiduciary as a matter of law. The person designated as a power of attorney agent owes a fiduciary duty to the principal—the person making the designation.” A recent case examined the issue of when the fiduciary duty begins for an agent who has […]

“Is it time you made a decision on the future of the wonderful getaway that everybody loves but only you maintain?” If this winter-like weather plus pandemic have left you wondering about how to get started on passing the family vacation home to the family or preparing to sell it in the future, you’ll need […]

“Coupled with the upcoming presidential election, small to mid-sized business owners are faced with a slew of financial decisions that could impact the wealth of their business and the legacy they leave to their successors.” The upcoming presidential election is giving small to mid-sized business owners concerns regarding changes in their business, business succession planning, […]

“The proliferation of digital footprints in our online communities raises demand for consumer tools and options for dealing with digital assets upon incapacity and death.” Most people have an extensive network of digital relationships with retailers, financial institutions and even government agencies. Companies and institutions, from household utilities to grocery delivery services, have invested millions […]

“One of the most fundamental choices you can make as you’re thinking about how to pass your assets on to heirs, is whether you hold assets in a revocable trust or more simply give them via a will. Both approaches have advantages, although trusts can provide significantly more benefits.” Having a structure in place that […]

“A more present sense of one’s own mortality may drive those who have not made plans before to begin the process of creating an estate plan. For those who have existing plans, are they up to date? How does the changing economic environment affect prior decisions?” One result of the global health crisis is that […]