Many people love to spend part of their summer vacation at the beach, enjoying the ocean and sunshine. But there may be unseen dangers that are crucial for beachgoers to keep in mind: For example, the undertow is a current of water,
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Hoarding is more than just being a bit messy (or buying a six-month supply of toilet paper): It is actually a mental disorder causing some people to have difficulty discarding items, regardless of their value, and to experience severe distress even at
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The United States has experienced a surge in immigration since 1970, and there are now approximately 45 million foreign-born people living in the United States. Some of them have become U.S. citizens, but many non-citizens live in the United States as well.
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In our last post, we detailed a few of the most important lessons HBO’s Succession has taught us about estate planning. Here are a few more worth considering: Expect the Worst, Hope for the Best Too often, estate plans go half-finished. The
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Film and television are, first and foremost, entertainment. Every so often, though, a valuable lesson sneaks its way into the shows and movies we love. HBO’s Succession isn’t the kind of show you’d expect to learn a lot from, but the plot
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Your estate plan, like your home, periodically needs a thorough polishing. Your life circumstances are constantly changing, and an estate plan that perfectly met your needs a couple of years ago may now be cluttered with outdated provisions or documents. Spring has
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Coronavirus has been all over the news—and with good reason. For some people, it can turn into a serious illness if contracted. Thankfully, for the great majority of people who have contracted the disease, the symptoms appear to be relatively mild. Nevertheless,
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It’s been said that only two things are certain: death and taxes. That’s one reason why Nathan Kottkamp founded National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD), which is recognized on April 16th each year. After all, very few of us forget tax day*, but
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In uncertain times, planning for the future becomes more important than ever. As the spread of COVID-19 continues to impact the economy, our healthcare system, and the unemployment rate, now is the time to brace ourselves. It’s never easy to come to
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Estate planning for couples in a second or subsequent marriage can be tricky, especially if their estates are disproportionate. One solution for allowing the well-to-do spouse to maintain control of their property and wealth–but keep their other spouse happy–is the “Lifetime QTIP
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You have recently divorced your spouse and the judge has signed the divorce decree. Now what? Although you may feel as though you have spent enough time and money on lawyers, there is one last attorney you need to talk to: an
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One of the main reasons for getting an annual physical is to detect and treat problems before an illness or health condition becomes serious. Likewise, it is important for your estate plan to get a regular check up to address changes in
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As concerns over the coronavirus (COVID-19) continue to grow, people are finding themselves worrying over their estate plan. Individuals are considering questions like, “If I get sick, who will take care of my children? My finances? My medical and financial decisions?” There
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If you are a parent, you probably love to do good things for your children—and leaving them an inheritance is one of the most tangible ways you can show your love once you are gone. What you may not know is that
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You have searched for and found the love of your life, maybe your first love, or maybe after a previous marriage. As you have built your life together, you have probably weathered your fair share of storms and grown stronger because of
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Surprising to most people, the federal estate tax is a voluntary tax. Estate planning attorneys used to say, “You only pay if you don’t plan.” Now, portability of the federal estate tax exclusion provides both an alternative and a back up plan
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When Kirk Douglas passed away earlier this year at the inspiring age of 103, the movie-loving world mourned. The February 5, 2020 announcement, posted to his son Michael’s Instagram account, noted that Douglas was known as a philanthropist and that his legacy
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If you’re an animal person, your pets are family. Whether you love your dog, cat, guinea pig, bearded dragon, or prize-winning koi, we know there’s nothing you wouldn’t do to keep your furry (or scaly) family safe, happy, and healthy. So, what
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You can update your estate plan without leaving the comfort and safety of your home. Wilson+Miller recognizes that the COVID-19 coronavirus is posing many challenges to everyone. We understand our clients’ concerns about being in public places during this time. In the
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You and your spouse live together, you work together, and chances are you spend a lot of your free time together. Having a successful relationship and business takes a lot of hard work and dedication but can also be among the most
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Your money, home, and vehicles are not the only things you should include in your estate plan. Your intellectual property and any income it generates should also be addressed. You do not have to be a famous author, painter, or inventor to
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Pop culture has a way of worming its way into our collective psyche. Anyone who has ever had a song stuck in their head can attest to the infectious nature of mass media. The good news? Many of our most beloved cultural
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Everyone makes mistakes sometimes. When the stakes are high, though, the most minor of errors can have catastrophic results. A failure to plan for issues relating to death or incapacity could have long-lasting implications for your family and estate. Even when a
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The internet offers all the information and tools we need at our fingertips to create our own estate plan, right? For most people, this is simply not true. Several years ago, Consumer Reports®, an independent nonprofit consumer watchdog group, created wills using
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It is very important to regularly review and update all of your estate planning documents. However, your financial power of attorney is one document that should be reexamined more frequently than others. Revisiting your financial power of attorney will help ensure that
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