If you have a relative who has a disability, you may have concerns about his or her ability to pay for basic living expenses and medical care. You may also worry that your loved one may be vulnerable to financial abuse. Setting up a special needs trust may put your...
Estate Planning
Updating your estate plan when you remarry
A second marriage means new and exciting changes are in store for you and your family, but it also means it may be time to take a second look at your estate plan. The actions you take when estate planning may impact how much your children, your ex-spouse and current...
Estate beneficiaries may file a lawsuit to remove a trustee
A bank established in Missouri has the authority to serve as a trustee to an estate and carry out the grantor's instructions for managing the assets held in its trust. When heirs allege that a trustee breached a duty of care by mismanaging assets, however, they may...
3 tips for estate planning at retirement
Retirement is a while new phase of life. It can be a great time to spend with friends and family. You can finally enjoy what you have worked so hard for all these years. However, it is not the time to drop the ball on your estate plan. Just as you did during other...
Make sure your estate planning efforts continue to protect you
Estate planning can be one of the most emotionally difficult endeavors people undertake during their lifetimes. It brings up issues involving death and incapacity, which no one enjoys contemplating. Still, getting it done can help make your later years a little more...
The right executor is a critical element of estate planning
Jackson, Missouri, residents interested in estate planning often wonder how to select an estate executor. As this is the individual responsible for carrying out your final wishes and your instructions, it is crucial to make the right choice.Although picking an...
Estate planning for new parents
Many people don't think about an estate plan until they have their first child. If you already have a plan in place, having a child is a life event that warrants changes to it.Whether you're starting from scratch or adding to an existing plan, following are some...
Estate planning for the ‘long goodbye’ of dementia
Living with the knowledge that you have Alzheimer's or other type of dementia or caring for someone who does can be frightening, overwhelming and depressing. Alzheimer's been referred to as the "long goodbye" because people often slowly lose cognitive functions and...
Separated but not divorced? What does that mean when you die?
Many Missouri couples decide that they can't live together happily. However, for any number of reasons, they may opt to remain legally married. In some cases, they just never get around to divorcing.While you and your spouse may have been living separate lives for...
