Blog
You Have Your Trust, But Is There Anything In It?
You’ve signed your Trust. Great! But wait, there’s more… Creating your Trust is just the first step. Upon signing, your Trust is merely an “empty bucket.” Funding your Trust, means filling the “empty bucket” with your assets. Your assets fill the “empty bucket” by...
The Trap of Joint Tenancy
“I don’t have a lot of money, so I'll just add my kids to my (bank account) (title to my home) (title to my car) etc.” This is a common refrain from those who think they are not wealthy enough for an Estate Plan. Wealth does not determine whether you should have an...
Why Does an 18-Year Old Need Powers of Attorney?
Becoming a legal adult means that parents are no longer in control of most aspects of their now adult-aged child. Because your child is an adult, you can no longer make their healthcare decisions, talk to their doctors nor access any of their financial records...
Seniors and Privacy – Part 3
Here is a list of Do’s and Don’ts in our final installment for seniors seeking to protect their privacy: DO shred all confidential material. DO use encrypted networks to access sensitive accounts. DO obtain copies of your credit report at least annually. DO use strong...
Seniors and Privacy – Part 2
With a few tips and a little bit of time, you can try and prevent your private information from being stolen and/or made public. It is not always 100% guaranteed, but doing nothing or being careless with your information will dramatically increase the likelihood of...
Seniors and Privacy – Part 1
Senior citizens are particularly vulnerable to fraud, and according to MetLife’s Mature Market Institute, “American seniors lose $2.9 billion a year to fraud.” Therefore, it is particularly important for seniors to be concerned about privacy. I recently gave a...
Are You Prepared for Your Summer Vacation?
Summer is half-way over, and for many, vacations are fast approaching. Before you head out, make sure your Estate Plan is set before you go: 1. For those with children, a complete Will which names guardians for them. If you are leaving the children at home, a...
Same-Sex Marriage Now in Cook County!
Beginning today, same-sex marriage licenses are now available in Cook County. However, couples who want to convert their civil union into a marriage will need to wait until June 1, 2014.
Do You Have an Ethical Will?
An ethical will, or legacy letter, is a way to convey personal information you would like your family and friends to know either before or after your death. Because an ethical will is not a legal document that distributes your estate, it can be in any type of format:...
Knowing Your Order Before You Do
In a scary move, Amazon has patented technology termed anticipatory package shipping. Amazon will ship products based on demand. It will consider factors including a customer’s previous orders, product searches, wish lists and shopping cart data. Amazon may even...