Posted on February 14, 2018 in Wills and Trusts

Many people realize at some point in their lives that they need to start planning for a time when they are not around. It could be the addition of a new baby in the family, retirement, or a medical crisis that spurs a person’s interest in estate planning. For those seeking the cheapest estate planning process possible, using online legal document services may seem like a good idea. Although some do use these types of products with success, relying on an online service to plan your final affairs can be a risky move.

Do Not Be Fooled By a Professional-Appearing Website

Online legal document services may appear to offer the same benefits as a law firm, but they do not. These types of services do not hire attorneys, but instead "document assistants"-individuals who do not have nearly the extensive education and training an attorney has. A document assistant cannot help you choose the best legal option for your unique estate circumstances or warn you if you are making a grave mistake while creating your plans. Because the people involved in these online service websites are not lawyers, they cannot give you legal advice of any kind. In fact, the websites cannot even promise that legal documents drafted though the service will be valid or that there will be a usable result from the time, effort, or money spent on these online services.

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 Posted on February 12, 2018 in Divorce

Upon reading the title to this blog post, you may be thinking to yourself that all divorces are high in conflict. This is certainly true. Divorce is the second-most stressful life even a person can endure and it often brings out the worst in people. However, although many who divorce have feelings of resentment, guilt, or anger, they are still willing to work toward a common goal. In high-conflict divorces, one or both spouses are not willing to work together and instead work to tear each other down. In this type of divorce, a couple engages in hostile confrontation instead of legal negotiation about the issues at hand. This can be nearly unbearable for a spouse who actually does want to reach conclusions about spousal support, child support, parenting time, or property division.

Reasons to Hope

If you are currently experiencing a high conflict divorce, or you might be in the future, know that there is light at the end of the tunnel. While there is no way that you can change how you spouse reacts to a divorce, you can change yourself. There are a few guidelines that experts suggest can help spouses manage high-conflict divorces and reach the conclusion they desire.

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 Posted on February 12, 2018 in Divorce

After the end of a long-term relationship, you are likely ready to move on with your life and leave the emotional pain of your breakup behind. Unfortunately, this can be difficult to do during the days and weeks surrounding February 14th. As a holiday dedicated to love and relationships, Valentine’s Day can seem inescapable, with the products on store shelves, radio and TV advertisements, and other people’s plans for romantic celebrations all serving as reminders of your newly-single status.

If you have been recently divorced or are in the midst of the divorce process, Valentine’s Day does not have to be a negative time of the year. Here are some strategies for surviving the holiday during and after divorce:

• Spend time with friends - Getting together with other single people you know is a great way to have fun on Valentine’s Day, whether you are going out for dinner and drinks or having a party at your home.

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 Posted on February 06, 2018 in Estate Planning

The true purpose of estate planning is to protect your assets and to provide for your family- even after you pass away. Planning for your future now can save your loved ones months of frustration and uncertainty in the future. There exists some misinformation regarding estate planning, and this can lead to mistakes. Those who are not aware of all their estate planning choices and the benefits and drawbacks of each choice may not be informed enough to avoid these common missteps.

Overlooking Living Trusts

Assuming that a last will and testament is the best choice for distributing assets after death is a common oversight. Although a will is more common, a revocable living trust may be the better option for some. A revocable living trust is a legal arrangement created to hold ownership of an individual's assets-similar to a will. However, assets left through a living trust do not have to pass through probate, which is the court system designed to prove the validity of a will. Probate can be lengthy and also makes the content of a will public information. The information contained in living trusts does not have to go through probate and stays private.

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 Posted on February 02, 2018 in Divorce

When a couple’s relationship breaks down and they decide to end their marriage, they are likely to experience a number of strong emotions which may make it difficult to remain civil with one another. However, when spouses have children together, they should remember that divorce is not the end of their relationship, since they will both be parents of their children for the rest of their lives. By taking steps to establish a good foundation for co-parenting during divorce, they will be able to provide a good environment for their children for years to come. Here are some helpful tips for working together with your ex to co-parent your children:

1. Maintain consistency between both homes - Even if your style of parenting is different from your ex-spouse, it is best for children if their parents are on the same page about issues such as rules for behavior, school expectations, and methods of discipline. Work together with your ex-spouse to find parenting strategies you can agree on.

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 Posted on February 01, 2018 in Divorce

There are many reasons why a couple’s marriage may break down. In some cases, the two spouses simply got married before they were ready for the commitment. Other times, one of the spouses is unfaithful and causes hardship in the marriage through his or her infidelity. However, one of the biggest causes of marital stress is money. Couples argue about whether to spend or save money, what to spend it one, or how their money should be managed.

Financial Stress Causes Friction in Relationships

A study conducted by the American Psychological Association found that about 75 percent of Americans are experiencing financial stress at least some of the time. Furthermore, almost a quarter of U.S residents are experiencing extreme financial stress. Couples do not have to be living paycheck to paycheck to experience this stress. Many financially-secure couples also experience the stress of not knowing which money decisions are right for them and their family.

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 Posted on January 31, 2018 in Divorce

When you are facing a divorce, you are likely overwhelmed with the changes you are experiencing in your life and uncertainty about your future. Since finances are a major concern during this time, you may wonder if you can save money by representing yourself in your divorce case. However, even in an amicable divorce, it is essential to have an attorney on your side. Consider the following six reasons why you need a divorce lawyer:

1. Providing legal representation - One attorney cannot represent both spouses, so if your spouse has already hired an attorney, he or she will not be looking out for your interests. Moreover, you will be at a disadvantage, even if you and your spouse are in agreement on most of the issues which need to be resolved. With your own attorney on your side, you can be sure that your rights and interests will be protected throughout the divorce process.

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 Posted on January 30, 2018 in Estate Planning

Although it is not necessarily a pleasant thought, even young parents who are in good health should not hesitate to start creating an estate plan. Parents of minor children need to plan for the possibility that they may pass away before their children reach adulthood. Because those under 18 years of age do not have the legal standing or rational thinking ability to make decisions about their care and finances, an adult must act on their behalf.

When parents of minor children create an estate plan, two of the concerns they should address are who will be the guardian of their children should they pass away and who will manage their children’s assets. By planning for the worst, parents can have the peace of mind knowing that if something ever happened to them, their children would be raised and cared for by individuals that the parent’s themselves selected.

Planning for the Future

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 Posted on January 26, 2018 in Divorce

The major life changes that accompany the end of a marriage can be overwhelming, even in the most amicable breakups. Whether you have made the mutual decision to move on from a relationship that is no longer working or have been unexpectedly served with divorce papers, you are likely not fully prepared for the upheaval that divorce will bring to your life. But while divorce can be stressful and full of complicated emotions, you can complete the process more efficiently and effectively by taking the following steps:

1. Manage your expectations - Your divorce will require some major changes to nearly every aspect of your life, from your finances, to your living situation, to your relationship with family and friends. When you are realistic about what you expect your post-divorce life to look like, you can then set goals for what you want to accomplish and work toward them throughout the divorce process.

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 Posted on January 23, 2018 in Powers of Attorney

Research shows that only about half of Americans have any estate planning documents in place. Those without a last will and testament and other critical estate planning documents risk having their estate decisions made for them if they pass away or become incapacitated. One vital piece of estate planning that is important for anyone to have is a power of attorney. A durable power of attorney is a legal document which gives someone else the authority to act on your behalf if you cannot do your yourself.

Types of Power of Attorney

A general power of attorney assigns an agent which will be responsible for the medical decisions, legal choices, personal banking, investment, insurance and real estate transactions of the person signing the document (the principal) should they become incapacitated. A special power of attorney allows the principal to be more specific. He or she can narrow down the types of choices the agent(s) can make. It is possible to have several different powers of attorney for different purposes. An individual may choose their spouse or family member to make medical decisions on their behalf, but he or she may choose another individual to make financial or business decisions in the event they are incapacitated.

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