What is a “Durable Power of Attorney?”
A durable power of attorney is a legal document that allows you to give someone else the authority to make decisions on your behalf. This can be an important part of your estate planning, as it ensures that someone you trust is able to make financial or legal decisions for you if you become unable […]
Who is Marion Levine? How do they affect your life insurance?
Life insurance has long been part of Estate Plans, whether used to ensure liquidity for the estate on the death of the insured, or simply as income replacement on the death of the insured. Understanding the impact of life insurance on an estate plan has become critically important. A recent tax court case resulted in a big win for the taxpayer in a complex set of facts which could impact how you incorporate life insurance for your Estate Planning clients
Is Your Estate Plan Lacking?
What is “estate planning,” as a concept? It has been our experience here at the Slaton Schauer Law Firm, PLLC that too many people think that estate planning should consist of nothing more than a basic will. So what is the reality? The truth is that there are many factors to consider when evaluating a […]
Interest Rates and Estate Planning – Part II
As interest rates continue to climb, Estate Planning practitioners look to different planning techniques to take advantage of rising rates. Two common estate planning techniques work well in higher-interest rate environments.
Interest Rates and Estate Planning – Part I
Interest rates were at historic lows for many years. Those rates have begun to rise in recent months and may continue to do so. Practitioners need to monitor interest rates in order to advise clients regarding the most effective Estate Planning strategies in any environment.
Life Insurance and Estate Planning – Now What?
Life insurance is an important component of estate planning. After all, we know it can be a useful tool for providing financial protection for loved ones in the event of the policyholder’s death. Unfortunately, both Regina and I– the attorneys here at the Slaton Schauer Law Firm, PLLC– have spoken with many people who purchased […]
Lessons from Lisa Marie
Regular readers of this blog often see articles regarding the latest celebrity whose death created a mess because their Estate Plan failed to properly protect the celebrity’s family and loved ones. It seems that an individual with fame and money could easily avoid that result; however, that’s not always the case. The fallout caused by inadequate Estate Plans of celebrities provides great lessons for Estate Planning practitioners and their clients because the drama unfolds on a public stage. Tragically, Lisa Marie Presley died on January 12, 2023 and her death marks yet another celebrity Estate Plan gone wrong.
Planning for Incapacity and Long-Term Care – A Short Guide
At the Slaton Schauer Law Firm, PLLC, we believe in solid planning for considerations of incapacity and potential long-term care needs. These issues become increasingly important as people age. How we can plan for these issues? Let’s start with definitions. What do we actually mean by “incapacity?” In the estate planning context, someone’s “capacity” refers […]