Aging is a fact of life, and with aging comes the need for estate planning. If you want to decide what happens to your home and assets after you die, you need to work with an estate planning attorney. Your estate plan can ensure that decisions about inheritance and trusts will be honored. If you don’t make an estate plan now, your family will have to work with a probate lawyer to get the assets you may want them to have.
If you make your plans for wills and deeds while you are still in your fifties, your choices may be quite different than they will be if you wait until later in your life. Estate planning for seniors is usually done with fewer resources, since retirement changes the scope of your financial assets. Some decisions make more sense before retirement, especially home ownership transfer.
You might wonder about the difference between retirement planning and estate planning. Although some elements of both should be addressed years before either of those realities is imminent, retirement planning is arranging your finances to provide a comfortable income after retirement. In contrast, estate planning focuses on what happens to your assets after your death.
When it comes to deciding what will happen to your assets after you pass away, it’s crucial to have a team of estate planning attorneys. In the absence of a documented plan, your assets could end up in probate court. If you anticipate any potential conflict among family members, it’s even more important to ensure that your wishes are clearly documented.
Estate Plan Components
If you are not familiar with estate planning, an estate plan typically includes a will, trusts, and a durable power of attorney document. Before hiring an estate lawyer, it’s crucial to know the right questions to ask them. You should inquire about the state laws that could impact your estate and ask for advice on trusts, as well as proactive investment of current assets. It would also be helpful to discuss estate planning frequently asked questions, such as how to enable your children to handle their future inheritance wisely.
First Appointment
At the initial meeting with your estate attorney, they will provide you with an estate planning questionnaire and worksheets that will help you plan your estate. It is recommended that you come prepared with any financial information you have, including bank account numbers and other investment details. This will help your attorney distribute your estate effectively when the time comes.
Do you wonder how you can protect your loved ones’ hard-earned assets and protect them from nursing home abuse and neglect? Here’s an interesting fact. According to the Nursing Home Abuse Justice, around 5 million people face elder abuse yearly. Therefore, you should secure your family’s financial safety and ensure their well-being in their old age.
Here’s the solution: look for estate planning attorneys. These legal experts understand estate planning, elder care, and asset protection laws. For an attorney to assist you effectively, you should fill in the estate planning questionnaire and worksheets designed to help you organize your financial and personal information. Your attorney can also help you create an estate planning chart visually representing your assets, liabilities, and beneficiaries. They have the experience and knowledge that you need where your assets are concerned.
Still worried about your power of attorney, trusts, and healthcare directives? Don’t worry; the attorney uses various estate planning techniques to address your needs. You can also look into the estate planning FAQ to get more information on the type of services your attorney provides. In this article, you’ll learn more about estate planning, nursing home abuse, and neglect attorneys. Let’s dive into the details here.
When people need legal advice and help, it is a good idea to consult with an attorney. Since attorneys focus on different areas of the law, it is important to locate one with relevant experience. Nursing home abuse and neglect law, as well as estate planning law, for example, are different legal specialties.
Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Law
According to a recent study, elder abuse is not reported as often as it could or should be. The study’s results revealed that just one out of every 14 cases is reported. These incidences of abuse may occur within the home as well as in facilities such as nursing homes.
There have been incidences of abuse and neglect being witnessed and reported by nursing home residents. More than 40% of residents living within these facilities have reported abuse. Furthermore, more than 90% of residents have reported that they have witnessed other residents being neglected or that they have suffered neglect.
Adults 65 years of age and older are more susceptible to slipping and falling. Every year, this occurs with one out of every three individuals within this age bracket. While adults living on their own may experience a fall, it is also likely to occur within nursing homes and other facilities that care for seniors. If these falling incidences occur in a public place such as a grocery store, then obtaining the services of a slip and fall lawyer may be one course of action.
Estate Planning Law
It’s interesting to note that many Americans do not have a basic will much less an estate plan. This amounts to approximately 55% to 70% of people living within this country. While there are a number of reasons why a person would want to create an estate plan, the three primary ones are as follows:
- To avoid court-supervised probate: 59%
- To reduce and/or prevent conflict among beneficiaries: 57%
- To protect children from the mismanagement of their inheritances: 39%
Schedule a Consultation With an Attorney
If you’ve witnessed nursing home neglect or abuse, or have been neglected or abused in a nursing home, it is crucial to report this to the appropriate authorities. When you speak with a nursing home neglect and/or abuse lawyer, they will be able to inform you on how to proceed.
In case you have not drawn up a basic will, you may want to meet with an estate planning lawyer to take care of this important document. In addition to having a basic will drawn up, you may be interested in having an estate planning lawyer assist you with further planning your estate. An estate planning lawyer will be able to assist you with filing documents and other important aspects of this process.
Prior to meeting with your attorney, it is a good idea to make a list of questions as well as gather any relevant documents. Remember that your attorney will be there to offer support and legal guidance.