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Info, Updates, and Interesting Minutiae

How to Leave Assets to a Loved One who Struggles with Addiction

In the United States, 21.5 million adults (aged 12 or older) battle with some kind of substance abuse disorder. The opioid epidemic is on the rise, and addiction affects many families nationwide. Decades of research show that addiction is a chronic illness, and many in recovery have one or more relapses (60% of patients relapse within one year of receiving treatment, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association). Relapse, rather than a failure, is a common part of recovery.

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Taking it to the Grave: How Creditors Can Impact Your Legacy

Very often, clients tell us that they wish they hadn’t waited so long to start the estate planning process. It can seem scary or overwhelming, and there are a lot of reasons people put it off. One of the most common is that people want to wait until they have achieved certain financial goals before meeting with an attorney. These goals may include buying a home or earning a certain amount of money, but one we hear the most is getting out of debt.

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What is the Difference Between Hiring an Attorney and Drafting Your Own Will Online?

The majority of individuals in the United States do not have a will or any other estate planning document in place. Often, this is because it can be difficult and painful to confront mortality, the process can be expensive, and people tend to put it off for a time in the future when it feels more urgent. In response to this phenomenon, there are many “simple” and “low-cost” solutions to estate planning available such as online legal form services, DIY books, and fill-in-the-blank forms. These companies try to sell their will-drafting methods as simpler, faster, and cheaper than working with an attorney. What does this mean in practical terms? You get what you pay for.

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Seven Reasons Why You Avoid Your Estate Planning

Whether we realize it or not, if we fail to plan, we're planning to fail.

In my years of practice, I’ve heard a lot of excuses as to why people avoid estate planning. Before you stop reading, let me address some of them straight on and try to convince you why avoiding your estate plan may not be the best choice for you and your family.

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Christopher Gordon
How Often Do You Need to Revisit Your Estate Plan?

We’ve mentioned this statistic before, but it bears repeating: 6 out of 10 adult Americans do not have any estate plan documents in place. Of course, we know that doesn’t mean that nothing will happen to their assets or their loved ones after they pass. Instead, a failure to plan simply means that your assets and loved ones will be treated in accordance with state law. Basically, the state is writing your will for you.

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Christopher Gordon
What to Do When a Spouse Suddenly Passes

In the first weeks following a spouse’s death, you will be faced with dozens of decisions - some minor and some with long-lasting impacts. It will be essential to remain organized and to move carefully through each decision to make sure that nothing gets left unaddressed. Keep a list and ask for help where you need it. Go slow as you move through this process. Set aside a period of time each day to deal with financial matters. Getting just one or two tasks accomplished a day can keep you from feeling overwhelmed.

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Christopher Gordon