Other Estate Planning Issues

ESTATE PLANNING ISSUES

Prudent Planning or Abuse of System?

Middle-income people often can arrange their financial affairs so that the government picks up the tab for nursing home care.

ESTATE PLANNING ISSUES

Key Estate Planning Documents

Durable power of attorney: A durable power of attorney is a document that gives someone else the authority to make decisions on your behalf if you should become incapacitated--that is, injured or sick and unable to handle your own affairs. Typically, estate planning attorneys recommend drawing up two such documents: one for health care decisions and one for financial decisions.

ESTATE PLANNING ISSUES

Legal Matters for Unmarried Couples

Unmarried couples do not have legal protections enjoyed by married couples, such as automatic inheritance rights and the ability to make decisions should a spouse become incapacitated. Unmarried couples should take specific legal steps to ensure that their wishes have legal force:

ESTATE PLANNING ISSUES

Case Study: Gay Couple

Unmarried couples face a quagmire of legal and financial issues. Throw in some bad credit and unemployment, and the complications multiply.

ESTATE PLANNING ISSUES

Case Study: Protecting Grown Children

As a single parent, Leslie Hope knew she needed to provide for her three children if something happened to her.

ESTATE PLANNING ISSUES

Q&A: Estate Issues

Inheritances