Author: Patricia De Fonte – Estate Planning Attorney
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Talk to Your Family over the Holidays About Your Estate Plan
Many of us labor a lifetime to build up our assets and fight for causes that matter to us. Few things are more fulfilling than the thought of sharing wealth and legacy with our family. Of course, it’s impossible to plan for every eventuality, but careful planning can mitigate against the two primary risks: a)…
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Estate Planning Tips for Commitment Without Marriage
Advice columnist Ann Landers once observed that “love is friendship that has caught fire.” If that’s true, there are thousands of ways for that blaze to unfold. For many Americans, such devotion and passion do not need to be neatly formalized as marriage. In fact, our cultural norms are shifting, and quickly. Consider the following:…
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Do It Now: Name a Guardian for Your Minor Child(ren)
I know it’s hard. Thinking about someone else raising your children can stop you in your tracks. It feels crushing and too horrific to consider. But you must. If you don’t, a stranger will determine who raises your children if something happens to you – your children’s guardian could be a relative you despise or…
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Digital Afterlife: An Estate Plan for Your Facebook Account
Did you ever wonder what happens to your digital footprint when you pass away? Well you should, particularly if you are part of the 77 percent of Americans who go online every day. As the internet has become more of an integral part of our lives, our information — pictures, videos, financial, emails, social media…
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3 Reasons You Want to Avoid Probate
When you pass away, your family may need to visit a probate court in order to claim their inheritance. This can happen if you own property (like a house, car, bank account, investment account, or other asset) in only your name. Although having a will is a good basic form of planning, a will does…
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Planning Your Summer Vacation? 5 Things to Consider Now
In many states, winter has thawed and now flowers are budding. This can only mean one thing: summer vacation planning season is here now. As vacation planning kicks into high gear, here are a few important things to add to your vacation readiness checklist. Guardian nomination If it’s just you and a spouse leaving for…
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Best Practices to Get Your Clients Talking
Tips: – Do not look at a client’s questionnaire until you have established rapport and trust. – Take notes on a yellow pad, not a computer. – Have tissues and water in reach of the clients. – Plants make people feel calmer – green your office! – Never ask “WHY” – it puts people on…
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Who Do You Love? Who Do You Trust?
I ask every client “Who do you love. Who do you trust?” Initially, no one knows how to respond to these questions. Everyone wants to talk about who will receive their assets. That is not why I ask. The people we love and trust, the people who love and trust us, are the best people…
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Your Cheatin’ Heart – Needs an Estate Plan!
Lawyers owe clients a duty of confidentiality. This means that when I have a couple as an estate planning client, I must keep all secrets shared with me from third parties, but I must also expose the secrets shared with me by one spouse to the other. All of my clients have heard my talk…
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Do It Now: Name a Guardian for Your Minor Child(ren)
I know it’s hard. Thinking about someone else raising your children can stop you in your tracks. It feels crushing and too horrific to consider. But you must. If you don’t, a stranger will determine who raises your children if something happens to you – your children’s guardian could be a relative you despise or…