5 Estate Planning Strategies to Keep Your Money in the Family

May 16, 2020
Bill O’Leary, Esq.
Asset Protection, Business Planning, Elder Law, Estate Planning, Life Insurance, Power of Attorney, Probate and Estate/Trust Administration

5 Estate Planning Strategies to Keep Your Money in the Family The inheritance you leave could still be eaten away by taxes and expenses. Here are five strategies to avoid that. By Maryalene LaPonsie, Contributor Nov. 19, 2015, at 11:07 a.m. 5…

100 Things to Do While Stuck Inside Due to a Pandemic

May 10, 2020
Bill O’Leary, Esq.
Estate Planning, Power of Attorney, Probate and Estate/Trust Administration

100 Things to Do While Stuck Inside Due to a Pandemic As concerts are postponed, sporting events are canceled, schools are closed and tourist hot spots are shut down, experts recommend that even those who show no sign of illness stay home during…

A Letter of Instruction Can Spare Your Heirs Great Stress

May 10, 2020
Bill O’Leary, Esq.
Asset Protection, Elder Law, Estate Planning, Power of Attorney, Probate and Estate/Trust Administration

A Letter of Instruction Can Spare Your Heirs Great Stress While it is important to have an updated estate plan, there is a lot of information that your heirs should know that doesn't necessarily fit into a will, trust or…

Don’t Give Your Adult Kids Your House

May 9, 2020
Bill O’Leary, Esq.
Asset Protection, Elder Law, Estate Planning, Power of Attorney, Probate and Estate/Trust Administration

Don’t Give Your Adult Kids Your House Gifting a house outright to an adult child or adding them to the property's deed may avoid the hassle of probate, but doing so may bring along its own slew of issues. These…

Distributing Inherited Assets in Many Accounts

May 8, 2020
Bill O’Leary, Esq.
Asset Protection, Elder Law, Estate Planning, Power of Attorney, Probate and Estate/Trust Administration

I am my late brother’s sole beneficiary on various investments held at different investment companies. I would like to divide the assets equally among three relatives.

What Should I Know about Guardianship?

One of the key functions of the family law system is to ensure that children are looked after appropriately. This is the basis for the doctrine of legal guardianship.

What are Some Good Estate Planning Ideas in the Pandemic?

May 7, 2020
Bill O’Leary, Esq.
Asset Protection, Elder Law, Estate Planning, Power of Attorney, Probate and Estate/Trust Administration

The reality of COVID-19 has forced many individuals to address the ‘what if’ scenarios that were previously unthinkable, or at least the situations that no one ever wants to talk about or deal with.

How to Talk to a Parent Suffering from Alzheimer’s or Dementia during the Pandemic

We are at a critical time during the COVID-19 pandemic. While everyone is on edge, and being inundated with news headlines and new statistics, one population we should keep top of mind is our older friends and families, especially those with cognitive impairment, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Am I Making One of the Five Common Estate Planning Mistakes?

May 6, 2020
Bill O’Leary, Esq.
Asset Protection, Elder Law, Estate Planning, Life Insurance, Long-Term Care Planning, Power of Attorney, Probate and Estate/Trust Administration

When is the last time you updated your will? Could your beneficiaries have changed? If you have a trust, did you actually fund it? Is your plan ready for the new SECURE Act? Here are five mistakes you don't want to make.

What are the Taxes on My IRA Withdrawal?

May 1, 2020
Bill O’Leary, Esq.
Asset Protection, Elder Law, Estate Planning, Life Insurance, Long-Term Care Planning, Power of Attorney, Probate and Estate/Trust Administration

How much you will pay in taxes on an individual retirement account (IRA) withdrawal, depends on the type of IRA, your age and the purpose of the withdrawal. Sometimes the answer is zero—you owe no taxes. In other cases, you owe income tax on the money you withdraw and sometimes an additional penalty if you withdraw funds before age 59½. On the other hand, after a certain age, you may be required to withdraw money and pay taxes on it.