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Updating Your Plan: Your Trust or Will

February 3, 2021 by Michael O'Brien

trust

As we approach the end of the year, it’s a good time to think about updating your plan. This includes your entire plan, including your primary vehicle, such as a trust or will. Read on to learn more. … [Read more...] about Updating Your Plan: Your Trust or Will

Filed Under: Legal Education, Estate Planning

It’s Better to Give, Especially This Year

January 27, 2021 by Michael O'Brien

public charity

Normally, you must itemize your deductions in order to benefit from them. In 2020, the standard deduction amount is $12,400 for individuals and $24,800 for married couples filing jointly. But this year, you can get a charitable deduction even if you don’t itemize. Read on to learn more. … [Read more...] about It’s Better to Give, Especially This Year

Filed Under: Legal Education, Estate Planning

Updating Your Plan: Powers of Attorney

January 20, 2021 by Michael O'Brien

estate planning

As we approach the end of the year, it’s a good time to think about updating your plan. This includes your entire plan, including Powers of Attorney. Powers of Attorney are part of even the simplest estate plan. A Power of Attorney allows your Agent to act for you. There are Powers of Attorney for financial matters and also those for health care. It’s important to consider whether you need to update either of these powers. Read on to learn more. … [Read more...] about Updating Your Plan: Powers of Attorney

Filed Under: Legal Education, Estate Planning

Tax Planning for 2021

January 13, 2021 by Michael O'Brien

tax planning

Planning is important for your income taxation during life as well as for any estate tax at death. Even though 2021 is just starting, it’s not too early to think about planning for whatever it may bring your way. … [Read more...] about Tax Planning for 2021

Filed Under: Legal Education, Estate Planning

Updating Your Plan: Beneficiary Designations

January 13, 2021 by Michael O'Brien

estate planning

As we approach the end of the year, it’s a good time to think about updating your plan. This includes your entire plan, including beneficiary designations. Beneficiary designations may control a large part of your assets and it’s important to be sure your plan is coordinated to consider these. Read on to learn more. … [Read more...] about Updating Your Plan: Beneficiary Designations

Filed Under: Legal Education, Estate Planning

Assignment and Nominee

December 23, 2020 by Michael O'Brien

Assignment and Nominee

What’s an “Assignment and Nominee” agreement and what does it do? Some attorneys use such an agreement as a belt and suspenders approach to funding. Read on to learn more. … [Read more...] about Assignment and Nominee

Filed Under: Estate Planning, Legal Education Tagged With: Estate Planning, Funding

What Is a HIPAA Release?

December 16, 2020 by Michael O'Brien

The acronym HIPAA stands for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. In this post, we will explain why this piece of legislation is something to take into consideration when you are planning your estate. Advance Directives for Health Care Everyone is well aware of the fact that you have to facilitate postmortem asset transfers when you put your estate plan in place. A lot of people think this is the long and short of it, but a proper estate plan will also address … [Read more...] about What Is a HIPAA Release?

Filed Under: Estate Planning Tagged With: HIPAA Release, Incapacity Planning

What’s an “Atom Bomb” or “Contingent Remainder” Beneficiary?

December 9, 2020 by Michael J. O’Brien, Estate Planning Attorney

When you’re deciding to whom to leave assets, most people choose their children or other descendants. However, you also need to decide on the “contingent remainder” beneficiary. In other words, who should get your assets if all your other beneficiaries are gone. Read on to learn more about this often-confusing concept. … [Read more...] about What’s an “Atom Bomb” or “Contingent Remainder” Beneficiary?

Filed Under: Estate Planning, Legal Education Tagged With: beneficiaries, atom bomb, contingent remainder, exploding turkey

Fair Isn’t Always Equal and Vice Versa

December 2, 2020 by Michael J. O’Brien, Estate Planning Attorney

When you’re deciding how your assets should be divided at death, sometimes dividing them equally is the appropriate choice. But, sometimes it’s not. Fair isn’t always equal or vice versa. Read on to learn more, including how to avoid a challenge if you choose an unequal division among your children. … [Read more...] about Fair Isn’t Always Equal and Vice Versa

Filed Under: Estate Planning, Legal Education Tagged With: beneficiaries, children, unequal

The Questions of Estate Planning, Part 4: Where

December 27, 2019 by Michael J. O’Brien, Estate Planning Attorney

People often have questions about Estate Planning. This is the fourth in a series of articles addressing those questions. This fourth article addresses the “where” of Estate Planning. Read on to learn more. The Questions of Estate Planning, Part 4: Where … [Read more...] about The Questions of Estate Planning, Part 4: Where

Filed Under: Estate Planning, Legal Education Tagged With: Estate Planning, trust, will, estate planning attorney, move, where

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Testimonials

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Michael and his team work very closely with you to help build a strategy for you regarding estate planning. They do not overdo it. They work hard to be certain their suggestions/recommendations fit your needs. Michael asks great questions, listens well and delivers on his commitments. I was very appreciative and hugely satisfied.

Anonymous Client Review September 8, 2020

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Personal, professional service and follow up. Did what he said he would do at the agreed price.

Paul Client Review September 8, 2020

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Michael has a comprehensive knowledge of estate palnning needs and trust issues. I trust his guidance and counsel completely.

Jim Client Review September 8, 2020

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