AL Estate Planning & Elder Law Blog

Have you recently welcomed another new addition to your family with the birth of another child? Do you look with amazement at how your family has grown? With that said, have you kept all the births of your children updated in your Alabama estate plan? You are well aware that the birth of a child is a life-changing event that brings new responsibilities and considerations for you and your spouse, whether it is your first child or your fourth. We know that you, as parents, have so much to do, but it is so very important that updating your Alabama estate plan be at the top of your to-do list. You need to be sure that not only is this new addition to your family provided for and protected from uncertainty, but also all your children as well.

So, how do you start? This may depend on whether you will be creating an estate plan for the first time or amending an existing estate plan. When you are creating or updating your existing Alabama estate plan it is critical to reach out to your experienced Alabama estate planning attorney to obtain his guidance on what you need to do now.

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Are you a senior living in your own home in Alabama? Should you consider a medical alert system? As a senior are you concerned about health-related emergencies, especially a fall? Then a medical alert system could play a crucial role in providing emergency assistance and perhaps even save your life. Be aware that these life-saving technologies usually involve tools such as a wearable pendant, lanyard, bracelet, or phone app and include an emergency call button. 

So how do these medical alert systems protect Alabama seniors who choose to use them?  The alert device that the medical alert system provides can, when activated during a health crisis, send a signal for immediate medical assistance. Depending on the system, it can:

• Automatically contact 911,

• Connect the senior with a live agent from a care control center through a two-way intercom, and 

• Respond with a swift and appropriate response.

Is there anything more that can be included? In most circumstances, the answer is “yes.

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Did you know that the majority of Americans, even those with large assets, fail to take the critical steps needed in order to plan for what comes next in the event of their incapacity or death? It is very important to create a legacy that will protect the wealth you have amassed for yourself and your loved ones. When you work with an experienced Alabama estate planning attorney, he can show you the value in designing the legacy you want to create for both future generations and what you care for most.

In addition, your experienced Alabama estate planning attorney can advise you on the strategies for generational wealth transfers in your Alabama estate plan. Transferring generational wealth in an Alabama estate plan refers to the process of legally and strategically passing on assets, investments, properties, and other forms of wealth from one generation to the next within a family. These are strategies that not all Alabama estate planning firms specialize in as they involve strategically planning for not only the here and now, but require the firm to keep a careful watch on the laws and tax rules that could unravel the estate planning that has been carefully created.

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Do you currently have an Alabama estate plan? When was it created? Has it been updated recently? What planning tools are included within it? And, perhaps even more importantly, does your Alabama estate plan reflect your current needs, values, family, and the legacy you want to leave at the time of your passing?

In our years of experience, the majority of the clients we work with understand the importance of creating an Alabama estate plan. Our clients want to proactively decide what should happen in a time of sudden crisis or death, and they do not want to leave their wishes either to chance or the Alabama state mandated process. Unfortunately, though, they do not keep in mind the upkeep a comprehensive Alabama estate plan requires. Your Alabama estate plan is a critical part of not only your estate, but your overall health and well being. With that said, your Alabama estate plan should not be left unattended and, instead, be reviewed at least every three years, if not every year, to make sure it will still work the way you need it to.
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Are you looking forward to traveling this summer? Are you planning a vacation including spending time with family and friends and enjoying time outdoors. Are you staying at home? Are you traveling to another state or out of the country? Now that the pandemic has lessened in its impact, the travel choices seem endless. 

As you plan your summer vacation, are you traveling with your minor children or grandchildren on a trip? Are you making sure that their days are planned with adventures? Or are you in need of an adventure, or just getting a change of scenery or traveling to an exotic place with your loved ones?  As you begin to plan your summer travel there is a lot to consider, but have you included your Alabama estate planning to your action list? It may not have crossed your mind initially, but it should be on your action list as you begin to prepare. On our blog below, we want to share an Alabama estate planning checklist for you to review before your summer adventure begins. With our recommendations you will be able to travel with peace of mind.
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Do you currently have an Alabama estate plan? When was it created? Has it been updated recently? What planning tools are included within it? And, perhaps even more importantly, does your Alabama estate plan reflect your current needs, values, family, and the legacy you want to leave at the time of your passing?

In our years of experience, the majority of the clients we work with understand the importance of creating an Alabama estate plan. Our clients want to proactively decide what should happen in a time of sudden crisis or death, and they do not want to leave their wishes either to chance or the Alabama state mandated process. Unfortunately, though, they do not keep in mind the upkeep a comprehensive Alabama estate plan requires. Your Alabama estate plan is a critical part of not only your estate, but your overall health and well being. With that said, your Alabama estate plan should not be left unattended and, instead, be reviewed at least every three years, if not every year, to make sure it will still work the way you need it to.
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Have you recently received the news that you have cancer? Are you concerned about the impact on you and your loved ones? Do you have an Alabama estate plan? Estate planning is critical for everyone, especially at this time of a cancer diagnosis. From being able to make the early choice of who will be able to care for you in a crisis to who should have legal authority to make decisions when you are incapacitated to, ultimately, deciding who should inherit from you at a time when you are no longer here, are each important conversations that take place when you work with your Alabama estate planning attorney. Were you aware that

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Were you aware that an Alabama estate plan is a critical tool for everyone to have? Your Alabama estate plan will allow you to think about what you want for yourself, your loved ones, your business, and your legacy. It is about more than what happens at the end of your life, although that is an important part of the process. Your Alabama estate plan will motivate you to answer tough questions including, but not limited to, what should happen if you no longer have the capacity you need to make your own decisions or who should pay your bills if you cannot?

 

Knowing you need an estate plan is the first step forward to planning for your future. The next logical question to ask may be:  Is there a right time to plan your Alabama estate plan? As Alabama estate planning attorneys, this is a question we are frequently asked and want to share five events in your life, no matter your age, when you should create an Alabama estate plan.  

 

1.
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Are you looking for ways to help the seniors in your family, neighborhood and community? Did you know that May is National Older Americans Month?  In fact, this celebration of our Older Americans is to encourage communities, families and loved ones to get involved in learning about the issues that our Older Americans face as they age. Do you have senior loved ones in your family? Do you have neighbors who are seniors? This month think about how you could help the Older Americans in your life by using the ideas below.

1.

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Have you recently heard that you will be receiving an inheritance? Receiving an inheritance is quite momentous. Whether you were expecting it, or not, inheriting money should be taken seriously by you. No matter what the amount is, you should make sure that you are taking the steps you need to protect your new asset and have the guidance you need.
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Do you care for a loved one with autism? Are you working carefully to plan for your loved one’s future? You know that although the specific needs of an autistic individual can vary greatly depending on the severity of their autism, many people with autism need assistance throughout their entire lives. 

So, how do you begin to create your Alabama estate plan with your loved one with autism in mind? Most important is to begin planning early. Whether you care for your loved one with autism in your capacity as a parent, grandparent, or sibling, part of your role is to make sure there is a solid legal, financial and medical foundation in place.

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