Have your legal documents kept up with your significant life events?
We all have significant “life events” that occur, but sometimes fail to take action to protect ourselves and our loved ones at those critical times. Financial Advisor Jeffrey W. Geralds of Mutual of Omaha reminds us of what those key life events might include and what we should do about them.
Why estate plans are still useful in light of tax law changes
I recently spoke with a financial advisor who pondered whether estate planning attorneys were still relevant in light of the tax law changes this year. For an estate under $5million, the planner felt that various financial products could adequately defer taxes and avoid probate. However, estate planning attorneys see the picture differently. Read on to learn the benefits of estate planning, beyond tax savings.
When reform means a loss of rights
What has been the result of medical malpractice reform? According to Jay Greene of Crain’s Detroit Business,after nearly two decades since the reform there is ample evidence that premium rates and lawsuits are down, but whether overall costs have been contained or public safety adequately protected is still in dispute between the medical profession and attorneys who represent medically injured parties.
Childhood comes with an expiration date of 18
If you have a child over the age of 18 years old, who is away at college or living on their own, you as a parent no longer have any legal access to their health care information nor authority to make decisions regarding their health care. Read on to learn how to protect yourself and your child, in the event of health or financial challenges.
Understanding alternative legal fee arrangements
Have you ever tried to work out a flat fee or blended fee arrangement with your attorney? If so, how did it work out for you? Read on to learn more about alternative legal fee arrangements.
What you need to know about stockbroker misconduct
Learn the basics about stockbroker misconduct from Detroit Attorney, Peter Rageas.
The implications of divorce on mortgage financing
I interviewed David Keblaitis, Owner of Home Funding Group, about how divorce impacts a borrower’s mortgage financing. “Often the person keeping the home is mandated by the divorce decree to refinance the marital home in order to remove the other party from the current mortgage,” says Keblaitis. “This can be problematic when the home is under water and there isn’t sufficient equity to refinance the home.” However, there are solutions available and Keblaitis believes in finding the right mortgage product for each client’s needs.
The implications of divorce on college funding
I interviewed Certified College Planning Specialist, Jeff Taylor, about how divorce impacts college funding. Taylor has many single moms as clients, and knows this situation well. “Divorce can cause you to forfeit money you would otherwise be entitled to if you aren’t planning properly before, during, and after the divorce,” says Taylor. How assets will be or are distributed, income levels of the parents, and the amount of alimony and child support paid all play into the equation of whether and how much funding will be available for college. To help divorced parents obtain college funding for their children, Taylor offers these strategies:
Searching for scholarships is a waste of time!
School may be out for summer, but parents still need an education….. in college planning! Learn about the common miconceptions surrounding college planning and scholarships, according to Certified College Planning Specialist, Jeffrey Taylor. Taylor shared more tips earlier this year about student marketing and why early planning is better for your student. Read that blog here.
What parents of high schoolers should be thinking about right now
By: Lori T. Williams, Owner/Managing Attorney of Your Legal Resource While high school juniors await the results of their ACT tests, parents should be thinking about and taking action when it comes to college planning and college funding. It’s never too late or too early to start thinking about and planning for college, according to […]
