Author Archives: Jay Butchko
Things To Do Now To Avoid Disputed Estates Later On
When thinking about what will happen when we are gone, the last thing we can imagine is our loved ones, friends or family, fighting with each other over who will get what. The idea of one family member getting a lawyer, and all of them spending thousands of dollars to fight over what you… Read More »
Should You Use A Pour Over Will?
Let’s say that you were smart, and you made sure that you transferred pretty much everything that you own into trusts. By doing that, you ensure that there will be no probate, and thus, no court action, and thus, hopefully, no infighting between your family over who gets what when you are gone. But… Read More »
Some Basic Questions And Answers About Estate Planning
Although many people have a general knowledge about wills and trusts, many may also have a lot of questions. Wills and trusts can be complex, but the basics of estate planning are not complex. Here are some commonly asked questions, to give you some basic knowledge about wills, trusts, and how they work. Q:… Read More »
Don’t Forget About Medicaid Estate Planning Strategies
For many people who are in need of long term care in the later stages of their lives, Medicaid is a lifesaver. Medicaid often provides the care needed for people to get necessary medical care, or for people to get care at a medical or nursing home facility. Medicaid and Need But Medicaid is… Read More »
Can Your Estate Pay For A Beneficiary’s College Tuition?
With all the talk in the news about student loans, and the burdens that they put on people, most of us are aware of one thing: A college education is very expensive. You may have people in your family that see college in their future–or, if they’re too young to worry about that yet,… Read More »
What Are The Chances Of Success In A Will Contest?
Most wills are probated and distributed without legal issues or problems. But will contests do happen. What are the chances of a will contest being successful and what can you do to make sure that your will is not contested after you pass? Who Can Contest a Will? Anybody with a stake in the… Read More »
What Is A Letter Of Last Instruction?
Among all the documents that we routinely talk about when it comes to estate planning, something called a Letter of Last Instruction doesn’t get a lot of attention. But this letter (which isn’t actually sent to anyone, but should instead be kept with a single family member and your estate attorney) can help “fill… Read More »
Revocable And Irrevocable Trusts: What’s The Difference?
When it comes to trusts, things aren’t one size fits all. There are different kinds of trusts that provide different advantages and drawbacks. Two major categories of trust are revocable and irrevocable trusts. What’s the difference between these trusts, and which is right for you? What’s the Difference between Trusts? With an irrevocable trust,… Read More »
Estate Planning And Your Business
When it comes to estate planning, people often give a lot of thought to their personal affairs—what will go where, and to whom, and how their personal property will be managed. But what about your business? There are a lot of estate issues when it comes to your business, and how it will go… Read More »
Common Estate Planning Mistakes
Planning your estate is easy, right? Go to a lawyer, draft a few documents, decide who gets what, and you’re done. Well, it’s actually not that easy, and in fact, many people make a number of mistakes when planning their estate. Here are some of the more common mistakes people make when making an… Read More »