Part I got a little close to home for some of you? There's more, perhaps some solutions. Last week we wrote a blog about how people who have hoarding disorders can be less likely to create an estate plan than those who are not affected by the same problems. The more we looked at how common the problem compulsive hoarding is, and how difficult it can be to deal with it, the more we wanted to write a follow-up post to help those who might be affected. So, today we are going to take a look … [Read more...]
Keeping Your Estate Plan Safe
When the topic of estate planning comes up, the focus is usually on the need to create a plan, not on what to do with the plan once you have created it. It can, however, be equally important to safeguard your estate plan documents to ensure that they work as intended. An Oklahoma City estate planning attorney at Parman & Easterday explains how to keep your estate plan safe. What’s In Your Plan? The estate plan you create should be as unique and individual as you are. Nevertheless, … [Read more...]
Hoarding and Estate Planning – How Compulsive Hoarding Can Be a Significant Barrier to Effective Estate Planning
Wow...this will hit home for some of you. Hold on...seriously. No one thinks of this as an impediment to creating an effective estate plan. This is going to take Part I and Part II. Compulsive hoarding is a significant psychological disorder that affects as many as one in 20 Americans. Most of the people affected by compulsive hoarding show signs of the disorder while they are younger, but because the disorder tends to worsen with age, it is most commonly seen in people who … [Read more...]
Practical Steps to Take after the Death of a Loved One
Even though we know better, we all prefer to think our loved ones will live forever. We probably have never sat down and thought about what steps we will need to take after a loved one passes away. Consequently, if we find ourselves in this position we may not know what to do. Although everyone's experience is unique, the Oklahoma City trusts and probate attorneys at Parman & Easterday have put together a list of practical steps typically needed to be taken following the death of a … [Read more...]
I Received a Crummey Notice. What Do I Do Now?
If you are a beneficiary of an irrevocable trust, you are entitled to receive notices and communications regarding trust business. One of those notices may be what is referred to as a “Crummey” notice. Because it is important for you to have a clear understanding of your rights as a beneficiary, an Overland Park trust attorney at Parman & Easterday explains the purpose of a Crummey notice. How Does a Trust Operate? First and foremost you need to understand how a trust operates. Trusts … [Read more...]
The Downside of Taking Early Retirement
Most of us start thinking about retirement fairly early on in our working career. As we get closer to retirement age, we need to make a number of important decisions about our retirement. At what age we should begin accepting Social Security retirement benefits is one of those decisions. Before you decide to accept your retirement benefits early, an Oklahoma City retirement planning attorney at Parman & Easterday explains the downside of doing so. Understanding the Social Security … [Read more...]
Caregiving from Afar — Tips to Help You Care for a Loved One When You Can’t Be There
Caring for an elderly family member or loved one can be both mentally and physically exhausting. It can also be extremely stressful even if you live close by and have needed resources close at hand. If you are trying to provide care from afar, your stress level can go through the roof. To make your job a little easier, an Oklahoma City elder law attorney at Parman & Easterday offers some tips for long-distance caregivers. Unpaid Caregivers – What You Need to Know According to the … [Read more...]
Is a Trustee Entitled to a Fee?
One of the most common additions to the average estate plan is a trust. One reason for this is that trusts can help achieve a multitude of estate planning goals from staggering an inheritance to your children over a period of time to planning for Medicaid eligibility. One thing that all trusts have in common is the need to a appoint a Trustee to administer the trust. If you are unfamiliar with trusts, you may be curious about Trustee compensation. To help you better understand how a trust works, … [Read more...]
Dementia and Alzheimer’s – Understanding Both
If you have a parent, grandparent, or other older family member who is starting to show signs of physical and/or mental deterioration, the fear of Alzheimer’s disease may loom large in your subconscious. Maybe your loved one has already been diagnosed with the early stages of dementia and you are concerned about what to expect in the future. Although we often use the terms “dementia” and “Alzheimer’s” interchangeably, they aren't quite the same thing. An Oklahoma City elder law attorney at … [Read more...]
Tips to Help You Avoid Holiday Scams
It’s that time of year again – time to hang the lights, decorate the tree, and fill the house with the smell of baked goods. It’s the one time of the year when people make an extra effort to be friendly and really embrace the spirit of the holidays. Unfortunately, it is also prime time for scam artists. Although they may target anyone, these predators frequently target the elderly, particularly during the holiday season. An Overland Park elder law attorney at Parman & Easterday offers tips … [Read more...]
