How to Complete a Living Will
What is an Advance Directive? As you approach those final weeks or days or hours of your life, what are your wishes about aspects such as keeping you alive on machines or jump-starting your heart so it won't stop? Do you wish to have a respirator breath for you? Or do you want to be fed through a tube threaded down your throat to your stomach? Continued

How to Prepare for the Death of a Loved One
Coping with death is never easy to do, and no matter how much you prepare, it's always a very emotional and sad time. To help you prepare for your loss, here are some tips. Continued

Checklist: What To Do When Someone Dies
The time immediately following the death of a loved one can be overwhelming, with grief and bereavement complicated by a seemingly endless number of tasks. The immediate days following the death will be focused on the funeral or memorial service arrangements. Soon after, however, various financial and legal issues must be addressed. Many people find it very difficult to be sure they have taken care of everything. The following is a list of tasks that are likely to need attention: Continued

6 Steps To Creating Your Will
Creating and updating a Will is not as intimidating as many people think. Read the following article for an easy-to-follow guide to creating a Will. Continued

Important Things Your Family or Executor Will Need to Know
Does your family know if you have a Will, and if so, where it's located? How about account numbers and contact information of your lawyer and safety deposit box. Writing these things down now will make it so much easier for the person handling your affairs. Continued

What Happens to Your Debts When You Die?
Several factors determine what happens to your credit card debt after your passing. The main factors to consider are the state in which you live and person who applied for the account. In most cases credit card debt is paid for through the estate of the decedent, meaning that if you have credit card debt at the time of your death, assets held in your estate will be used to pay off the debt. If there is not enough money in the estate to cover credit card bills, the credit card company will end up taking the hit and writing off the unpaid debt. Continued

How to Avoid Probate
Probate is the court-supervised process of winding up a decedent’s personal and financial affairs. During probate, a Personal Representative is appointed and charged with collecting the decedent’s assets, paying their bills, and distributing their property to the proper heirs. Having your loved one’s property tied up in probate can be stressful, expensive, and often unnecessary, if you know how to avoid it. Continued

How to Write Your Own Last Will and Testament
Writing a will is a difficult thing best handled by an experienced attorney. If you want to write one here you can. Follow these suggestions if you decide to write your own last will and testament. Here are the instructions. Continued

Sample Last Will and Testament Form
This Sample Last Will and Testament Form is fairly cut and dry and will give you a good idea of what a Legal Will consists of. Continued

Estate Planning for Beginners: Creating a Will
Most folks already know that the main purpose of a will is usually to dispose of your assets and personal effects. In its most basic form, a will should include these important parts: Continued

Estate Planning for Beginners: Powers of Attorney
It is not uncommon for seniors to need help with the finer details of their finances as they age, or in rarer circumstances for someone who is injured or incapacitated to require an agent to make financial decisions for them. A Power Of Attorney is the document that gives your chosen agent permission to make choices on your behalf, as well as giving instructions as to how those choices should be made. Here are some of the most important things you should know about your Power of Attorney: Continued

What Does an Executor Do?
If you have been chosen to be the executor of someone's estate, you have been given a great compliment and an immense responsibility. You have been entrusted with the precious duty of seeing to it that what remains after someone passes is distributed exactly as that person wished. Testamentary Trust, and Totten Trust. Continued

The Probate Process
The process begins when the person named in a Will as personal representative (sometimes called an "executor") files papers in the local probate court. This person must prove that the Will is valid. In some states a valid Will requires two witnesses to testify that the person who created the Will was of sound mind and knew what he or she was doing. These witnesses must sign the Will in the presence of each other at the time the Will is created. The personal representative usually provides the court with proof of these requirements in an affidavit signed by at least one of the witnesses. Continued

What's the Difference between Medicare and Medicaid
Because of their similar names, Medicare and Medicaid are often confused with one another. However, the two programs are actually quite different. While both are government-sponsored programs designed to cover health care costs, each program applies to different groups of people and has different eligibility requirements. It is important to be aware of these differences so that you can know what benefits are available to you and your loved ones. Continued

Being a Power of Attorney is Not Easy
We all want the best for our loved ones as they age and often times they may need to appoint a Power of Attorney to help handle their affairs. Be aware before you say yes to being a POA. It may be one of the most thankless jobs you will ever perform. It is hard work and time consuming. You will become the whipping boy for the rest of the family who overlooks the fact that you are rarely compensated for all the hours you put in. Continued

What Are Some Common Types Of Trusts?
Trusts come in a variety of forms and can be established in many different situations. The most common forms of trusts include: Asset Protection Trusts, Charitable Trusts, Implied Trusts, Living or Inter Vivos Trusts, Irrevocable Trust, Special Needs Trust, Spendthrift Trust, Tax By-Pass Trust, Testamentary Trust, and Totten Trust. Continued

Here's a Novel Thought - How About Thanking the Caregiver Rather Than Criticizing
The vast majority of caregivers put there own lives on hold to assist loved ones without asking for, or receiving a simple thank you. It inevitably happens that those folks who offer the most advice and criticism to the caregiver are those they don't raise a hand to help out. To all the family members who sit idly by and do nothing to help there elderly parents when they reach the golden years: Either help out, or keep your opinion to yourself! Continued

Financial Toll of Being a Caregiver
Caregivers, on average, spend more than $5,500 per year in out-of-pocket expenses. Out-of-pocket expenses for Long-distance caregivers can exceed more than $8,700 per year for incidentals such as transportation, food and supplies. Continued

Does An Executor Get Paid
Usually yes. Someone who serves as Executor or Personal Representative of an estate is entitled to get paid for the job. An Executor is an individual or institution nominated in a will and appointed by a court to settle the estate of a deceased. Continued