Blog

How do married couples protect their assets against creditors? Tenancy by the entirety property (TBE) offers protection for married couples against creditors.  TBE is jointly owned property titled in both names and receives creditor protection. Married couples may hold any type of asset, real est...

If you don't have a will, ask yourself this question: “What happens if I die without a Last Will and Testament?”  People spend a lifetime earning a retirement, paying for a home, building up a dream savings.  People spend years gathering but very little planning for the end. Waiting until a major illness or near-death presents complex challenges that might not make a life plan possible and move more towards probate. Planning ahead with a last will and testament is peace of mind for you and your family.

Why is a living will important? A living will in Missouri is called an advanced health care directive. It is a set of medical instructions for what to do when someone is unable to make important medical decisions on their own. It is a legal document that provides your end-of-life care or medical treatment preferences. There are different Advance Health Care Directives that reflect religious beliefs or meet different needs. What is important is that you talk to an estate planning attorney to put one in place for peace of mind.

In today's world, more U.S. citizens are marrying foreign-born spouses. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, approximately 10% of marriages in the U.S. involve a foreign-born spouse. Estate Planning is different for those married to a foreign spouse. A Qualified Domestic Trust (QDOT) is a solution for this type of marriage. Learn more about QDOTS.

Why is a Pet Trust important? A pet trust helps you plan for the care of your pet in case of incapacity or death. You provide and take care of your family member if something happens to you. A plan keeps your pet from possible euthanization.

You want to protect your family with estate planning. You have different types of assets and want to decide how to leave your assets. There are beneficiaries and heirs. There are different types of beneficiaries. This offers information on designating beneficiaries. What is a designated beneficiary and when do you list them?

What Happens to My Child If I Die? As a parent, it is difficult to think of someone who can raise our children in our place. If you don't plan, Missouri will plan for you.

Let's explore estate planning, elder law and the law firm Your Estate Ally® . Who is Your Estate Ally®? Why choose Sheri Tucker as your estate planning or elder law attorney? Estate Planning changed over the years. Elder care and special needs is now an important part of estate planning today. staying up-to-date strengthens the attorney's ability to advocate for seniors and those with special needs. Learn more about Your Estate Ally and Sheri Tucker, attorney.

What is the right estate plan for you? A true estate plan is one that is tailored to meet the needs of the individual or family. Does a last will and testament meets your needs? A single person may need something different than a young married couple or married with children. Do you need a last will and testament or a revocable living trust? Are there special needs? Do you need a plan for pets? Your Estate Ally gives personal care service and is a law firm dedicated creating an estate plan that is a true fit for you.

A living trust is an important piece of estate planning.  Once in awhile parents will want to appoint co-trustees as their successor trustees.  The question typically comes up when there are two or three children and parents don't want to leave one out.  I'm asked, "Can we just appoint co-trustee...

When creating an estate plan, grantors need to consider choices for a successor trustee. How does a successor trustee step in and take care of a trust? What are the duties of a successor trustee? What characteristics should a grantor consider when choosing a potential successor trustee? This blog explores duties and characteristics to consider for choosing a successor trustee in your estate plan.

What is estate planning? It's all about you! Why do you need an estate plan? We've read the celebrity stories about famous people without an estate plan.  For example, Prince's estate of $156 million finally settled after 6 years of tense, terse, court battles.  A most recent horror story let us ...

What is estate planning? It's all about you! Why do you need an estate plan? We've read the celebrity stories about famous people without an estate plan.  For example, Prince's estate of $156 million finally settled after 6 years of tense, terse, court battles.  A most recent horror story let us ...

Why do you need a Financial Power of Attorney? A financial power of attorney protects your assets during incapacity or the what if in life. Powers of Attorney are an essential element in estate planning.  Talk to an Sheri Tucker, Attorney at Law to find out more about an attorney-in-fact.

Creating your estate plan is important for everyone.  Estate planning for a child with a disability is crucial.  Are you thinking about Guardianship? You should also think about a Supplemental or Special Needs Trust. What is guardianship? How is guardianship and special needs trusts related? When...

Why do you need an estate plan? Take a moment to stop and think about your familyAre you prepared for a life crisis? Do have a plan for emergencies or aging in place? Are your children protected? Do you keeping putting off peace of mind because you don't have an estate plan? Let's read why estate planning is needed and why you should work with a live, local attorney.

Often Adult Children of aging parents walk into my conference room concerned  about their parents' finances and health care expenses, long-term care needs, mental capacity, and a lack of financial resources. Adult children want solutions. Sometimes it's a concerned spouse who needs answers. Every...

Happy Holidays!  Now it's time to watch the year tick down. Then we ring in the New Year and watch the Ball drop. As you reflect on the year – Did you accomplish all your goals in 2022?  Life happens and maybe you didn't get to everything.  Do you know one goal that should not be put off?  Your E...

Typically, you may think that estate planning only covers real estate, financial accounts, and personal property.  However, there is another group of assets to consider: Intellectual Property.   Today, let's look at your estate plan and copyrights. What is Intellectual Property? What is Intellect...

Perhaps you watch commercials about easy and cheap forms to help you write a last will and testament? Perhaps you consider buying a form you complete as a DIY estate plan.  TrustandWill and Legalzoom, to name a few, offer quick, cheap fixes. That old adage, “You get what you pay for,” is a good o...

How is a trademark connected to one's personal estate planning?  Why is estate planning important if you own a trademark? If you are a small business owner, you protect your building with commercial insurance. You write a business plan, you put your time and energy in your business to become succ...

Typically, you may think that estate planning only covers real estate, financial accounts, and personal property.  However, there is another group of assets to consider: Intellectual Property.   Let's look at the definition of intellectual property and its connection to estate planning. What is I...

With the COVID-19 Pandemic, people turned to Do It Yourself (DIY) Last Will and Testament Forms. Too often people assume that a Last Will and Testament is a document to download from the Internet and fill in the blanks.  Writing your own Will often leads to misinterpretations and problems. A last...

Your Last Will and Testament is a basic part of your estate plan that tells the Court how you want your property to be given and who should receive your assets after your death. To do the job, it needs to be a valid legal document.  Too often, people try to write a Last Will and Testament themsel...

Do you and your spouse own a small business together? Perhaps, you and your spouse invest in rental properties or even own a family farm. What is the connection between being a family, a business owner, and estate planning? As a family and business owner what type of estate planning should you co...