Many Georgia residents include health care directives as part of their estate plans. The estate planning process is easily customized; so, although there are commonly used documents in many types of plans, each person is able to choose what or what not to include to suit individual needs and long-term goals. When it comes to living wills (otherwise known as health care directives) there's some misguided information out there that may lead to confusion regarding hospital staff and potential liability.
What will happen to your digital treasures once you die?
One of the most remarkable changes from the electronic age has been the introduction of online accounts and cloud storage. Whether or not you intentionally store your photos, stories, blog posts, and email correspondence on a cloud-based storage platform, you're probably using the cloud. Much of what you write, photograph and value is probably online on a social media platform like Facebook or Instagram.
Tips to help bring up long-term care with your parents
Having "the talk" with your parents about long-term care may seem like a conversation you never want to have. It not only forces you face their mortality, it also forces you to face your own.
A long-term partnership policy may make home care more affordable
Over 90 percent of older Americans are lacking long-term care insurance. Premiums have skyrocketed over the last decade, and some insurers have exited the market. It has declined in popularity largely due to its unaffordability for many seniors.
Study: Only a third of us have living wills or healthcare proxies
Advance directives such as living wills and healthcare proxies are important tools for end-of-life decision-making, yet only about a third of American adults have them. Moreover, people who have chronic illnesses are only slightly more likely than others to have documented their wishes about end-of-life care.
A trust can protect your child's inheritance in case of divorce
There are a lot of reasons why you might consider creating a trust for your assets. Perhaps you have a large estate, and you want to prevent tax issues. Maybe you're concerned about the financial habits of a child or grandchild. Sometimes, people want to protect assets for minor children until they are adults. There's also the issue of the high rate of divorce in modern families. A large inheritance could inspire a spouse to file for divorce to obtain some of your assets after you pass.
To protect your loved one's wellbeing, planning truly is critical
The New York Times recently ran an in-depth story about one victim of financial exploitation by a companion-caregiver who was acting as guardian to an elderly gentleman. Initially, the woman contacted her companion's family saying that she was no longer able to care for the gentleman, who had dementia and other health issues.
Are you in your 50s? Follow these estate planning tips
As you age, you may soon realize that your estate plan is no longer exactly what you want it to be.
