Just about the time you think the government has everything it could possibly need about you and your company, Congress passes The Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) and introduces a new, widely-required Beneficial Ownership Information Reports process. It is not something for most of America’s small businesses to ignore.

Another year has come and gone, so now is a good time to review where we’ve been and start thinking about the future. How you do in the first quarter of the year can have a big impact on the rest of the year, so it is important to plan ahead and have a clearly… Read More »Business Goals: 5 Tips for Q1 Planning

Real estate, while constant as an existing area of business, is a business that must adapt to inevitable change. Changes in the market, the global economy, consumer trends, available supply, and technology all alter the waters that real estate service providers must navigate. Profits and prices rise and fall, oftentimes unpredictably, and almost always uncontrollably.… Read More »Business Real Estate: An Exhaustive Look Managing Property

The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing global ramifications of the war in Ukraine have left us stranded with rising gas prices, inflation, and what many believe to be an impending recession. For the real estate market, in particular, landlords have remained between a rock and a hard place, unable to evict unpaying… Read More »Real Estate as a Business in Today’s Market

There are many documents that can help with the estate planning process, both official and unofficial. Even if you have many of the documents needed to legally convey for your end-of-life wishes, it sometimes pays to have some additional help. One such option for this situation is a letter of last instruction. A letter of… Read More »Your End-of-Life Wishes: What is a Letter of Last Instruction?

Dealing with the death of a loved one is always tough, but it comes with far more challenges if they died in their home rather than at a hospital or hospice. Whereas the hospital staff will take care of several important matters for you, if someone dies in their home, their family is left to… Read More »What To Do When Someone Dies At Home

With funeral expenses in the United States ranging anywhere between $6,600 and $15,000, there is an obvious incentive for people to look for ways to cut down on costs. Given that Social Security programs are among the most widely used benefits in the U.S., one might think that they can get some amount of money… Read More »Covering Funeral Costs: Can SS Lump Sum Benefit Do The Job?

As mentioned in an earlier blog post, the Social Security Administration allows those who receive regular monthly benefits to sign-up for a “Lump-Sum Death Benefit.” When they die, this $255 social security benefit will be awarded to an eligible survivor to help cover funeral expenses. Though it isn’t a lot of money, it can be… Read More »Who gets the $250 Social Security Benefit When Someone Dies?

Even when we know it’s coming, the death of a loved one is never easy to deal with. Yet it is especially taxing if you’re the one in charge of handling their affairs, as you have to balance the grieving process with several important personal and legal obligations. It can be difficult to know exactly… Read More »What To Do When Someone Dies: A Step-by-Step Guide

One of the obvious challenges of managing the estate of someone who didn’t leave behind a will is figuring out who is eligible to receive their assets and property. When you write a will, you are able to designate who gets with what, which greatly simplifies the process. Without one, however, it largely comes down… Read More »Intestate Succession: Who Is Next of Kin When There’s No Will?

One of the unfortunate facts of life is that many of us have far too many debts to fully pay off in our lifetime, with nearly 75% of Americans dying with outstanding debt.1 That can be a source of stress, as none of us want to worry about leaving debt behind that would burden our… Read More »You Can’t Take It With You: What Debts Are Forgiven at Death?

As we’ve previously covered, there are many things that need to be done when a loved one dies. One of the most important is contacting and notifying people of the death. Obviously, you will need to inform family, friends, co-workers, and employers, but there are also several government agencies, banks, creditors, and credit reporting groups… Read More »To Whom It May Concern: Who Should Be Informed When Someone Dies?

Just like the old saying goes, “you can’t take it with you.” But this begs an important question: what happens to your money after you’re gone? After all, after you’ve spent years saving and earning, it’s reasonable to want some guarantees regarding where your money ends up after your death. This is why estate planning… Read More »Even Without a Will, There’s a Way: What Happens To Your Money When You Die?

As we mentioned in an earlier blog post, dealing with the loss of a loved one is always a challenge, but it can be especially tough when you’re the one responsible for handling the various financial and legal matters that crop up after their passing. The grieving process makes it difficult to focus on important… Read More »5 Things To Avoid When Someone Dies: How to Sidestep Common Mistakes

Previously, we wrote about probate and the importance of having a probate attorney. A good probate lawyer can be a big help with the sometimes overwhelming and confounding probate process, working to ensure that beneficiaries and court officials get the best possible outcome. Yet the exact duties of a probate attorney can vary greatly depending… Read More »Know the Role: What Does a Probate Attorney Do?

Employee recognition is one of the most powerful tools for recruiting and retaining talent. This has been the case for years now and it’s certainly true now, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic made people realize that their employers don’t recognize their hard work. The simple fact is that if your team feels underappreciate and under-valued,… Read More »Keeping People On Board: 10 Ways to Recognize & Reward Workers

As we discussed in a previous blog post, probate can be a long and costly process, grinding the estate process to a halt as the court works out who should receive the deceased’s various assets. With this in mind, it is recommended that you have a will and other estate planning documents in order to… Read More »Estate Planning & The Probate Process: What is a Probate Lawyer?

Estate planning is important for everyone, no matter their age or financial status. It tells the world how you want your property, belongings, cash, and financial assets distributed, and if you don’t make those decisions while you’re alive and able, the state will make them for you after you’re gone. That said, most people are… Read More »Who Should Be on Your Estate Planning Support Team?

We’re in the middle of what many people are calling the “Great Resignation,” referring to the wave of workers quitting their jobs in droves. The U.S. Labor Department revealed that 4.3 million Americans left their jobs in August 2021 (roughly 2.9% of the national workforce), the highest number on record,1 and while some have returned… Read More »Small Business Incentives: What Do Employees Want?

Most people create an estate plan to handle the various financial matters that will likely arise after their passing, but there are other factors that are just as important. One that many fail to consider is establishing a legal guardian for their children. While not necessary if they either have no children or all of… Read More »Estate Planning & Legal Guardianship: What Happens To The Kids When I’m Gone?

When it comes to estate planning, probate is one of those things that almost everyone tells you to avoid. This is with good reason: while probate is an occasionally necessary part of the estate planning process, it is almost never to the benefit of your beneficiaries. It complicates what should be the relatively simple process… Read More »What Is Probate & How Do I Avoid It?

Estate planning is something everyone needs to think about sooner or later, as it is the only way to ensure that your end-of-life wishes are followed. It’s a complicated and highly personalized process, as everyone has their own objectives when crafting their plan. Yet while most people have their own unique goals they’re looking to… Read More »Know Your Goals: 10 Important Estate Planning Objectives

As mentioned in our previous blogs on the topic, Medicaid planning can be a valuable investment for those looking to ensure that they or a loved one qualify for their Medicaid program. After all, the application process is complex, with even a minor misunderstanding potentially leading to a rejection. Having an expert legal and financial… Read More »Medicaid Planning Legally and Ethically, Part 3: Legal & Ethical Guidelines

In a previous blog, we discussed the basics of what Medicaid is and some of the challenges older people face when trying to get covered. Despite millions of Americans relying on Medicaid for medical assistance, the process of getting covered and receiving care can be complicated to the point of being impenetrable. Practically no one… Read More »Medicaid Planning Legally and Ethically, Part 2: The Planning Part

Receiving proper medical care in the United States can be a challenge sometimes, in no small part due to the many legal complications surrounding it. In particular, navigating the various requirements surrounding Medicaid can feel like putting together a 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle while blindfolded. Some of this comes down to people waiting far too long… Read More »Medicaid Planning Legally and Ethically, Part 1: The Basics