Complete Estate Planning

One of the most important parts of the estate planning process is choosing the right people as “fiduciaries” to handle affairs on your behalf if you get sick or pass away. This can include medical, financial, and legal decisions while living as well as managing your estate (and possibly children) after you are gone. While most understand the need to choose the RIGHT fiduciaries, many plans fall sh...

Once estate planning documents are signed, it is important to keep them both safe AND accessible. Many people do not consider the importance of where to store your documents after they are prepared. One option that some people use is allowing their attorney to store the original documents at their office. Tune in as Nick discusses what this looks like.    Contact:   513-463-6789   info@CincinnatiE...

Aretha Franklin, known by many as the “Queen of Soul,” died back in 2018. While she has been gone for a number of years, there have been a number of mysteries surrounding her estate. This has included a lawsuit concerning the validity of a handwritten Last Will & Testament that was found after she passed away.   Contact:   513-463-6789   info@CincinnatiEstatePlan.com https://cincinnatiestatepl...

When thinking about an inheritance, most families visualize individual “shares” for each beneficiary (whether a $ amount or % of the overall estate). For families with children, they very often create equal shares for each child. Sounds fair, right? Well, what would happen if there was a large age difference in the children? Are there ways that can go wrong?   Contact:   513-463-6789   info@Cincin...

Lisa Marie Presley (who was the only child of Elvis Presley) died back on January 12 th , 2023. She left behind her mother (Priscilla Presley), and her daughter (Riley Keough). Her son (Benjamin Keough) passed away a couple of years ago. Since her passing, there has been a significant court battle over Lisa’s estate plan. We did a previous podcast when the legal battle first began. Since that time...

There are a lot of misconceptions when it comes to joint ownership and how it applies to certain situations. In this episode, Nick will be discussing some pitfalls that can happen when there's an asset with joint ownership and why you need a comprehensive estate plan to be fully covered.   Contact:   513-463-6789   info@CincinnatiEstatePlan.com

When you develop a relationship with any professional in a specific industry, it's common knowledge that you do not have to be close friends in order to work together. But should you at least like the person you're working with? Today, Nick will be discussing why you need to be comfortable with your attorney and some of the different relationship dynamics he sees in his practice.   Contact:   513-...

While there is NEVER a substitute for a complete, well-thought-out estate plan, shortcuts and alternative ways to transfer your assets DO exist. Many types of assets allow beneficiary designations, transfer-on-death or pay-on-death designations, succession plans for businesses, etc. One of the most popular questions that clients often ask is about what to do with real estate. Because real estate i...

When people think of their “estate” within estate planning, many common assets come to mind. There are proper protocols and procedures for transferring bank accounts, investments, retirement accounts, vehicles, real estate, etc. However, a new type of asset has come into play in the 21st century: digital assets. While the law has tried to play catch-up on how to handle digital assets, there are ce...

In most circumstances, it is best to work with an estate planning attorney who is local and understands the laws of the state you live in. However, special consideration needs to be given to people who have a residence in multiple states and those who travel frequently. What if you set up your plan in your “home state” but something happens to you while you are living at your second home on the ot...

As people age, they tend to rely on others to help out. Spouses, children, and other family members often step in to help handle everything from the finances to cutting the grass. If there are no family members that are trustworthy and capable, many look to service providers, caregivers, and other “outside” options. Unfortunately, as people age and become reliant on others, that can make them targ...

Different types of estate plans allow different levels of flexibility. When setting up a trust, the Trustmaker usually has an opportunity to get extremely detailed in the instructions left for the Trustee to follow when distributing your estate after you pass away. The rules you put in place (and how much discretion you want to leave for your Trustee) should be careful considered. It is impossible...

Many families (and their attorneys) treat estate planning as a one-time transaction. They “set it and forget it.” However, you are ahead of the game! You have decided to have a review meeting with your estate planning attorney to make sure your plan still works the way you intended it to work. Just like having a check up at the doctor, there are certain things you should do to prepare for the meet...

When putting together your estate plan, you want to make sure that your assets are going to causes and people you care about. This can be difficult if someone you would like to pass assets down to struggles with drugs, or alcohol. Today we will discuss the questions you should be asking yourself in order to create a plan that is suitable for you and your situation. Contact: 513-463-6789 info@Cinci...

You may have heard about this in the news, but Lisa Marie Presley died on January 12th (2023), at the age of 54. Lisa was the only child of Elvis Presley. She left behind her mother, Priscilla Presley, and her daughter, Riley Keough. Lisa’s son Benjamin Keough passed away a couple of years ago. While sad in its own right, the news has been filled with details that Lisa’s mother, Priscilla, is chal...

If you own a home (or multiple homes), you understand that it may be difficult to have multiple co-owners on a property. For many families, the home is also one of the largest assets. Let’s walk through some different scenarios and options on how to handle the house. Contact: 513-463-6789 info@CincinnatiEstatePlan.com

When leaving an inheritance to children or grandchildren, many families prefer to treat everyone the same. Each child (or grandchild) will receive an equal share of the inheritance. While it is the “default” answer, it is not always the right answer. We will discuss some situations where it might not be ideal to leave an equal share to everyone. Contact: 513-463-6789 info@CincinnatiEstatePlan.com

Many people go through the estate planning process in order to provide for their loved ones and/or to allow someone to make decisions on their behalf if they fall ill. However, there are also specific decisions (usually medical) that a person will need to address during the process. For those who are blindsided by this process, it can feel like a medical school exam! Here are some common decisions...

Estate planning (like many things) is always best handled LONG before it is needed. However, even a well-thought-out estate plan should be reviewed periodically. If the family is aware that “the end is near”, it is always a good idea to review certain aspects of the plan and the wishes of the person who is about to pass away. Contact: 513-463-6789 info@CincinnatiEstatePlan.com

The holiday season is upon us and many people start to feel charitable this time of year. With that in mind, we wanted to discuss some of the parameters around charitable giving and how it might affect you on this episode. Contact: 513-463-6789 info@CincinnatiEstatePlan.com

It can be challenging to ensure that your estate plan is up to date and that all of your assets are included. We will discuss what you should do about adding new assets to your plan for today's show. Contact: 513-463-6789 info@CincinnatiEstatePlan.com

After someone passes away, the executor or trustee is responsible for carrying out the wishes of the deceased person and settling the estate. This could include paying bills, settling debts, filing taxes, selling assets, etc. Eventually, it is time for the beneficiaries to receive their inheritance. While it may be tempting to “take the money and run”, this may put their inheritance immediately in...

When someone passes away, the “what happens next” is usually dictated by the decedent’s estate plan (if they had one), or by state law, if there was no plan. However, there are special circumstances that apply when a married person passes away but their spouse is still alive. Often times, a family may end up getting “lucky” and avoid some of the major headaches. However, this is not always the cas...

Very few things in life last forever. Cars break down, cell phones become out of date, food goes bad, even a good bourbon can spoil if you don’t store it properly. Sadly, many people look at estate planning as a one-time activity (set it and forget it). While your estate plan might technically not have an expiration date, there are many times when it could end up “going bad” if not properly update...

Many consider estate planning as the art of setting out your wishes while also trying to predict all of the “what ifs” that may or may not happen in the future. Obviously, unless you have a crystal ball, it is impossible to know the future. However, there are a number of predictable/potential what-if scenarios that a good estate plan should cover. Contact: 513-463-6789 info@CincinnatiEstatePlan.co...