| Dent Coulson Elder Law | St. Louis, Metro East and Effingham

Does a Living Trust protect my life savings from long-term care costs?

A Living Trust is an important estate planning document that offers many advantages, including keeping your estate out of probate after you die. However, does a Living Trust protect your assets from long-term care costs? This question gets asked quite frequently and the answer is simply, no it does not. In this Elder Law Minute, […]

Common Estate Planning Mistake #17: Failing to correctly disinherit a child you want to disinherit

There are various reasons a person may choose to disinherit a child from their estate. Maybe they no longer have an association with the child. Or, maybe the child doesn’t need an inheritance and, maybe, another child does. Choosing to disinherit a child is a personal choice that many families may, at some point, face. So, […]

Is adding someone’s name to your accounts an okay substitute for a Power of Attorney for Property?

There is a common misconception that adding someone’s name to your accounts provides similar benefits that a Power of Attorney for Property does. Plain and simple, it does not and is not an okay substitute. A Power of Attorney for Property will provide more powers and may even, as you will see in this video, protect your money […]

Common Estate Planning Mistake #16: Failing to plan for digital assets and passwords

We live in a digital age. Our bank accounts; investment accounts; credit card accounts; accounts with Amazon, Joss & Main and all the other online stores, have digital access and passwords. And, if you haven’t planned for your digital assets and your passwords, there’s a hole in your estate plan. Don’t assume that unless it […]

Common Estate Planning Mistake #15: Using the wrong assets to fund charitable gifts and bequests

Making charitable gifts or bequests to religious or other non-profit organizations is a generous gesture and an excellent way of making a difference. But, there can be a right way to do it and a not so right way to do it, in terms of getting the most of your donation while still preserving your assets. In this […]