Last month when we were visiting a local assisted living facility on National Healthcare Directives Day, I spoke to a resident who identified himself as a war-time veteran. He was reading our brochure on veterans’ pension benefits. I asked him if he had looked into the possibility of his qualifying for those benefits. He said […]
The $20,000 Power of Attorney
Nobody in their right mind would pay $20,000 just to have a power of attorney drawn up, right? After all, it’s “just a form” – you can even find some free ones online, with a little digging. Well, looks can be deceiving. Sometimes, you need to look past what you pay for and focus instead […]
The Importance of Naming Successor Agents
In this Elder Law Minute, Wes Coulson talks about the importance of having successor agents listed in your Power of Attorney. If you do not name enough successor agents in your Power of Attorney, or if one successor is unable to serve, a judge can go through a long and expensive guardianship hearing to determine who will […]
Probate and Loss of Privacy
In this Elder Law Minute, Wes Coulson discusses probate and the loss of privacy that occurs for those involved with a will in probate. Since a will in probate is made a matter of public record, anyone can find out what the will says, the names and addresses of the beneficiaries, and an inventory of the […]
Elder Law Minute: Misconceptions About Wills
In this segment of Elder Law Minute, we talk about the many misconceptions of wills, how to avoid probate, and living trusts. Depending on the size of your estate, you may be able to avoid probate under Illinois and Missouri laws. We also stress the importance of having a living trust to avoid probate. […]
