Newsletter | Dent Coulson Elder Law

Common Estate Planning Mistake #9: Failing to name enough successor agents under a Power of Attorney for Property

There are only two people who can give somebody the authority to make and carry out decisions for you. One is a Judge through an expensive guardianship proceeding and the other is you through a Power of Attorney. A Judge can give that authority to just about anybody, whether we would want them to have it […]

Alzheimer’s Disease and the Validity of Wills and Trusts

If someone is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease, and they don’t have their estate planning documents in place, the time to get them in order is now, while they still have the chance and before there are going to be any doubts about the validity of the documents. In this Elder Law Minute, Wes Coulson, Illinois Elder […]

Paying Family Member Caregivers: A Blessing or a Curse?

Caring for an elderly parent at home comes with a multitude of questions and concerns, one of which may revolve around paying family member caregivers for their services. This much is true: Paying family member caregivers can be a blessing or a curse, it all depends on how it is done. In this Elder Law Minute, […]

Common Estate Planning Mistake #8: Failing to address the possibility of a second spouse disinheriting children from a first marriage

The typical estate planning structure for married couples, of leaving everything to each other and then to the children after the second spouse dies, should be different for second marriages, especially when children from first marriages are involved. While it’s unlikely the second-marriage couple will knowingly plan on disinheriting children belonging to each other, not […]

Common Estate Planning Mistake #7: Failing to include enough powers in a Power of Attorney for Property

Not all Power of Attorney for Property documents are created equal. Some may give authorization for an agent to pay your bills, while others may give authorization for your agent to do more complex things such as setting up a trust for you to protect your assets. In this Elder Law and Estate Planning Minute, […]