EASEMENTS: What you need to know. Property Rights: a bundle of sticks Easement defined Thinking about easements How are easements created? Can an easement be terminated? Key Takeaways Property Rights: a bundle of sticks Owning property is a basic, fundamental right. When looking at ...
Legal Think Pieces
Special Needs and Guardianships
I Have a Child with Special Needs, is Guardianship Right for Me? You've been doing a great job as a caregiver while your child is a minor; however, you may need to navigate the Guardianship/Conservatorship court, or consult with an attorney, once your child turns 18. Sometimes, reaching the age o...
What Does it Mean to Be a Personal Representative?
What Does it Mean to Be a Personal Representative? Being appointed as the personal representative, commonly known as the executor or administrator, of an estate is a position of significant responsibility and trust. Ultimately, the role demands integrity, clear communication, and a commitment to ...
9 Steps for Starting an Estate Plan
Starting an Estate Plan Creating a plan for your estate is an essential task. It creates a road map for your family and beneficiaries to follow, in the event of your passing, that is clear and legally binding. The scope of your estate plan should consider all assets, as well as your medical care ...
Business law & Estate Planning
Business succession planning (i.e., an estate plan for your business) is a crucial component of personal estate planning that ensures a smooth transition of ownership and management of a business from one generation to the next. Succession planning involves the development of a comprehensive stra...
How does Estate Planning Effect Probate?
Estate planning goes hand-in-hand with probate. Probate serves to legally transfer your assets to your heirs. Estate planning ensures that your assets are transferred in the manner you decide. You maintain control as to who receives your property and in what shares. Working with an experienced at...
Understanding Pet Trusts
What happens to my pet after I die? Our estate planning attorneys help you answer that question, and give you the peace knowing that your pet will be well taken care of after you are gone. For many pet owners, their furry friends are not just animals but beloved family members. The thought of lea...
Selecting the Correct Trust for You
If you own a home, business, or investments, there is a good chance that you will need a trust to protect your wealth. Because individual needs vary, it is almost impossible to approach trust creation from a one-size-fits-all perspective. Instead, your individual needs, personal goals, familial c...
NFTs and Estate Planning
What is an NFT? An NFT is the acronym for Non-Fungible Tokes. A NFT is something that is one-of-a-kind. It is unique but unlike, say a work of art, you cannot touch it. It is actually a digital asset. JPG files, GIF files, and MP3 files all might be examples of NFTs. Why is owning an NFT differen...
Crypto & Estate Planning
What is Crypto? Cryptocurrency is, “a digital currency in which transactions are verified and records maintained by a decentralized system using cryptography, rather than by a centralized authority.” Decentralized, meaning that it's an organization controlled by several offices or authorities, ra...
Estate Planning and Legal Representation
Most attorneys and law firms have their own approaches to legal representation. At our firm, we prefer an approach where we: First, engage in a fact-finding mission with our client in order to get the ‘lay of the land;' Second, identify our clients' goals, objectives, and primary concerns; ...
Trusts (Part Two)
When considering trusts, it is helpful to keep in mind three central “characters.” These include the Grantor, the Trustee and the Beneficiary (or Beneficiaries). The Grantor is the person or persons who originally set up the trust. They set the terms of the trust and provide for its funding. The ...
What’s The Difference Between LLCs, Corporations, and S-Corps?
Forming a new business is an exciting venture thousands of Americans take on each year. According to the Small Business Association (SBA), over 627,000 businesses are formed annually. When forming a new company, it is imperative to legitimize your operations by establishing it as a legal entity. ...
Estate Planning and Trusts (Part 1)
Trusts Trust are very powerful and effective devices with regards to estate planning. Today, trusts are not just used by the very wealthy. People with a wide variety of income levels use them as estate planning tools too. Trust are very different from a Will. What is a Trust? A trust is often i...
Health Care Directives: What is a Living Will?
What is a Living Will? Simply put, Health Care Directive, also called Advanced Directives or Living Will, provide instructions to your family and medical providers regarding what end-of life medical care treatment you want and do not want when this time approaches. Our health care directives (HCD...
Power of Attorney, Part Three: Durable vs. Non-Durable POA
What is a Durable Power of Attorney document? The difference between a durable power of attorney (‘DPOA') and a “non-durable” power of attorney (‘POA') document is fairly simple. If the POA is durable, it means that it will continue being effective in the event you become incapacitated. A “nondur...
Power of Attorney, Part Two: Scope
At The Whipple Law Group, we draft separate Powers of Attorney (POA) documents for our clients. For instance, we draft a Financial Decision-Making POA, which specifies what decisions and actions the designated Powers of Attorney may take with regard to your finances. Our client decides whether th...
Power of Attorney, Part One: A Powerful Estate Planning Tool
When you are engaged in estate planning, the topic of Power of Attorney (POA) is likely to come up. At The Whipple Law Group, we include POA documents and Health Care Directives in our flat estate planning price. We do this because of the importance these documents hold and the vital role they ca...
Wills, Part Four: I Have My Will, Now What?
Review Your Will Regularly You should review your will every two to five years, or whenever your circumstances change. Changes that warrant revising your estate plan might include: Marriage Divorce Having a child Having children move out of the house Acquiring or inheriting a large ass...
Wills, Part Three: Where There is Will There is Way
At The Whipple Law Group, we talk to people every day about the importance of drafting a Will. But people often ask why they need a Will or believe they don't have a need for one at all. However, here are five basic reasons why you should prepare a Will: To Choose Beneficiaries The laws of the st...
Wills: Part Two, Do I Need A Will?
“Do I need a Will?” That is a question our firm often hears from clients. Many people do not believe they need a Will. However, these persons are often mistaken. Sadly, it is only after they pass that the reason a Will is so important becomes apparent. Why Do I Need a Will? There are a number of ...
Pet Trust: What Happens to My Pet if I Die?
If you have ever visited an animal shelter, then you have witnessed this sad sight: beloved pets whose elderly (or sometimes not so elderly) owners have passed away. With no one to care for them and, perhaps, no one with the resources to do so, the unfortunate fact is that these animals often end...
Wills: Part One, Keep It Safe
When someone hears the term “estate planning,” drafting a Will naturally comes to mind. While estate planning includes several tools including Power of Attorney documents, Trusts, and Healthcare Directives, a person's Last Will and Testament remains a fundamental element of successful estate plan...
Assets: What Does “Tax Basis” Means?
When working in the field of tax-related issues, it is easy to become confused by certain terms. One of these terms is “tax basis.” Have no fear, it is actually a useful term that is not too challenging to grasp once explained. What does tax basis mean? The term “tax basis” describes the value of...
Estate Planning Blog Series – The Basics
Many people become overwhelmed when confronted with the facts and issues involved in estate planning. This blog series is intended to provide a simple introduction to some of the related concepts and topics involved in estate planning. Goals: Our goals in offering these materials are simple: T...