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There are many facets that can be used in Estate Planning. One of them is a Pour-Over Will
A pour-over will is an essential estate planning tool that works alongside a living trust to protect your assets and wishes. Learn how a pour-over will acts as a safety net for assets not transferred into your trust, helps prevent unintended inheritance, reduces intestate succession risks, and supports a smoother estate administration process.
Recently New York City Imposes Pied-a-Terre Tax on Nonresident Homeowners
New York City's proposed pied-à-terre tax could affect owners of high-value, non-primary residences, including properties held through trusts, LLCs, and corporations. Learn about potential tax thresholds, primary residence exemptions, implications for trusts and estates, and how nonresident homeowners can evaluate their exposure, understand possible exemptions, and protect their rights as legislation develops.
Advantages of a Revocable Trust
A revocable trust can provide greater flexibility, privacy, and control over your estate. Learn how a lifetime trust may help avoid court involvement, simplify administration of assets across multiple states, control distributions to beneficiaries, and provide a smooth transition for managing finances during incapacity. Discover whether a revocable trust fits your estate planning goals.
New Jersey Estate – Child Support of Beneficiaries
New Jersey executors and administrators must complete a child support judgment search before distributing an inheritance to beneficiaries. Learn how NJSA 2A:17-56.23(b) affects estate distributions, what beneficiary information is required, how outstanding child support liens are handled, and why fiduciaries must follow these mandatory procedures to avoid potential personal liability.
Using the Delaware Statutory Trust (DST) as an Inflation Defense
Delaware Statutory Trusts (DSTs) can provide real estate investors with potential inflation protection, diversification, income opportunities, and tax advantages. Learn how fractional ownership of commercial real estate through a DST works, how DSTs may qualify as replacement property in a 1031 Exchange, and why professional guidance is important when evaluating this investment strategy.
Journey to the Third Question: Navigating Planning for those with an Alzheimer's or Dementia Diagnosis
Planning after an Alzheimer’s or dementia diagnosis requires more than traditional estate planning documents. Learn how elder law, healthcare planning, long-term care costs, caregiver needs, and different forms of dementia affect families. A comprehensive dementia plan can help protect assets, coordinate care, prepare for future decisions, and provide greater security for loved ones.
Protecting Aging Loved Ones from Predatory Partners
Protect aging loved ones from predatory partners and financial elder abuse. Learn the warning signs of undue influence, isolation, exploitation, and suspicious estate planning changes. Discover how powers of attorney, health care proxies, living trusts, and prenuptial or postnuptial agreements can safeguard assets, preserve wishes, and provide critical protection before problems escalate.
How to Keep your Elderly Parents' Care Affordable: Practical Strategies for Families
Learn practical strategies to keep elderly parents’ care affordable without sacrificing quality. Explore home care alternatives, Medicaid and veterans benefits, shared living options, adult day programs, and essential legal planning tools like irrevocable trusts, powers of attorney, and estate planning to protect family assets and prepare for long-term care costs.
Life gets busy. Estate planning often gets pushed to "I'll do it later." Unfortunately, later doesn't always come when we expect it.
Estate planning can easily get pushed aside when life gets busy. McKernan Law helps individuals and families understand wills, asset protection trusts, powers of attorney, health care proxies, guardianships, Medicaid planning, and special needs trusts. Taking time to plan now can protect your family, preserve assets, and provide lasting peace of mind.
9 Legal Documents Every Family Should Have in Place
Every family should have essential legal documents to protect loved ones and avoid unnecessary complications. Learn why wills, powers of attorney, health care directives, trusts, beneficiary designations, HIPAA authorizations, guardianship appointments, and child medical consent forms are critical components of a comprehensive estate plan and family protection strategy.
Why Prenups are Like Title Insurance
A prenuptial agreement is like title insurance for your marriage—it protects your assets and provides clarity before problems arise. Rather than expecting divorce, prenups help couples make informed financial decisions together, reduce future disputes, and retain control over important legal and financial matters instead of leaving them to the courts.
Starting Estate Planning in Your 40s
Starting estate planning in your 40s helps protect your family, assets, and future wishes before unexpected events arise. Learn how to inventory assets, create essential documents, update beneficiaries, address digital assets, plan for taxes, and avoid common mistakes that can disrupt your estate plan and create unnecessary burdens for loved ones.
