Watch Your Language: Elder Law

Often defined by the age of the clients, Elder Law is unlike virtually every other practice area. Across the country, the term “elder law” is typically used synonymously with “Medicaid planning.” Admittedly, even on this blog we spend a lot of our time talking about Medicaid and nursing home care. But Medicaid planning only scratches the surface of all the … Read More

Most People Focus on Estate Plan Documents. Instead, Focus on Goals

So often, we meet with clients who want to “get a will” or “talk about trusts.” And we’re more than happy to talk about those things! But as we work our way through the nuances of wills and trusts together, our conversations always turn to one simple question: “What do you want your estate plan to do?” Why Start with … Read More

Watch Your Language: Intestate

If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice (“Freewill” by Rush). Estate planning is based on a single choice: will you plan or will you not plan? If you choose to plan, you get to design all the details surrounding management of your property after your death. If you choose not to plan, then you are … Read More

Watch Your Language: Trustee

A trustee has legal title to assets subject to certain conditions and requirements that are spelled out in the trust document. [Read More]

Watch Your Language: Grantor

The grantor is the person who creates a trust. No matter what type of trust you have, the grantor is always in charge because they set the trust’s terms. [Read More]

Northwest Iowa Estate Planning Lawyer Discusses Estate Planning for Women

The needs of women have been changing dramatically over the past several years. Gone are the days when a woman was expected to stay home and live on an “allowance” if her husband chose to give her one. Instead, so many women today have their own jobs, their own finances, and their own desire to protect their assets. In addition, women typically live longer than men. [Read More]

Estate Planning for Single Parents in Northwest Iowa

Single parents tend to work hard for their children. Every day it falls to the single parent to provide just about everything for his or her children, and with 13 million single parent households in the US, there are a whole lot of folks doing their best to provide everything their children need today. So it’s no wonder that those in Northwest Iowa want to protect the children they would leave behind should they be killed or become incapacitated. [Read More]

Estate Planning for Your Small Business in Northwest Iowa

When it’s time to start the process of doing your estate planning (that time is right now, by the way), entrepreneurs need to remember to take their small businesses into consideration. Whether you own the entire business outright and work for yourself or you simply own a portion of the entity, you will need to leave instructions for your family to follow. [Read More]