Estate Planning & Elder Law Articles — page 5
-
How Probate Works in Missouri: A Guide for Surviving Spouses
Written by: Attorney Raymond Chandler TL;DR Losing a spouse is overwhelming, and probate often becomes one more responsibility during an already difficult time. The good news is that not every asset goes through… Read “How Probate Works in Missouri: A Guide for Surviving Spouses”
-
What Kind of Trust Do You Actually Need in Missouri?
Written by: Attorney Anne Harris TL;DR Not all trusts do the same thing. A revocable living trust avoids probate but generally does not protect assets from Medicaid eligibility rules and may not protect assets from… Read “What Kind of Trust Do You Actually Need in Missouri?”
-
What Does an Elder Law Attorney Actually Do?
Written by: Attorney Marcus Tecarro TL;DR Elder law is not the same as estate planning, and the difference matters most before a health crisis, not after. In Missouri, Medicaid reviews financial transactions made during… Read “What Does an Elder Law Attorney Actually Do?”
-
Estate Planning Attorney St. Louis: When Do You Actually Need One?
Written by: Attorney Scott Stork TL;DR Professionals know they need an estate plan but keep putting it off. Without one, Missouri’s intestate succession laws decide who inherits, and a court, not the family, decides who… Read “Estate Planning Attorney St. Louis: When Do You Actually Need One?”
-
Do You Need an Elder Law Attorney in St. Louis? What Families Ask and What You Should Know Before You Call
Written by: Attorney Raymond Chandler Quick Summary You probably know someone who went through it. A parent who needed a nursing home and nobody had a plan. A sibling whose assets disappeared before Medicaid kicked in… Read “Do You Need an Elder Law Attorney in St. Louis? What Families Ask and What You Should Know Before You Call”
-
Medicaid Planning After a Spouse Dies: What Missouri Surviving Spouses Need to Know Right Now
Written by: Attorney Anne Harris Quick Summary You didn’t expect to be making these decisions alone. One day you were half of a team. Now you’re the one fielding phone calls from banks, advisors, and well-meaning family… Read “Medicaid Planning After a Spouse Dies: What Missouri Surviving Spouses Need to Know Right Now”
-
What to Do in the First 30 Days After Your Spouse Dies: A Legal Checklist for Missouri Widows
Written by: Attorney Marcus Tecarro Quick Summary The papers started arriving before you were ready. A letter from the bank. A form from his employer. Someone at the funeral home mentioned probate. Your son looked… Read “What to Do in the First 30 Days After Your Spouse Dies: A Legal Checklist for Missouri Widows”
-
What Happens to a St. Louis Family Home When Someone Dies Without a Trust
Written by: Attorney Scott Stork Most St. Louis families spend decades paying off a mortgage, maintaining a home, and building equity they plan to leave behind for their children. What many do not realize is that… Read “What Happens to a St. Louis Family Home When Someone Dies Without a Trust”
-
Who Raises Your Children If You Die Tomorrow? The Estate Planning Question Most Parents Avoid
Written by: Attorney Anne Harris Nobody wants to think about it. Not really. You can acknowledge it intellectually, the way you acknowledge that car accidents happen or that people get sick without warning. But sitting… Read “Who Raises Your Children If You Die Tomorrow? The Estate Planning Question Most Parents Avoid”
-
How to Find the Right Estate Planning Attorney in Missouri: What to Look For, What to Ask, and What to Avoid
Written by: Attorney Marcus Tecarro You are not the kind of person who makes important decisions without doing your homework. When you hired your financial advisor, you asked questions. When you chose your accountant,… Read “How to Find the Right Estate Planning Attorney in Missouri: What to Look For, What to Ask, and What to Avoid”