LIVE WELL and BE REMEMBERED as the HERO you already are.

As both an #Attorney and an #Insurance Professional, weird scenarios go through my head from time to time.  Here's one. I have dealt with many #grandparents in my practice.  Most of them are great and beneficial to the lives of the grandchildren.  Some are not.  I've dealt with both sides of the issue. I seem to be having more and more issues lately with emotionally #toxic #grandparents, especially in the realm of #Juvenile and #Family #Law.  This applies to both #custody and #visitation. So, here's one of the thoughts bouncing around in my head:  If a married couple is trying to protect their minor children from the influences of a toxic grandparent(s), they need the following: Mirroring #Wills nominating a safe person to raise the child/ren should they both pass away.   The nominated person needs to agree (not necessarily on paper) and be aware of the situation with the toxic grandparent(s).  This person is known as a #Guardian. A Durable Power of Attorney for Childcare

  Photo by @francesgunn Time and time again I see examples of people who thought it was a good idea to reduce their Estate Planning to a quitclaim of real estate to another person. That is NOT Estate Planning.  That's not even basic Estate Planning.  It's a bad idea.  Here's why: Quitclaims do not #communicate your wishes.  #Wills and #Trusts communicate your wishes.  Quitclaims can actually create questions without good answers.  "What did Mamma want to do?"  "Was Daddy coerced wrongly into the quitclaim." Quitclaims can create #taxable events.  Example, a parent quitclaims a child's name onto a property.  The parent has now "gifted" half (1/2) the property to the child immediately, not after death.  This can trigger a "gift tax", taxable by the IRS.  Admittedly, this is a tax that is often not pursued by the IRS, but it does not change the fact that the taxable event exists. If someone is just determined to quitclaim

Ready to plan for the future? Estate Planning has different means depending on who you ask. A common misconception is that Estate Planning is only for the wealthy. That is simply not the case.  For me, Estate Planning is having a discussion about what a person wants their legacy to be. Do they want to have a #peaceful #transition from their “working era” to their “#retirement era” and then onto passing away? Do they have specific ideas as to what they want their medical care to be, when they can’t make the decision on their own? Is there someone they trust to handle their #financial affairs while they are living? Is there someone they trust to handle their #estate once they pass away? Are there people they want to #bless once they are gone? Are there people they want to shun once they are gone? Who would they trust to raise their minor or disabled #children? Should you have Life Insurance, Long Term Care Insurance or start thinking about a #Medicare Supplement plan? These questions

  " For #God will never give you the spirit of #fear, but the Holy Spirit who gives you mighty #power, love, and self-control. "  2nd Timothy 1:7 TPT Right now, there seem to be those who want you to be #afraid.  They want you to be #fearful.  Why?  For some, it's #control.  For others, it's financial gain. Scripture tells us to not living in fear, but in power, love and #self-control.  Why? Because those things that are to be feared in LIFE cannot affect us in our REWARD in #Jesus. The singer / song writer Keith Green stated it best when he said, "It took the Lord six (6) days to make the Earth.  Jesus has been working on our home in #Heaven for 2,000 years.  This is living in a garbage can compared to what He has in store for us."  Don't hold on to #garbage.  Don't live in fear.  Sharpen your #Kingdom perspective.

                                                                                                                          Image courtesy of pasja1000 and Pixabay. These are crazy times.  While this will pass, it has a lot of folks thinking about the "what ifs" in life.  What if I don't make it?  What will happen to my kids?  What will happen to my stuff?  Have I made adequate preparation ? So, here's some tips: Make sure your relationship is right with the Lord. Make sure you have a Will .  It makes the Probate process so much easier. Have at least a Durable Power of Attorney for Medical Care , so that if something happens to you and you live, but cannot make medical choices for yourself, someone else can. Have Life Insurance.  Even if it's only a $25,000 policy, it can go a long way toward helping your survivors. We will get through this, but reflecting on our planning is always a good thing.