Estate Planning

Estate planning is an important responsibility for any adult in the U.S. While some aspects of estate planning and transfer are affected by federal law, especially in terms of taxes, state law shapes most of what happens when a person dies. Washington, D.C., is not a...

A power of attorney is a legal tool that is often used for medical care management, financial matters, and estate planning. It is also flexible, which means you can revoke it or change the agent named therein at any time with a simple process. Here is some information...

Estate planning in Washington, D.C., maybe more complicated for parents whose children have special needs. It's important for them to discuss their options in setting up a trust, but knowing which trust accommodates disabilities is also necessary. One of the main...

Every adult in the District of Columbia should have an estate plan. At minimum, they will need a will. However, for families with special needs children, there are additional estate planning considerations. Even as adults, these children will need assistance from...

A special needs trust allows anyone to leave behind money and property to a person with special needs who is living in Washington DC or anywhere in the country. This arrangement also increases the recipient's eligibility for government benefits. There are several,...

One of the ways you can prepare for possible incapacity, or the inability to make financial decisions on your own, is to put some your assets into joint ownership with right of survivorship. For example, you may name of your children as a joint owner on your bank...

Regardless of one's age and health, the future can be uncertain, which is why it's important for individuals in the Washington, D.C., area to secure their loved ones through a life insurance policy. However, opening a life insurance policy can leave a person with many...

At some point in our lives, most of us will need a Power of Attorney to help us navigate medical decisions and financial choices. A good Power of Attorney can help a disabled person protect themselves and their assets. But what if you don’t need POA right now but will...

Having a power of attorney, otherwise known as a POA, can be extremely useful. If you're incapacitated in Washington, D.C., a POA allows someone to make financial or medical decisions for you. Unfortunately, a lot of people don't know about the limitations of a POA....

Many families have one or more "black sheep" who tend to make their own choices without taking the family's opinions into account. Estate planning can be difficult when including black sheep in your will. If you're a Washington, D.C., resident in the process of...