Do I Really Need a Trust?

By Jeff Wagoner, W M Law President

Many times, I have clients show up for an initial consultation with the mindset that “I need a trust.”  They are absolutely dead-set that they must have a trust of some sort.  When I ask why they believe they need a trust, sometimes I get a very well-thought-out response and the client is correct – they DO need a trust.

However, more often than not, the client believes he or she needs a trust because somebody else has told them that they need a trust.  Upon digging further, it is generally because either that other person has a trust or because someone in that other person’s family passed away and had a trust.  Now, trusts are wonderful things – they can be used to do many things that a simple will cannot.  And they are great for avoid probate.  But I rarely recommend them.

Why don’t I recommend them often?  Well, first off, I believe in the KISS principle – simple over complex any day in my book.  I like to figure out what the simplest method is to accomplish a given goal, and oftentimes that means we can use a simple will along with some […]

By | October 25th, 2018|0 Comments

Estate planning is so NOT Important-and that’s why it is SO Important

By Doug Sisson, Probate and Bankruptcy Paralegal

At W M Law, we specialize in Estate Planning and probate. We breathe wills, trusts, affidavits, petitions so on and so forth.  We enjoy the fulfillment that our work brings us…But let’s stop for a second and inject a little honesty and perspective to the estate planning process.

Estate Planning: What IS Important vs. What IS NOT

Compared to life and death, love and grief – estate and financial planning seem pretty frivolous, and in the grand scheme of things – not that important. Here are a few examples:

  • Nurturing family relationships, grief, emotions and protecting family assets VS. Choosing who gets dad’s classic car, or mom’s jewelry set, or the family coin collection.
  • Recognizing the importance of keeping the family home, remembering the blood, sweat and tears put into paying off the home, and the importance of the memories created at the home Losing your home to qualify for Medicaid.
  • Admitting the relevance of decades of work spent building funds to secure a strong retirement Maximizing the tax and asset protections for inherited property.

Estate Planning – Allows loved ones to Focus on What Matters Most

Estate planning tools – powers of attorney, medical directives, wills and […]

By | October 3rd, 2018|0 Comments