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Different Types of Health Directives, and Which One(s) You Need
Use a Health Directive(s) to Address Two Medical Questions If you are over the age of 18, there are two questions you need to address regarding your medical care. First, who do you want to make medical decisions for you if you become unable to do so yourself? This...
Advance Medical Directive Definition and FAQ
Have questions about advance medical directives? Below you’ll find an advance medical directive definition, along with common questions about this tool. Advance medical directive definition: A legally binding document that permits you to select the types of medical...
What Is a Beneficiary Designation, And Should You Use One?
You may be familiar with beneficiary designations from setting up your retirement account or talking with your financial advisor. But did you know they are one of the main tools to consider using as a part of your estate plan? Depending on your situation, a...
How to Avoid Probate
For some estates, probate can be a long, expensive, and complicated process. If you want to know how to avoid probate, this article gives you a high-level view of some options for doing so. However, keep in mind that it is unusual for just one of the following tools...
Wills, Trusts, and Other Tools of Estate Planning
In a strictly legal sense, estate planning is making legal arrangements for what will happen to your assets when you die. And most of the time, people automatically think of wills and trusts as the primary tools of estate planning. In reality, though, estate planning...
5 Ways to Update Your Estate Plan in 2021
After everything we’ve been through this past year, we know the value of preparing for the future. None of us can predict what 2021 will hold, but we can ready ourselves by planning ahead. Prepare for the Future: You Must Have an Estate Plan Your estate plan is a huge...
What Is Estate Planning?
Estate planning is the process of: arranging your assets; planning how they will be distributed when you die; and preparing legal documents to enforce your wishes after you are gone. But here at the Law Office of Joshua E. Hummer, PLC, we approach estate planning in a...
How 2021 Tax Law Changes May Affect Your Estate
President Biden has state that he wants to make some tax law changes in 2021. Three of these tax changes could affect your estate: the estate tax, the income tax, and the capital gains tax.
Why Do I Need An Advance Medical Directive?
Disclaimer: For the purposes of this article, I will address residents in the state of Virginia, as I am a licensed attorney in Virginia and cannot speak for advance medical directive regulations in other states. If you reside in another state, some of these...
