Estate Planning
REMOTE EXECUTION OF INCAPACITY DOCUMENTS DURING THE COVID-19/CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC
REMOTE EXECUTION OF INCAPACITY DOCUMENTS DURING THE COVID-19/CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC Prior to the Covid-19/Coronavirus pandemic, the law required an individual executing a living will or health care power of attorney to do so before a public notary and two witnesses. …
Wills for Heros
I had a nice day yesterday volunteering for the NC State Bar’s Wills for Heros program at Campbell law school. https://www.ncbarfoundation.org/our-programs/wills-for-heroes/ Two Campbell law students and I created estate plans for 2 First Responders and their families: a Knightdale police…
IRS keeps 2016 Third Quarter Interest Rates the ...
Interest Rates Remain the Same for the Third Quarter of 2016 WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today announced that interest rates will remain the same for the calendar quarter beginning July 1, 2016. The rates will be: four (4)…
How to Avoid Guardianship
When a parent or other loved one becomes unable to handle his or her affairs, traditionally family members sought the appointment of a guardian to act on behalf of the incapacitated family member. Because the family member no longer has…
Trusts Are Not Just for the Rich – Part I
People often think trusts are only for the very wealthy. In reality, trusts can be useful for people of all income levels. In this two-part blog series, I discuss some of the applications we at Louis Wooten, Attorney at Law…
Do You Need A Will?
You may wonder whether you really need a will. North Carolina law does not require you to have a will. Still, there are many good reasons for having a will. Most important, a will allows you to decide how your…
Estate Planning For Your Adult Children Can ...
Although the term “adult children” is an oxymoron, it’s a very real stage in life when children over the age of 18 are considered adults – at least in the eyes of the law. That’s why all parents should consider…
What Tony Soprano Can Teach Us About Estate ...
The recent death of James Gandolfini, the 51-year-old actor most famous for playing the popular New York Mafia boss Tony Soprano, was a shock to people who knew him – and to people who only knew of him. Unfortunately, his…
Does a Living Trust Need to File a Separate Tax Return?
One of the benefits of the living or revocable trust is that it allows an individual to remove property from his or her probate estate by transferring the property to a trust. Because the trust, and not the decedent, owns…
Do I need a Will?
I get this question a lot. I am happy to report that the North Carolina does not require a will in order to die (kidding). Indeed about one half (1/2) of the estates probated in North Carolina are “intestate” (i.e.,…