Listed below are articles that will help you and your family create a legacy in our community. Please click on the titles to learn more about the subject. Then give us a call to discuss how we can offer support for these important decisions.
Essential Documents – Thorough estate planning includes medical and financial decisions before the end of life, as well as after death. Here’s the list of documents and terms you need to know as you begin planning.
Elements of Estate Planning – Some people don’t know where to start on Estate Planning. It can be overwhelming with new terms, jargon and the fear of legal matters. The way to begin is to have conversations with professionals. Bank Trust Departments, estate attorneys and estate accountants, are all good resources to put your affairs in order. A lot of good planning includes charitable gifting. The Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library is wonderful, in part, to many great people who did thoughtful planning and included the Library Foundation in their estate plans. Here at the Library Foundation we are not estate planning experts but we would love to visit and to point you to some really great planners we know.
Charitable Gift Strategies for Estate Planning – For the tax sensitive donors, one way to get maximum “bang for the buck” is to bunch charitable gifts into alternating years.
Choice of Trustee – Choosing the right Trustee of your estate is a crucial piece to ensuring successful transition of assets after your death.
Planning for the unthinkable – Incapacity can befall anyone at any time. For the healthy, it may be the result of a sudden illness or injury. For older people, the onset of incapacity may be slower, the progression of an illness such as Alzheimer’s disease or just part of the normal aging process. The best way to protect your family and assets in the event that disability strikes is to take the necessary steps when there is no doubt that you are fully capable of acting on your own behalf.
Your Will, Your Choice – The importance of having a will cannot be overemphasized. It directs the distribution of your financial and personal assets when you die and also names the executor who will act in your stead to meet your obligations and steer your assets through the probate process. If you have minor children, your will allows you to name a guardian who will see to their upbringing if you and your spouse should die with the task unfinished.
Powers of Attorney – Everyone needs to have a durable power of attorney (DPOA) for financial matters. This document empowers someone you choose to act on your behalf if you cannot. It is essential to name a DPOA. PERIOD! You need a highly trusted person named to help manage your entire affairs if you become disabled from accident or illness.
