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The Things You Must Account For in Your Estate Plan

Your estate plan is one of the most critical ways that you can protect the financial future of your family, your assets, and your wishes for what happens when you are no longer here. Whether you have a large family or it’s just you, it is still critical to create an estate plan. What are some of the types of things that you need to account for in your estate plan?
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4 Myths About Estate Planning

Many people avoid the estate planning conversation because it’s uncomfortable to think about what will happen when they are no longer here. Unfortunately, this also means that many people who pass away suddenly leave behind no guidance for their loved ones. In this informative blog, we will be breaking down some of the most common myths about estate planning so that you can be fully informed when starting the process.
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Veterans and Criminal Justice: Possession of Firearms

Over the course of this series spotlighting veterans and criminal justice, we have reviewed the unique relationship between our servicemembers and the criminal justice system. Sadly, many veterans who have fought for our freedom come home only to find that they do not have the resources and support necessary to enjoy their freedom.
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Veterans and Criminal Justice: Trauma and Robbery and Theft

As we’ve traveled through this series, we’ve highlighted the relationships between United States military veterans and criminal justice. While veterans are not disproportionately impacted by crime, there are unique challenges that veterans experience that can lead to them being vulnerable to involvement in robbery or theft.
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Veterans and Criminal Justice: Domestic Violence

In 2018, researchers found that active duty servicemembers are three times more likely than civilians to be perpetrators of domestic violence. Experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV) is also more likely for servicemembers and their loved ones. This is a major issue pertaining to veterans and criminal justice. Veterans diagnosed with PTSD and depression are more likely to perpetrate violence against others compared to those who have not been diagnosed. PTSD involves symptoms like substance abuse, emotional numbness, aggressive or violent behaviors, and self-injury among other problems.
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Veterans and Criminal Justice: Trauma and Substance Abuse

Many veterans suffer from trauma and substance abuse, leading them to become involved with the criminal justice system. Unfortunately, this isn’t a rare occurrence. Studies show that 1 in 3 U.S. veterans have been arrested and put in jail at least once. In total, veterans account for 5% of all inmates in federal prisons.
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New Year’s Resolution Series (Part Five): Trusts

Springtime is right around the corner, but that doesn’t mean you have to give up on your New Year’s resolutions. One of the greatest things about resolutions is they don’t come with a deadline. Instead, they provide us with an opportunity to recognize our goals so we can work to achieve them. Do you plan to incorporate trusts into your goals this year?
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New Year’s Resolution Series (Part Four): Deeds

Today marks the fourth stop on our New Year’s estate planning tour. Let's take a look at the importance of reviewing deeds as part of your New Year's resolutions this year. Deeds are legal documents that officially transfer real property from a seller to a buyer. In this case, “real property” includes real estate or land. Most people spend years saving up to buy a home and own their own property. Throughout their lives, they work hard to maintain its value and pass it down to future generations. Now they want to ensure their children will easily be able to inherit property without complications.
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New Year’s Resolution Series (Part Three): Health/Durable Power of Attorneys

If you’ve been following our New Year’s Resolution series, you now understand the importance of wills and estate planning. These are essential documents that outline your wishes once you pass. However, what happens if you end up in an accident or become incapacitated? What if you can’t make sound decisions on your own? This is where power of attorney documents (POAs) come in. There are two types of POAs: health/durable powers of attorney and financial powers of attorney. In this blog, we’ll focus on health/durable POAs.
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Make Estate Planning Part of Your New Year’s Resolution

Every New Year, many of us make resolutions to get in shape, try something new, or make more money. These are great goals to have, but we often overlook a critical aspect of personal and financial health in the process. Estate planning is a critical task to complete, but few people want to sit down and think about post-mortality plans. Some even believe that doing so manifests bad luck. At Atkinson Law, we call this the “dread of dead.” While it’s true that estate planning requires you to think about death, it can also be life-affirming. Protecting your family's future and making a plan for your assets brings great relief. At times, thinking about mortality allows us to be grateful for the time we have. When you partner with a trusted estate attorney, they’ll also put you at ease and discuss the topic with care. If there’s one thing you can be sure of, it’s this: making a plan has more positive consequences than not making one. In light of that, how can you begin the estate planning process in 2023?
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