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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

Creating a will is one of the most important goals to add to your list of New Year’s resolutions. Without this document, there’s no guarantee that your wishes will be fulfilled after death. You’ve spent your life working hard to support yourself and your family. What could be more important than getting your affairs in order and protecting your family’s future? Most people wouldn’t commonly associate New Year’s goals with estate planning. That’s why we want to remind you of its importance. Putting a will together does require time and effort, but working with a skilled attorney makes the process simple.

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.

As we discussed in our previous post, wills are only one part of estate planning. We also provide our clients with peace of mind through other aspects of the process, such as power of attorney documents. Creating a health/durable power of attorney is essential if you want someone to make medical decisions on your behalf. However, what happens to your assets if you’re incapacitated? Maybe you have bills to pay or you own a business, but you’re unable to proceed. Before something like this occurs, you’ll want to partner with an attorney to create a financial POA.