Recently, two large chalkboards were propped against the wall next to Purple Door Coffee in the Five Points neighborhood. The question posed was not typical coffee shop fare. Written across the top, the sentence started, “Before I die I want to….”A...
More Than 20 Years Of Serving Colorado Families And Businesses In Times Of Need
Month: June 2018
The 4 main steps of Colorado probate
This process is one that few people think about until they have to figure out how to deal with the estate of a loved one. For many this first-time involvement with the probate system illustrates the mess that can be left behind without proper planning.Probate is the...
Life insurance beneficiaries and divorce
For those getting a divorce, a beneficiary designation on a life insurance policy is not usually top of mind. And for that reason, states including Colorado, have passed laws that an ex-spouse beneficiary does not receive life insurance proceeds after a divorce unless...
Special needs trusts, pt. 2: putting the right tools in place
In our post last week, we discussed the acceptance phase when you first learn a child or grandchild has special needs. This post is a reminder on the various tools – both old and new – available to ensure financial resources are in place without affecting government...
Celebs enlisted to send important guardianship message
It’s not every day that a late-night show takes on the topic of guardianships (in Colorado these are two appointments – a guardian makes decisions about well-being and a conservator handles finances). The Last Week Tonight segment with John Oliver began...
Conservator breaches fiduciary duty by taking sister’s assets
The Colorado Court of Appeals recently affirmed the probate court’s holding that the former conservator and brother of a woman with mental illness had breached his fiduciary duty and engaged in theft when he converted his sister’s assets to benefit himself and his...
Special needs trusts, pt 1: realizing your child needs extra care
For a parent or grandparent, the realization that your child or grandchild has special needs can be difficult to accept. When you’re able to look ahead, however, you may see great uncertainty about your child’s ability to be able to live on their own, without special...
What do you need to include in a final estate accounting?
With any Colorado estate that requires probate court review, a final accounting summarizes receipts and payments during the estate administration process and remaining assets to disburse to heirs. The Colorado Judicial Branch provides standard forms that can help with...