At our law firm, we represent families who have kids with a variety of disabilities. From the time of diagnosis, legal issues present themselves concerning asset management that will need to continue throughout the disabled child’s life to preserve their eligibility for federal, state and local public benefit programs that support people with disabilities. We explore with the family the roles of special needs trusts and ABLE accounts, and we provide parental estate planning advice with the goal of preserving government benefit eligibility in mind.
Protect your elderly loved one from coronavirus scams in Colorado
People with elderly parents or other senior relatives or friends must always be on the lookout for signs that someone may have taken advantage of their older loved ones in scams that can drain them of their money and assets. Some of these concerned Coloradans may be in fiduciary positions - meaning having a legal role that makes them responsible for a vulnerable person's financial and personal well-being - such as guardians, conservators, those named as agents under financial powers of attorney, guardians ad litem, representative payees of Social Security payments, trustees or other titles with similar responsibilities.
Consider whether your children should get different legacies
One of the main decisions in estate planning is what to leave to your children. Many Coloradans know almost automatically that they just want to split things equally. But even that is sometimes more complex than you might think.
Early intervention services for infants with developmental disabilities
For more than 50 years, the state of Colorado has provided early intervention (EI) services for children with developmental disabilities from birth to three years old. If your baby or toddler is showing behaviors or delays that concerns you, be sure to work with your pediatrician to ensure that medical or educational professionals appropriately screen your child for autism and other developmental disabilities.
Why online, DIY estate planning is a risky proposition
The digital age has changed every aspect of how we conduct life. That includes estate planning. There are now countless do-it-yourself will creation tools out there, each making the case that this DIY approach is all you actually need.
How to bequeath items of personal property to family and friends
Most people have a broad idea of how they want their estates to pass to others after their deaths. For example, it might make sense for a particular individual that most assets go to a surviving spouse, to surviving children or to a charity. But what about individual gifts of personal property?
The confluence of business succession and estate planning
Running a business requires an intense focus on the here and now. There are customers to serve and contracts to fulfill. Ensuring these things happen often takes priority.
The revocable living trust as a Colorado estate planning tool
Revocable living trusts – or RLTs – are flexible estate planning tools that facilitate the smooth transition of property and asset management in case of incapacity as well as allow families to avoid the probate process in state court. The RLT is “living” because it is created during the lifetime of the grantor (person who establishes it and puts their assets into it) and is “revocable” because the grantor can modify or terminate it.
The ‘hot powers’ of a financial power of attorney
A financial power of attorney is a crucial legal tool for anyone with even modest monetary considerations. With a financial power of attorney, you – the principal – name an agent to handle financial and business transactions on your behalf.
