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Author: David Ledbetter

The Importance of a Successor Trustee

Posted on January 19, 2021 | by David Ledbetter

An estate plan that includes a revocable living trust is an excellent way to protect yourself and your loved ones upon your passing or in the event you are unable to manage your own affairs. In contrast to other estate planning options, a revocable living trust gives you the ability Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized

Five Mistakes Successor Trustees Make (and How to Avoid Them)

Posted on January 12, 2021 | by David Ledbetter

When establishing a trust, you must give serious thought to who you choose as your successor trustee—the person who will manage, invest, and hand out the trust’s accounts and aasets once you are no longer able to do so. This individual (or entity) should be:

  • someone you trust;
  • someone Continue reading →
Posted in Uncategorized

The People Involved in Your Estate Plan

Posted on January 5, 2021 | by David Ledbetter

Estate planning is the process of making decisions about what happens to you, your money, and your property when you pass away or can no longer make decisions for yourself. Everyone over the age of eighteen has the need for some level of estate planning. Regardless of the amount of Continue reading →

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Buyer Beware: How to Avoid Estate Planning Scams

Posted on December 29, 2020 | by David Ledbetter

According to reports, many individuals are victims of financial fraud as they age. One report conducted by the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau of people ages 50 and over, found that victims of financial fraud lose $34,200 on average to scammers.

In some instances, the scams Continue reading →

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How to Own Your Real Estate

Posted on December 22, 2020 | by David Ledbetter

You may own real estate other than just your primary residence, such as a vacation home or a rental property. Depending upon the type of real estate you own, the ideal form of ownership can vary. Let’s take a look at some different types of real estate and consider the best form of Continue reading →

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COVID-19: A Reminder of Why Estate Planning is Important

Posted on December 15, 2020 | by David Ledbetter

COVID-19 has been a stark reminder that we do not know what our future brings. We do not know what is around the corner that may affect our ability to care for ourselves or our loved ones. To deal with the virus, we should all do what can to care for our neighbors and communities Continue reading →

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You Inherited a Retirement Account: Now What?

Posted on December 8, 2020 | by David Ledbetter

Many Americans have accumulated large amounts of wealth in their retirement plans. For many, their IRA or 401k is the highest value asset that they own. While these assets are great for retirement planning, they were not designed to be efficient assets for wealth transfer. It is important Continue reading →

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Funeral Planning: How a Remembrance and Services Memorandum Can Help

Posted on December 1, 2020 | by David Ledbetter

While no one may enjoy thinking about their own funeral, making arrangements in advance yourself may be one of the most thoughtful acts you can do for your loved ones. When you include funeral planning as part of your estate plan, you can spare your grieving loved ones from having Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized

Wills vs. Trusts: A Quick and Simple Guide

Posted on November 24, 2020 | by David Ledbetter

Confused about the differences between a will and a trust?  If so, you are not alone. Here is a quick and simple guide to help you understand the basics.:

What a Revocable Living Trust Can Do – That a Will Cannot

  • Avoid probate during life—conservatorship and guardianship. A revocable Continue reading →
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What is a Medallion Signature Guarantee, and Do I Need One?

Posted on November 17, 2020 | by David Ledbetter

A critical part of estate planning with a living trust is aligning your assets with the trust. When transferring stock and bonds to your trust, you may be required to provide a medallion signature guarantee (MSG) as part of the process. An MSG is a unique tool used to protect the Continue reading →

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Choosing a Corporate Trustee

Posted on November 10, 2020 | by David Ledbetter

It is important to make plans for what happens to your money and property if you become incapacitated and after you pass away. Although this planning may cause feelings of fear and uncertainty, it is essential to face those decisions head-on. You must determine what people, things, Continue reading →

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Planning with Retirement Accounts – The SECURE Act

Posted on November 3, 2020 | by David Ledbetter

For many Americans, their largest asset is their retirement account. January 1, 2020, the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act (SECURE Act) went into effect. The Act is the most impactful legislation affecting retirement accounts in decades. It has some positive Continue reading →

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Remember to Vote!

Posted on November 2, 2020 | by David Ledbetter

It’s Election Day. Your vote is important. Remember to cast your vote!

As a reminder of how important your vote can be, click here and here for articles about historically close U.S. presidential elections.

Click here for an interactive 2020 presidential election map to track as states Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized

Wills, Trusts, and Dying Intestate

Posted on October 27, 2020 | by David Ledbetter

Most people have heard that having some sort of an estate plan is a good thing. However, many of us do not take the first steps to get that estate plan in place. One reason is that many do not understand the differences between a will and trust – and dying without either.

Let’s look Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized

Wealth Transfer Strategies to Consider This Election Year

Posted on October 20, 2020 | by David Ledbetter

The election is just around the corner now. Should the Democratic party win the presidency and control of Congress, we may see a change in some tax laws.

Many expect that there will be a push to return federal estate taxes to their historic norms. Taxpayers that may be affected by Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized

Revocable Trust vs. Irrevocable Trust: Which is Best for You?

Posted on October 13, 2020 | by David Ledbetter

A comprehensive, properly funded trust allows you to avoid probate, minimize taxes, provides organization, maintains control, and provides for yourself and your loved ones. On a basic level, a trust is a set of instructions where you tell your trusted people what to do and when to Continue reading →

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COVID-19 and Minor Children: Things to Consider Now

Posted on October 7, 2020 | by David Ledbetter

Protecting your family is important, especially when you have minor children, and even more so now that we are living through a pandemic. With all of the unknowns of our current situation, you need some certainty. Having an up-to-date estate plan can be the first step toward providing Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized

Estate Planning: 3 Reasons We Run the Other Way

Posted on September 29, 2020 | by David Ledbetter

It can be hard to get motivated about your estate planning. It can sound difficult and depressing. However, you also probably want to make sure that you and your loved ones are protected, and that your hard-earned money and property is used properly to take care of you in case of Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized

Happy 18th Birthday! Now What?

Posted on September 22, 2020 | by David Ledbetter

Congratulations! You are now considered a legal adult. Aside from purchasing alcohol, there is now very little you cannot legally do. Even though you may not feel any different, from a legal standpoint, a lot has changed.

When you were a minor (under the age of 18), your parents were Continue reading →

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Why Title Matters

Posted on September 15, 2020 | by David Ledbetter

You can own real estate in different manners depending upon the number of parties and the unique circumstances involved. Understanding how your real estate is owned, or “titled,” is necessary because this determines the extent of control you have over your real estate, how susceptible Continue reading →

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Who’s On Your Team?

Posted on September 8, 2020 | by David Ledbetter

Estate planning is not just about what happens to your stuff when you die. It is about coordinating all aspects of your life so (1) you can be taken care of during times when you are unable to care for yourself, and (2) your money, assets, and property are distributed to the individuals Continue reading →

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Legacy Letters – Passing On Your Wisdom and Experience to the Next Generation

Posted on September 1, 2020 | by David Ledbetter

We all accumulate a wealth of knowledge, experiences, and values throughout the course of our life, regardless of the amount of financial wealth that we build. You have a great deal to share with your loved ones, no matter the size of the monetary gift that you may leave. A legacy Continue reading →

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Why Your Heirs or Beneficiaries May Receive a Smaller Inheritance Than You Thought

Posted on August 25, 2020 | by David Ledbetter

Although it is rare for anyone to look forward to the passing of a loved one, many people cannot help wondering about a future inheritance. Often when a person dies and leaves money or property to heirs or beneficiaries, the first thing the heirs or beneficiaries want to know is the Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized

How Do I Donate My Organs When I Die?

Posted on August 18, 2020 | by David Ledbetter

Thinking about what will happen to your body when you pass away is probably not what you would like to do with your spare time. However, if you want to donate your organs when you die, you must think about precisely what you want and communicate those wishes to the people who will Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized

Avoiding Financial Grief: How to Protect Your Significant Other from Frozen Accounts

Posted on August 11, 2020 | by David Ledbetter

The death of a loved one is one of the most difficult times in a person’s life. Nothing can truly prepare a person for such a loss. Having to deal with financial stress at such at a time can heighten the difficulty. Without proper planning, your significant other could face frozen Continue reading →

Posted in Client, Estate Planning

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Practice Areas

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  • Probate & Trust Administration
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Recent Posts

  • The Importance of a Successor Trustee
  • Five Mistakes Successor Trustees Make (and How to Avoid Them)
  • The People Involved in Your Estate Plan
  • Buyer Beware: How to Avoid Estate Planning Scams
  • How to Own Your Real Estate

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