Estate Planning

If you are a football fan in Missouri, you no doubt know Marty Schottenheimer, the former NFL head coach for the Kansas City Chiefs. He served in that honored position for 10 years before retiring. Sadly, Schottenheimer was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s about five years ago.The renowned career of Marty SchottenheimerSchottenheimer began his NFL coaching career in 1980, when he was hired as the defensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns and then became head coach in 1984. He … [Read more...] about Head Coach for Kansas City Chiefs Diagnosed With Early-Onset Alzheimer’s

Being asked to serve as the executor of a will is an important fiduciary duty. If you have been selected to administer a loved one's estate, then you should have some basic knowledge about the requirements of estate administration and asset distribution. Here is what the executor of a will needs to know about the probate process.The steps required in probate administrationThe first step in probate requires commencing the court proceedings through filing a petition. The petition should be … [Read more...] about What an Executor of a Will Needs to Know about Probate

A Missouri power of attorney can be used in estate planning in order to select someone to take over and manage your affairs in the event you become incapacitated for some reason.  Regardless of whether your incapacity is permanent or merely temporary, a power of attorney can work for you.  However, the power of attorney must be designated as "durable," if you want it to remain in effect after you are determined to be incapacitated.What is a Missouri power of attorney?A general power of … [Read more...] about Why a Missouri Power of Attorney is a Good Thing to Have

A trust beneficiary is the person who receives the benefit from a trust, such as trust property or income from the trust. As a trust beneficiary, you may believe that you are at the mercy of the trustee. But, depending on the type of trust, trust beneficiaries generally have rights that are protected by trust laws. Those protections are there to ensure the trust is properly managed for your benefit.What is a trust and how does it work?A trust is an agreement that is based on confidence and … [Read more...] about Knowing Your Rights as a Trust Beneficiary

After receiving the exciting news that you have inherited some property, you may be excited, but you may also have many questions.  For some people, the prospect of an inheritance can be stressful.  Mostly because they do not know what to expect.  Issues regarding Medicaid and SSI benefits are often a primary concern.  Here are the answers to some questions about inheritance planning.How can I preserve my benefits with inheritance planning?While not every person who receives an inheritance … [Read more...] about 5 Questions Answered About Inheritance Planning

If you are determined to ensure you have enough income or savings when it comes time to retire, then the thought of starting your retirement planning might be stressful.  Many clients are concerned about whether they have waited too late to start saving and whether they have chosen the best strategy for doing so.  While these are typical concerns to have, retirement planning should not be discouraging.  With the help of your Kansas estate planning attorney, you can avoid the most common mistakes … [Read more...] about Beware of Common Retirement Planning Mistakes

Regardless of your economic status, creating an estate plan is a wise thing to do.  For those who have established significant wealth for themselves and their families, it is certainly crucial that you have a plan.  One way to provide protection for your family's future is by creating a revocable family trust.  Your estate planning attorney can help you with this task.What is family wealth planning?When clients are seeking to preserve their financial wealth, wills, trusts, powers of attorney … [Read more...] about A Revocable Family Trust Is Not Just for the Wealthy

A local hero in Kansas City, Kansas, police captain Robert Melton was remembered during his memorial services, after being killed in the line of duty. Melton was shot and killed on July 19th. Two suspects have been charged in connection with the case, and the alleged gunman is facing a capital murder charge. Officers from police departments across the state and metro area gathered at Children’s Mercy Park to pay their final respects.  Melton was known for penning the manual on conducting … [Read more...] about Kansas City Police Captain Remembered as an American Hero

Two teenagers in Independence, Missouri were killed in a car crash recently after being stopped by police less than an hour before.  Two other teen passengers were also injured in the wreck.  The group had been pulled over by police in Excelsior Springs shortly before, but were released after the driver purportedly passed the field sobriety tests and showed no signs of impairment.  The horrific crash closed Highway 291.  The 19-year-old driver and a 17-year-old passenger were killed in the fiery … [Read more...] about Horrific Crash in Independence, Missouri Emphasizes Need for Estate Planning

The flexibility of revocable trusts is one of their most important benefits. Trusts are an important component to every good estate plan. There are several types of trusts you can choose from. Knowing which type of trust you need is also important.  So, what is a revocable trust?Understanding how a revocable trust worksAll trusts, regardless of their purpose, are considered either revocable or irrevocable.  Revocable trusts allow the person creating the trust (the grantor) to modify its … [Read more...] about What is a Revocable Trust?