It is hard to deal with our own incapacity and death when we are well, but there were many in the room battling cancer and truly needed for me to guide them in something they felt they had some form of control over. It was humbling for me to see people (there was standing room only!) who were exhausted from chemotherapy or in remission, but made it to a 6:30 p.m. event (to listen to me none the less!) because they knew how important it was.  These people are no different than you and me, except that they have a sense of urgency because life has dealt them a challenge.

Read the full letter here along with other client and colleague testimonials.

The Aid and Attendance may be available to wartime veterans and surviving spouses who have in-home care or who live in nursing homes or assisted living facilities.  This benefit allows many to enjoy a higher quality of life when their cared needs have increased.  Benefits range from $1,056 to $2,540 per month.

The Veteran must meet both Asset and Income requirements according to the Veterans Administration Rules and Regulations.  However, if the Veteran exceeds these limits, there are carefully structured trusts that can be used to allow him or her to become eligible.

I welcome Veterans who are residents of North Carolina as well as their family members to contact our office with any questions so that we many provide you with the information necessary to understand the VA benefit and the application process.

I have listed 3 of the most common (I believe) myths about North Carolina Estate planning below.

1. I don’t think I need a will or a trust because my wife or husband will get what I have. North Carolina has statutes in place that will divide your property at your death if you do not have a will or trust in place. How your property is divided depends on who is alive at the time of your death. Your estate could potentially be shared with your spouse, children and parents…it may not necessarily all go to your spouse. The best thing to do is to plan out the distribution of your estate ahead of time through a will or a trust so that your wishes are upheld.

2. Having a will eliminates the need for a probate proceeding. Probate is the process which allows for the distribution of your assets.In actuality, having a will gives the court the ability to supervise your estate distribution. This supervision occurs through the probate process. The one way in which to avoid a probate is to have a trust. Your best bet is to go over your options with an attorney.

3. I’m not going anywhere for awhile, all this stuff can wait. We never know what life is going to bring our way. It’s better to be prepared and plan for the benefit of your family and loved ones. In difficult times, you don’t want your thoughts to be consumed with worrying about what happens to your family.

Did you know that without a will or trust you cannot protect the assets you live your children past the age of 18? The lack of planning will more than likely mean that your 18 year old could potentially have a significant amount of money available to him without any restrictions. It’s best to speak with a North Carolina estate planning attorney to address these issues sooner rather than later.

Take the initiative to address your estate plan with a North Carolina estate planning attorney. Getting your affairs in order is a “gift of love” for both yourself and your family.