The Plain English Attorney Blog

Far too many attorneys overcomplicate things, making topics convoluted and difficult to understand to the average person. This blog is committed to explaining legal planning topics in an easy to understand format, in plain English. Enjoy the blogs, and please let us know if there is a topic you would like covered.

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Getting Started with Financial Planning #estateplanning #estateplanningbasics #financialplanning #genzestateplanning #guides #planning #steps attorney attorney advice attorneys advice beginner estate planning dosanddonts financial institutions getting started lawyer advice lawyers advice north carolina the plain english attorneyā„¢ Jul 15, 2024

When it comes to financial and estate planning, knowing how to start seems to be the toughest part. While we already have plenty of content on starting estate planning, building up that estate is its own subject. Getting started is very dependent on where you are in life and what goals you have,...

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How to Avoid Probate #estateplanning #estateplanningbasics #estatetaxes #financialplanning #lastwill #lastwillandtestament #longtermplanning #planning #probate #probateprocess #process #trustplanning #trusts #will #wills attorney attorney advice estate documents estate planning estate planning attorney estate planning basics estate planning strategies last will and testament lawyer advice lawyers advice livingtrust planningattorney revocable living trust the plain english attorneyā„¢ trust trust planning Apr 29, 2024

One of the biggest frustrations I see in my line of work is when people who are already going through a crisis because of the death or a long-term illness of a family member end up in probate. This time-consuming, frustrating, and paperwork intensive process only compounds the grief and agony...

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Will or Trust? #estateplanning #estateplanningbasics #estatetaxes #genzestateplanning #lastwill #lastwillandtestament #probate #trustplanning #trusts #will #wills attorney advice basic estate planning beginner estate planning estate documents estate planning attorney estate planning basics last will and testament livingtrust planningattorney probate revocable living trust revocable trust revocable trusts the plain english attorneyā„¢ trust trust planning wills Apr 15, 2024

When it comes to estate planning, what you do with your estate is wide open. However, there are only two heavyweights when it comes to how you pass along your estate. You are either using a Last Will and Testament, or a revocable living trust as the base of your plan. But which one is best?...

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The Value of Professional Conferences: How Estate Planners Become Rockstars #estateplanning #estateplanningbasics #estateplanningbooks #estatetaxes #financialplanning #planning #trustplanning #trusts #whatisestateplanning asset protection attorney-client relationships estate planning estate planning attorney living trusts north carolina planningattorney revocable living trust revocable trust revocable trusts the plain english attorneyā„¢ trust planning Feb 26, 2024

When it comes to estate planning, there’s always more information coming our way. It’s also not just about tax updates or changes to law, but it can often be just better ways to serve our clients through technological advancements and new platforms. While state bar sponsored...

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Estate Planning 101 Livestream Announced #estateplanning #estateplanningbasics #estateplanningbooks #financialplanning #genzestateplanning #guides #lastwill #lastwillandtestament #livingwill #planning #trustplanning #trusts estate planning attorney irrevocable trust revocable trust Jan 29, 2024

My law firm and other businesses are committed to providing planning education in the areas of estate, financial, and care assistance planning, and we are adding open livestreams through The Plain English Attorney® YouTube channel. Our 2024 kickoff event is Estate Planning 101 where we will...

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"Never, Would I Ever..." #estateplanning #estateplanningbasics #planning Dec 18, 2023

"Never, Would I Ever..." Estate Planning

When many people are thinking about estate planning for the first time, it is not exactly the most comfortable thing to think about. Because of that, there are a lot of contingencies, pathways, and options that people fail to consider. But that's...

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Level One Adulting Starter Pack: A Basic Estate Plan #estatedocuments #estateplanningbasics #whatisestateplanning Dec 11, 2023

Level One Adulting Starter Pack: A Basic Estate Plan

Many of our trust clients have children who are over eighteen, and around the time of that milestone birthday for the first child, the parents realize they can’t keep making financial, legal, and health decisions for their children...

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11 Red Flags of Estate Planning #estateplanningbasics #trustplanning revocable trust Sep 11, 2023

When it comes to estate planning, there are a lot of red flags indicating a need for some specific protections. However, one of the biggest solutions is a well-drafted, optimally-funded revocable living trust to keep the estate out of probate. Here are the top eleven red flags Indicating an...

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Just the FAQs, Ma'am (Vol. 2) #estateplanningbasics #wills irrevocable trust Jun 05, 2023

As part of getting back to basics for people searching to basic estate planning answers, I’m continuing to cover some basic questions that come from Henry W. Abts III’s book The Living Trust in its Appendix G. While the questions are coming from the book, the answers are coming from...

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Just the FAQs, Ma'am (Vol. 1) #estateplanningbasics irrevocable trust wills May 29, 2023

As part of getting back to basics for people searching to basic estate planning answers, I’m going to cover some basic questions that come from Henry W. Abts III’s book The Living Trust in its Appendix G. While the questions are coming from the book, the answers are coming from my own...

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