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The Clements & Wallace Ultimate Gift Guide

As the holiday season is in full swing, we thought we would join in on the latest trend taking the Internet by storm: gift guides. However, rather than tell you which brand of legal pads are the best shade of yellow, what pen to sign a document with (bold and blue is the correct answer), […]

Caregiver: The Role Few Expect, But Many Will Inhabit

Anyone with children expects to serve as a caregiver for their child until they’re ready to leave the nest. What most people do not expect, however, is that they will someday need to serve as a caregiver for another adult. A recent New York Times article reported that approximately 1 in 5 adults in the United States […]

Who Needs an Estate Plan?

When you hear the term “estate planning,” your mind might conjure images of the elderly preparing to pass a life’s worth of assets and heirlooms to the next generation, or a wealthy couple setting up trust funds for their children and trying every trick in the book to minimize their tax bill. You might even […]

Beneficiary Designations: The Other Half of Your Estate Plan

In a recent post, we explored when it might be a good idea to review your estate plan. A large factor controlling where your assets go after your death—and one which is, unfortunately, often overlooked—is whether your assets have a designated beneficiary. Beneficiary designations are an oft-forgotten pillar of estate planning that, in many cases, […]

Your New Year’s Resolution: Review Your Estate Plan

Trying to lose those holiday pounds? Resolved to exercise for an hour a day? New diet making you grumpy? We’re already a few weeks into the year, and most of us made aspirational New Year’s Resolutions that, while admirable, will fall completely off our radar by Valentine’s Day. If you’re in need of a resolution […]

Required Minimum Distributions From Qualified Plans

As we approach the holiday season, we prepare to enter what is undoubtedly the busiest part of the year for the majority of us. Between coordinating schedules with loved ones, shopping for gifts, and scrambling to get holiday meals together, it can be easy to let other important considerations slip our minds. One such consideration, […]

Medicare Open Enrollment: What Seniors and Their Families Need to Know

The pumpkins are out, the leaves are (not) changing, and there’s a slight chill in the morning air. All of this can only mean one thing: it’s time for Medicare Open Enrollment! Medicare Open Enrollment for 2022 began October 15 and runs through December 7. The annual open enrollment period is designed to give Medicare […]

10 Common Mistakes Every Guardian Should Avoid—Part 2

This is the second in a short series on common mistakes made by guardians. For the complete list, be sure to check out Part 1. 6. Taking Action Without Consulting Their Attorney While the court places the guardian in control of the ward’s person or property (or both), the court never relinquishes oversight of the […]

10 Common Mistakes Every Guardian Should Avoid—Part 1

Serving as guardian is an exceptionally important role. Guardians should be proud that the court saw fit to grant them such responsibility yet humbled with the weight of the duties they are undertaking. There are two potential roles a guardian might fill: guardian of the property or guardian of the person. Each role has distinct […]

Digital Assets Part 3: Digital Assets in Estate Plans

Part 1 and Part 2 of this series have explored digital assets and gave some practical tips on how to safeguard access to those assets for fiduciaries and family. In this final entry, we will discuss how estate planning plays into the digital assets conversation. Developing Your Estate Plan You should consult an attorney when […]

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