Latest Blog Post/Relevant News Updates
Dementia and Other Cognitive Disorders
From my vantage point, dementia feels like an epidemic as I listen to clients and friends share their struggles as they help loved ones through this devastating process. This has caused me to question the scope of the authority that a healthcare power of attorney has...
Managing the Facebook Account of a Deceased Loved One
Memorializing or deleting a Facebook account Facebook offers two options for managing the account of a deceased person: memorializing the account or requesting its permanent deletion. Memorializing a Facebook account A memorialized Facebook profile remains visible,...
Managing a Deceased Loved One’s Social Media Accounts
Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and LinkedIn each have their own procedures for handling the accounts of deceased users. Depending on the platform and the circumstances, the available options may include memorializing an account, requesting its closure or...
Colorado Probate: Benefits of Formal vs. Informal Closing
In Colorado, the principal distinction is the degree of court involvement and the level of finality obtained from the court. The better option depends on whether the estate is routine and uncontested, or whether the personal representative would benefit from judicial...
Steps to Reduce the Risk of Identity Theft After a Death
To prevent post-death identity theft, the estate representative or family member should act promptly in several areas: credit reporting, government agencies, financial institutions, and mail/security controls. 1. Obtain Multiple Certified Death Certificates Order...
Your Cyber Legacy: 3 Tips for Your Digital Assets
Digital assets are a category of commonly overlooked assets that play a crucial role in your estate plan and the legacy you leave behind at your death. It is all right if you did not consider these items when you first created your will or trust; such a mistake is...
When Is It Critical to Review Your Estate Plan and Why?
Like other important life tasks, your estate plan deserves your continued time and attention. We recommend that you work with us to review it every three to five years (or more frequently, depending on your circumstances). Think of it as your estate plan’s preventive...
Do Your Parents Have an Estate Plan?
If you are part of the sandwich generation—caring for both your children and your parents at the same time—it is crucial that you know whether or not your parents have an existing estate plan. While the final decisions within their estate plan rest with them, creating...
3 Steps to Protect Digital Assets
When people think of digital assets, they often think of digital photos and videos. While such things have sentimental value, other types of digital assets, such as cryptocurrency, social media accounts, or online business accounts, can have real, monetary value. Both...
Do You Have to Update Your Will or Trust if a Beneficiary Changes their Name?
A change in the name of a beneficiary under a will or trust does not affects their right to receive their inheritance. The document does not have to be updated, but it may be advisable to avoid confusion. 1. Identification of Beneficiaries Under Colorado law, the...
Do You Have to Update Your Trust or Power of Attorney if a Person Changes their Name?
In short, you do not need to update your trust or power of attorney if a person changes their name. They will however need to provide proof of their name change. Therefore, as a practical matter the most efficient and prudent course is to update your documents. This...
Motor Vehicle Beneficiary Form to Avoid Probate of Vehicles
To avoid probate of your vehicles, you should use the linked Motor Vehicle Beneficiary form. Even if you have a properly funded trust, this form is necessary to avoid probate if the combined value of your vehicles, including motorcycles, trailers, RVs, etc., exceeds...
Steps to Take When Probate is Not Necessary: A Guide to Settling an Estate Without Probate
Dealing with the loss of a loved one is never easy, and managing their estate can feel overwhelming. In some cases, however, probate may not be necessary. Probate is the legal process through which a deceased person’s assets are distributed, but if the deceased's...
Do You Need Probate? Steps to Determine Whether It’s Necessary
When a loved one passes away, one of the first questions that often arises is whether probate is necessary. Probate is the legal process through which a deceased person’s estate is administered, debts are settled, and assets are distributed to beneficiaries. However,...
529 Savings Plans: Avoiding Probate by Naming a Successor Participant
Most 529 plans do not allow joint ownership, meaning only one person can be the account owner, even if the owner is married. So what happens if the account owner dies? The distressing answer is that the account would be tied up in probate unless a successor...
A Video Tutorial on Completing the Beneficial Owner Information Report
View a video tutorial on completing the Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) Report here.
Who must file a Beneficial Ownership Information Report?
A Beneficial Ownership Information Report (BOIR) Must be Filed by the End of 2024 by Most Small Business. Failure to Comply Could Result in Substantial Penalties. See if this applies to you. Following the enactment of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) in 2024,...
Understanding ILITs: Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts
A Strategy to Protect Your Assets When planning for the future, ensuring your loved ones are taken care of is paramount. One aspect of estate planning that often goes overlooked is the impact of life insurance policies on estate taxes. Many individuals are unaware...
What can be done with a Facebook account when someone passes away
When someone passes away, Facebook offers options for managing their account. Here's an overview of Facebook's policies and procedures for handling accounts of deceased users: Memorialization: Facebook allows accounts to be memorialized after the user passes away....
New Choices for Disposition in Colorado
New Choices for Disposition in Colorado The typical Disposition of Final Remains form in Colorado includes as the primary item, the choice for the declarant to have their body either buried, cremated, entombed or “other.” And while burial, cremation or entombment...
““Frieda made the process of estate planning feel personal, while still maintaining a professional environment. She is extremely knowledgeable. She answered all of my questions and raised points I had not considered, without making me feel overwhelmed. I can’t recommend her highly enough.””
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