POA Archives - GP Schoemakers, PLLC

4 Tips for Avoiding a Will or Trust Contest
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4 Tips for Avoiding a Will or Trust Contest
Estate Planning, POA, Trusts, Wills, wwPROBATE

4 Tips for Avoiding a Will or Trust Contest

A will or trust contest can derail your final wishes, rapidly deplete your estate, and tear your loved ones apart. But with proper planning, you can help your family avoid a potentially disastrous will or trust contest. If you are concerned about challenges to your estate plan, consider the following: Do not attempt “do it yourself” solutions. If you are concerned about an heir contesting your estate plan, the last thing you want to do is attempt to write or update your will or trust on your own. Only an experienced estate planning attorney can help you put together and [...]

By Gratia P. Schoemakers, Esq.|2021-09-13T20:01:23+00:00March 10th, 2021|Categories: Estate Planning, POA, Trusts, Wills, wwPROBATE|0 Comments

Financial Firms Roll Out Form Aimed at Stopping Financial Elder Abuse
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Financial Firms Roll Out Form Aimed at Stopping Financial Elder Abuse
Estate Planning, POA, Retirement

Financial Firms Roll Out Form Aimed at Stopping Financial Elder Abuse

With cases of financial exploitation of the elderly on the rise, advisors who work with older clients are looking for ways to head off the abuse before it happens. Enter the “Emergency Contact Authorization Form,” a document in which clients can list a trusted person who should be contacted if an advisor suspects a client is starting to lose their mental capacity or, worse yet, being financially abused or scammed. How Does an Emergency Contact Authorization Form Work? The Emergency Contact Authorization Form is a document which allows you to identify someone your financial advisor can contact if your advisor [...]

By Gratia P. Schoemakers, Esq.|2021-02-05T20:35:58+00:00February 4th, 2021|Categories: Estate Planning, POA, Retirement|0 Comments

Is now the time to remodel your old trust?
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Is now the time to remodel your old trust?
Estate Planning, POA, Trusts, Wills

Is now the time to remodel your old trust?

There are several reasons why you should update your existing trust or perhaps your entire estate plan. While estate planning documents do not necessarily have a shelf life, they may not fulfill your goals when your circumstances change. Of course, having estate planning documents that are up-to-date is critical, but how do you know when you should make changes? Reasons to Make Changes It is important to note that just because you have a trust in place does not mean you are bound to keep it as is; this is even true if the trust was inherited from someone else. [...]

By Gratia P. Schoemakers, Esq.|2021-01-27T08:46:22+00:00September 10th, 2020|Categories: Estate Planning, POA, Trusts, Wills|0 Comments

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Estate Planning, Home/Property Ownership, POA, Videos

https://youtu.be/ODm5ggf6U84

By Gratia P. Schoemakers, Esq.|2021-01-27T11:05:52+00:00September 9th, 2020|Categories: Estate Planning, Home/Property Ownership, POA, Videos|0 Comments

Why Your Estate Planning Project Must Morph into a Process

Many people put their estate plan on their to-do list as a one-time project: “Create estate plan” or “Meeting with lawyer 10:30 a.m. Thursday for estate plan.” Thinking of your estate plan as a single project or task to complete and move off your list is a common approach – but it’s also an approach that can land you in considerable hot water. Here’s why it’s essential to view your estate plan as a process, rather than a project. Process vs. Project: What’s the Difference? A project that takes several steps to complete – like an estate plan – can [...]

By Gratia P. Schoemakers, Esq.|2021-09-15T16:02:23+00:00August 12th, 2020|Categories: Estate Planning, POA, Trusts, Wills, wwPROBATE|0 Comments

Virtual Estate Planning in the Age of COVID-19
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Virtual Estate Planning in the Age of COVID-19
Design, Estate Planning, POA, Trusts, Wills

Virtual Estate Planning in the Age of COVID-19

As the New Normal has set in, and the COVID-19 guidelines are making traditional estate planning services impossible, we are still receiving requests by people to do their estate plan. If you are a fellow Texan looking to plan, we can help you. We have been helping people with their online planning for nearly a decade now, and are ready to serve you. Our flat fee simple estate plan package includes: Last Will and Testament Revocable Living Trust (if you choose to have a Trust Based plan) Declaration of Appointment for Guardian of a Child Durable Power of Attorney Medical [...]

By Gratia P. Schoemakers, Esq.|2020-04-07T19:44:39+00:00March 18th, 2020|Categories: Design, Estate Planning, POA, Trusts, Wills|2 Comments

There’s Never A Better Time Than Now To Get Your Affairs in Order
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There’s Never A Better Time Than Now To Get Your Affairs in Order
Estate Planning, Guardianship, POA, Wills

There’s Never A Better Time Than Now To Get Your Affairs in Order

The idea of getting your financial and legal house in order is likely the last thing on your mind during the busy holiday season. But, getting started is much easier than you think. In fact, the end of the year is a good time to reflect upon the year that has passed and focus on your aspirations for the future. Don’t hold this task off for later. Some careful thought and a little bit of work now can go a long way to help you feel 100% confident about moving forward in the new tax year. In preparation for the [...]

By Gratia P. Schoemakers, Esq.|2021-09-21T21:50:56+00:00February 24th, 2020|Categories: Estate Planning, Guardianship, POA, Wills|Tags: Benefits|0 Comments

Estate Planning That Expresses Who You Are – 5 Things to Talk About with Your Family

You intend to pass along your wealth through your estate plan, but what about your wisdom? Ensuring you accomplish both calls for a family meeting to have a conversation about your money, your legacy, and your core principles. Most families lead far-flung and busy lives, meaning the only time they see one another face-to-face is around the dinner table during a handful of major holidays. The estate planning process is a perfect opportunity to bring everyone together outside of those scheduled occasions — even if a child or grandchild has to attend via video chat. Working with your estate planning [...]

By Gratia P. Schoemakers, Esq.|2021-09-30T15:42:23+00:00January 14th, 2020|Categories: Estate Planning, POA, Trusts, Wills|0 Comments

How to Choose a Guardian for Yourself

Every day we make hundreds of decisions from what to eat for breakfast to where we go on vacation. With each passing day, there are more choices to be made. But, what will happen if you can’t make decisions for yourself? Before that time comes, there is one important decision you need to make. Who do you want to serve as your guardian? For those of you who have had your estate planning recently done or reviewed, you probably discussed and executed a Financial Power of Attorney. For those of you on the fence about having your estate planning completed, [...]

By Gratia P. Schoemakers, Esq.|2021-09-14T15:41:31+00:00April 30th, 2019|Categories: Estate Planning, Guardianship, POA|Tags: Adults, Financial Power of Attorney, Guardian, Tips|0 Comments

How to Pick a Trustee, Executor, and Agent Under a Power of Attorney

While the term fiduciary is a legal term with a rich history, it very generally means someone who is legally obligated to act in another person’s best interests. Trustees, executors, and agents are all examples of fiduciaries. When you pick trustees, executors, and agents in your estate plan, you’re picking one or more people to make decisions in your and your beneficiaries’ best interests and in accordance with the instructions you leave. Luckily, understanding the basics of what each of these terms means and what to consider when making your choices can make your estate plan work far better. Trustee [...]

By Gratia P. Schoemakers, Esq.|2021-09-21T20:11:55+00:00August 23rd, 2018|Categories: Estate Planning, POA, Trusts|Tags: Estate Plan, Executor, Financial Power of Attorney, Healthcare POA, POA, Tips, Trustee|0 Comments

Legal Considerations When Getting Your New College Student Ready to Go

If you are preparing to send your son or daughter off to college to pursue higher education, you may be wondering how their first semester of school will go. During this exciting new chapter in your family’s life, the last thing you may be thinking about is estate planning for your college-aged child. While your child may not have any assets (yet), once he or she turns 18, your child is considered an adult in the eyes of the law. Before your kids go away, have a frank conversation with them about how much information — including grades, finances, health [...]

By Gratia P. Schoemakers, Esq.|2021-09-21T20:12:40+00:00August 23rd, 2018|Categories: College Planning, Estate Planning, POA|Tags: Financial Power of Attorney, Medical POA|0 Comments

Steps for Starting the End-of-Life Conversation

No one wants to discuss death and dying. And yet, it’s a critical time in everyone’s life and one for which we know we need to prepare. While many people have the desire to share their wishes, something is preventing people from openly communicating with their families. As an important part of estate planning, healthcare decisions need to be talked about. This helps preserve your legacy and provide peace of mind for your loved ones. You can rest easy knowing that if they need to act, they are carrying out your end-of-life wishes as you would want. If you’ve been [...]

By Gratia P. Schoemakers, Esq.|2021-09-21T18:22:22+00:00August 23rd, 2018|Categories: Estate Planning, POA|Tags: Tips|0 Comments