Tempe Arizona Estate Planning

5 Steps for Winding Down Your Business

Whether it be retirement, new ventures, or hitting the lottery jack pot, there are many reasons why business owners decide to close a business.  No matter the reason, business owners should diligently wind down their business before completely moving on.

Here are five important steps business owners should take:

1. Reach Consensus. For sole proprietors this step isn’t a problem, because you are the only one who makes the decision.  However, if you are a limited liability company (LLC), partnership, or corporation, all business partner must come together to decide on how and when to dissolve the company.  The most important point her is to have all decisions in writing.  Decision makers must follow the guidelines set forth in the applicable to articles of incorporation, bylaw, and other organizational documents.
2. Seek Counsel. In the same way that business owners seek good counsel when starting a business, they should do the same when winding down their business. Because dissolution is a multi-tiered process, everything must be identified, addressed and resolved.  Some issues to consider include filing legal and tax documents with courts, creditors, and governments, and licenses and permits.
3. Comply with the Law. Most state laws require companies to pay employee salaries, and compensate them for unused vacation, sick time, and personal leave, up until the date of closing.  Employers must comply with state law and the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, which requires companies with 100 or more workers to get give each employee 60 days advance notice of the company closing.
4. Resolve Financial Obligations. Before dissolving, companies must address and resolve all financial obligations, such as:
   • EIN Accounts. Business should contact the IRS and close their Employee Identification Number (EIN).  Though the IRS cannot cancel your EIN account, by closing your EIN account notifies the IRS that you do not plan to use the EIN in the future.
   • Business Debts. Business owners should contact all outstanding creditors of the closing, notify business associates that are owed money, and arrange for the payoff or settlement of all outstanding debts.
   • Payroll Taxes. Business owners with employees risk being personally liable for payroll taxes if such taxes are not paid prior to the dissolution of the company.  Owners should contact state and federal agencies to inform them that the business will dissolve and that no further unemployment returns or employer’s quarterly tax forms will be filed
   • Business Taxes. Owners should check the “final” return box on the final federal income tax return for last year in which you operated the business.  State revenue agencies may also require additional filings for sales taxes.
5. Maintain Records. Even though you have wound up and dissolved the business, state and federal agencies may still require that records be maintained for a certain number of years.  The amount of time these records must be maintain depends upon the applicable federal and state laws.

Whether dissolving the business is a happy or sad occasion, owners should approach the process thoroughly.   Failure to complete the proper steps or maintain the proper records could lead to year of frustration and possible litigation with partners, vendors, or former employees.  Contact the Soto Law firm today for a free consultation on how to wind down your business.

Are You Financially Ready to Live Past 90?

In the past, wealth advisors had client assets move to a conservative position, once they retired.  Retirement could now last several decades, and your investment and estate planning should shift as well.

Longer lifespans mean that financial planning has had to change. As recently as one generation ago, advisors considered retired people in their 60s and 70s close to death’s door, but today many people are working well into their late sixties, even early 70s.

Baron’s recent article, “Planning Ahead for Longer Lifespans,” says that people are just living longer, well into their 80s and 90s. But there’s a problem: people, even wealthy ones, aren’t preparing to live longer.

Once people reach their late 50s or early 60s, they’re likely to live into their mid-80s or beyond.

That’s a long period of time, but it’s manageable, if it is planned for.

One of the biggest fears many people have is cognitive decline. Therefore, they need to put a plan in place for managing the family’s investments or the family business, should the head of a family suffer from dementia.

Dementia is a general term for a decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life. Memory loss is one example. Alzheimer's is the most common type of dementia.

Those with dementia may have issues with short-term memory, keeping track of a purse or wallet, paying bills, planning and preparing meals, remembering appointments, or traveling out of their neighborhoods.

The Alzheimer’s Association reports that one in three seniors dies with Alzheimer’s, or another form of dementia. That means it’s a very real scenario for many families.

Planning for cognitive decline is a smart strategy, since “competence” is still a fuzzy definition at best, even among doctors. Attorneys are already seeing a rise in litigation around this issue, and some expect questions concerning competence to be a defining issue of the future. When your family discusses estate planning and aging, include cognitive decline planning as an important topic.

Without an estate plan in place, individuals who become incapacitated from Alzheimer’s or other types of dementia would have to be declared incapacitated by a court, called a conservatorship, in order for a loved one to step in and control their finances.  At the Soto Law Firm, we help clients plan for the possibility of incapacity through a revocable trust, which can implement triggering mechanisms for incapacity which will avoid conservatorships by streamlining the ability for a successor trustee to step in and take control of trust assets for your benefit during incapacity.  Contact the Soto Law Firm today to discuss how a revocable trust can help you avoid incapacity problems.

Reference: Baron’s (June 8, 2018) “Planning Ahead for Longer Lifespans”

Can You Protect Your Family from the Impact of a Sudden Death?

Family finances can take a huge hit from the unexpected death of the main breadwinner. Advance planning, even when death seems like a remote possibility, can help.

Several national conversations were launched when two bold-name celebrities— Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain—took their lives. One was about suicide, the other about what happens to families in the face of an unexpected death, from a financial and estate planning perspective.

CNBC’s article, “Sudden deaths like those of Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain can devastate family finances,” explains that a number of the leading causes of death in the US are events that happen without warning. These are things like heart disease, accidents, stroke, and suicide, which are among the leading causes of death across the country, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

An unexpected death has a tremendous impact on a family—mentally, emotionally and physically. In addition, it can also affect family finances, depending on the amount of planning the deceased had in place. Think about the following items following the unexpected death of someone you know:

1. Get organized. You should secure all of the deceased’s financial and legal documents, along with his or her keys, wallet, and phone. Next, find the will, if there is one. If an executor or personal representative is named, make sure he or she takes on their responsibility to lead going forward. If you are the personal representative of the estate, you should change locks on their residence, cancel or rearrange home deliveries, coordinate the care of any pets, have their mail forwarded to the authorized person, and arrange for the care or disposal of perishable food items.  There are many other issues that you will need to discuss with an experienced attorney to help you complete your fiduciary duties as the personal representative of the estate.
2. Look to your own mental and financial health. It’s critical to get the support and help that you need, as you grieve. The death of a loved once can take time to properly process and understand how it will affect your future life.
3. Delay major financial decisions for at least a year. Some folks want to make big life changes right away, but experts say to wait. You're grieving and may not be thinking clearly. You may make a decision that you will regret later. If you do need to make a significant financial decision, talk with an attorney first.

Everyone should create their own estate plan, no only to help your loved ones or persona representative avoid the headaches of probate, but also to achieve peace of mind know that can come from having an estate plan in writing.  Work with an attorney to draft the basic estate planning documents, like a will, power of attorney, and health care power of attorney.  Many estate administration problems and headaches can be avoided through the implementation of a living trust.

When you work with an experienced estate planning attorney to draw up these documents, be sure to communicate both the name of your attorney who drafted the documents and your wishes to your loved ones.

To make sure that your plan continues to stay up to date, review estate planning documents on a regular basis—your estate planning attorney will be able to tell you if you need any minor adjustments, or if larger revisions are necessary. Changes in the law often necessitate a review. The same goes for any major life event, like marriage, separation, divorce, birth, death, adoption, etc.   Contact the Soto Law Firm today to schedule a free consultation with an attorney to discuss how an estate plan can help you and your family achieve the peace of mind you seek.

Reference: CNBC (June 8, 2018) “Sudden deaths like those of Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain can devastate family finances”

Why Do I Need a Living Will?

Unless you want your spouse or your children to make a lot of very difficult decisions during a difficult time, you should have a living will in place.

A living will provides instructions about how you want to be cared for at the end of your life. It allows you to convey your wishes regarding life support and comfort care decisions during a time when you may be unable to do so. It also spares loved ones from having to guess at what you wanted.

The (St. George UT) Spectrum’s recent article, “How to Make a Living Will,” explains that to adequately detail your wishes concerning your end-of-life medical treatment, you should have two legal documents: a living will that tells your physicians what kind of care you want to receive, if you become incapacitated; and a health care power of attorney. The health care power of attorney designates health care agent(s) you authorize to make medical decisions on your behalf, if you become incapacitated. These documents are only used if you are unable to make medical decisions yourself.  These documents can be changed and updated if you choose to name different health care agents or if you wish to communicated different instructions to your agents.  It’s recommended that you have these documents prepared by an attorney who focuses their practice on estate planning.

Some individuals may also choose to sign a Do-Not-Resuscitate Order (DNR) as part of their health care documents.  Individuals who choose this course do so because an advanced directive doesn’t protect you from unwanted emergency care, like CPR.  Doctors and hospitals in all states accept a DNR.  To create a DNR, ask your physician to complete a form that’s accepted in your state and sign it.  Make sure to tell friends and family where it is located, if the time comes that it is needed.

To be certain that your final wishes are followed, make sure that you have a conversation with your physician, family members, and healthcare team, so they all are informed of your expectations.

You should provide copies of your advanced directives and health care documents to all those involved, to help prevent stress and arguments when the time comes.

If yours is a tech-savvy family, you may want to consider the use of an online service that stores your advance directive and health care documents, so that anyone with access to the account can obtain the right document instantly when needed. Either, be certain that everyone has log in information, or make sure that you carry a  wallet card informing health care providers and first responders of the existence of these documents and how to gain access to them.

Contact the Soto Law Firm today to discuss your options and how the creation and implementation of this planning can provide you with the peace of mind you desire.

Reference: The (St. George UT) Spectrum (June 11, 2018) “How to Make a Living Will”

The Value of an Estate Plan Created by an Estate Planning Attorney

There are certain tasks that require the specialized knowledge of a professional. An experienced elder law or estate planning attorney will protect your family and is well worth the investment.

Estate planning and elder law attorneys often receive phone calls from people whose parents decided to write their own wills or downloaded a will that doesn’t comply with state laws. The family is then faced with the expensive and stressful process of dealing with the probate estate. That’s why nj.com’s article, “Why an estate planning attorney is worth the money,” takes a strong stand in favor of working with an estate planning attorney.

With properly prepared estate planning documents, you will benefit yourself, your family, and beneficiaries, both emotionally and financially. At a minimum you should have the following documents: (i) health care power of attorney, (ii) living will, (iii) financial power of attorney, and (iv) a last will and testament.

A health care power of attorney allows named health care agents to make heath care decisions on your behalf when you become incapacitated or are unable to make your own health care decisions.  A living will, also known as advance health care directive, gives written direction to your health care agents regarding the life support and comfort care decisions you would like made on your behalf at the end of your life.

A financial power of attorney, also known as a general durable power of attorney, designates an agent to take care of your financial affairs during your lifetime.  If you become incapacitated without a power of attorney, it’s likely that a costly and time-consuming conservatorship proceeding will be required to appoint a conservator to handle your financial and personal affairs. A conservatorship proceeding can be expensive.  Not only is the conservator represented by an attorney, but a court may also appoint an independent attorney for the alleged incapacitated person. Furthermore, two doctors are also required to examine the alleged incapacitated person and prepare affidavits for the court. All these people need to be paid.

A last will and testament is the instrument that names a personal representative, who will be appointed by the court, and directs the distribution of your assets to your desired beneficiaries.  If you pass away and have a will, it’s more likely that your assets will be disposed of in the way you want and administered by the person you selected, instead of by the intestacy laws.  Without a will, a state’s intestacy laws state who the lawful beneficiaries of your estate will be regardless of whether or not you wish those people to inherit your assets.

At the Soto Law Firm, we help clients avoid the costs and headaches associated with intestate probate proceedings and  conservatorship proceedings, which would cost  far more than the fees charged by experienced estate planning. The anxiety and stress created by do-it-yourself estate plans can’t be measured in dollars alone.  A little bit more money spent with an experienced estate planning attorney now can save you thousands of dollars down the road and make like so much easier for those loved ones taking care of you or administrating the distribution of your assets.  Contact us today for a free consultation to learn more about how we can help you.

Reference: nj.com (June 3, 2018) “Why an estate planning attorney is worth the money”

What Happens When There’s No Will?

Your attempts to discuss estate planning with your aging parents failed and now both parents have passed away. There’s a big mess to sort out. What should you do now?

The first thing you’ll need to do is launch an exhaustive search for a will, says Wealth Advisor’s article, “Your Parent Didn't Have A Will: What Should You Do Now?” It is possible that just because your parents did not speak with you or your siblings about a will, or their estate plan, does not mean they did not have one done, at some point in their lives.

Your search needs to include a look through your parent’s paper records and file cabinets.  It is also recommended that you speak with their good friends and other relatives and ask their accountant and any lawyer they worked with in the pas
t. It’s a good idea to see if there are any business cards of attorneys, CPAs, or financial advisors. Remember, wills don’t expire. If you find an “old will” and it wasn’t revoked by the parent, that’s the will that will be probated.

See if your parents had a safe deposit box, since the will might be in there. However, you’ll need the authority to gain access to the safe deposit box (which may be in the box!). If you are lucky, mom or dad will have named you as a signatory on the box, and you will be able to access it. If not, you’ll have to comply with state laws to get into the box.

You should also create a list of your parent’s assets, as well as finding their financial statements and tax returns. It’s especially helpful if you have financial statements covering the date of death, because date of death values of assets will be needed for probate and estate tax returns. The financial statements will often indicate the ownership of the account. If there was a joint owner of the account, ownership will pass to the surviving joint owner. Probate of that asset won’t be needed.  The same is true for any “POD”—Payable on Death accounts, where the asset gets paid on death to that named person listed and avoids probate. If any assets had a named beneficiary, those assets won’t need to be probated. Ownership passes by operation of law to the named beneficiary,  such as with life insurance.

What happens if you can find everything but the will? If there really is no will, you’ll need to bring a petition under the laws of the state, where the second of your parents to die was a resident, or where they owned any kind of property. This is called an “intestate estate,” meaning your parent died without a will. You are petitioning the court to appoint you as the Personal Representative of the estate. State law then dictates who the beneficiaries are and who receives the assets.

Make an appointment with an experienced estate planning lawyer at the Soto Law Firm to help you determine whether a probate is necessary.  We will review the information you’ve gathered and advise you what steps are needed.  We can also help you plan to avoid the probate of your assets so that your loved ones don’t have to experience the same probate headaches.

Reference: Wealth Advisor (June 4, 2018) “Your Parent Didn't Have A Will: What Should You Do Now?”

What Does an Executor or Personal Representative Do?

If you’ve been asked to serve as an executor or personal representative of an estate, it will be important for you to understand your responsibilities. It is both an honor to be asked to carry out your family member or friend’s final wishes, but it is also a lot of work.

A useful article appearing on WMUR, “Settling an estate,” explains that an executor is the person designated in an individuals’ last will and testament (the “Will”), and is responsible for distributing the deceased’s property, pay any debts or expenses, and make sure that the estate’s tax returns are filed.  In Arizona, the executor is referred to as the personal representative.  Though a person is named in one’s Will, that person only becomes the personal representative and has authority to act on behalf of the deceased estate when appointed as the personal representative by the probate court.

When a personal representative isn’t willing or able to perform his or her duties, the next alternate personal representative named in the deceased’s Will would serve in their place. If no alternate personal representative has been named in the Will, an interested party can petition the probate court to appoint that person as the personal representative of the probate estate.

Being the personal representative of an estate can be a difficult and time-consuming task.  The personal representative must file the original Will with the probate court in order start the probate process. Once appointed by the probate court, the duty of the personal representative is to follow the deceased’s instructions for the disposition of their property set forth in the Will.   In some instances, the deceased may have also left additional instructions that make the probate process easier, such as a list of documents and their locations, contact information for attorneys, accountants, financial planners, a list of creditors, login information for important web sites, and final burial wishes.

The personal representative is responsible for the management and distribution of assets (known as the “fiduciary duty”), while dealing with the emotions of a grieving family. To ensure that the personal representative’s tasks are completed properly, it may be helpful to enlisting the advice and guidance of an experienced estate planning attorney.

A review of the Will with an estate planning attorney is done in order advise the personal representative of the proper procedures for fulling their fiduciary duty and to help them comply with the probate court’s strict requirements.

An inventory and appraisal of assets owned by the deceased should be taken by the personal representative to determine whether federal estate taxes must be paid.   Once the personal representative has (i) determined the value of the probate assets, (ii) given the proper notice to all current and potential creditors, and (iii) allowed time for those creditors to make a claim against the probate estate, then the assets may be sold or distributed, according to the deceased’s wishes set forth in the Will. 

One important aspect of your fiduciary responsibility following the passing of the deceased is to protect the assets of the estate.   This includes duties such as changing locks on a residence and securing the deceased’s personal property. The personal representative will likely need to pay mortgages, utility bills, and maintenance costs on property. He or she will need to change the name on the home and auto insurance policies, and brokerage accounts will need to be retitled or transferred into the name of the probate estate.

Final expenses also need to be paid. The funeral home or coroner will provide death certificates that will be needed for various tasks in the future, such as filing life insurance claims. If the deceased was collecting Social Security for example, the agency will need to be informed of your loved one’s death. Checks from Social Security received after the date of death will need to be returned. A final federal and state tax return for the deceased may also need to be filed, along with an estate and gift tax return.

If you would like to sit down with an experienced estate planning attorney to help you understand your duties as the personal representative of a  probate estate, call the Soto Law Firm today for a free consultation.

Reference: WMUR (May 24, 2018) “Settling an estate”

Planning for a Disabled Child and that Child’s Inheritance

Parents of special needs children must plan carefully for their children’s lives after the parents are gone. If there is an inheritance in the future, means-tested benefits could be lost, unless proper planning takes place.

Parents who have devoted their lives to providing care to disabled adult children worry about what will happen when they are gone. If an adult child depends upon support services provided by Medicaid, a Supplemental Needs Trust may be needed to ensure that any inheritance does not put those services at risk.

Kiplinger’s article, “How to Plan Ahead for a Disabled Child’s Inheritance,” notes that, without a controlled environment and attentive support system that parents carefully construct and protect, a special needs child’s lifestyle and comfort zone may fall apart.

Many of disabled children are entitled to means-tested benefits, like Medicaid or a Medicaid waiver program, Supplemental Social Security Income, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the Housing Choice Voucher Program and other services essential to their support system.

The issue for many of these parents is to ensure that their children will sustain their secure and protected lifestyle, without losing eligibility for essential means-tested benefits or having someone take advantage of that child when the parents pass away. With the help of a qualified estate planning attorney, parents can direct the inheritance of a child with special needs to a Supplemental Needs Trust. A Supplemental Needs Trust is a federally-approved strategy that will shelter those funds from creditors, secure the funds against waste and malfeasance, and exempt such funds from income and resource limitations, so the child can access the programs that will help ensure a productive and enjoyable life.

To qualify, a Supplemental Needs Trust must serve just one beneficiary for life. It must include specific terms and legal references, provide certain trust powers and limitations, and weigh the loss of eligibility against the benefit of each non-supplemental distribution. The various federal and state programs usually cover housing, food, utilities, medical care and medicines. A Supplemental Needs Trust can pay for all non-covered medical, ophthalmological and dental care, private rehabilitation training, services, devices, supplementary education assistance, entertainment, hobbies, transportation and personal services.

The rules governing trust distributions are very strict. Structuring a successful Supplemental Needs Trust requires an estate planning attorney who is experienced in state and federal program laws, with a very solid understanding of the state office’s interpretation of the regulations and local program directives, as well as an informed relationship with the local program decision-makers. He or she should also stay on top of changes in the law, by attending continuing legal education courses.

Naming a qualified successor trustee is also an important part of planning for the future. The successor trustee will need to understand that public assistance programs can be challenging to navigate, must understand how the trust works and know when they are in over their head and need the help of an estate planning attorney. They must also know when and how to make distributions that are in the best interest of the beneficiary and in compliance with the rules for the trust and for government benefits. 

If you or a loved one would like to learn more about the valuable benefits offered by a Supplemental Needs Trust, contact the Soto Law Firm today to schedule your free consultation.

Reference: Kiplinger (May 16, 2018) “How to Plan Ahead for a Disabled Child’s Inheritance”

How Baby Boomers and Entrepreneurs Put Their Retirements at Risk

Is starting a business part of your retirement dream? Many boomers start a passion-fueled business during retirement, thinking they’ll earn big bucks, while finally doing what they’ve always dreamed of.

The number of boomers launching businesses is on the rise, with boomers now twice as likely to plan on starting a business as millennials, as reported by the Kaufman Foundation. The one thing they both have in common: putting retirement savings on a back burner.

US News & World Report’s recent article, “7 Reasons Entrepreneurs Don't Save for Retirement,” examines some of the biggest mistakes entrepreneurs make when it comes to retirement planning.

1. No plan. Some business owners say they’re just too busy to plan, whether it's business planning, estate planning or financial planning. About 34% of small businesses owners don't have a retirement savings plan, according to a 2017 survey of 1,960 small business owners by Manta, an online resource for small businesses owners. However, setting up a retirement account offers benefits like tax breaks and the ability to earn compound interest.
2. Putting everything back into the business. Entrepreneurs won’t put their money into retirement because they worry they’ll lose quick access if they need it for the business. However, diversifying your assets can help you to better handle emergencies and save for the future.
3. Believing that the sale of the business is the retirement plan. Most entrepreneurs overestimate the value of their business and their ability to sell it, when they’re ready to retire. It may not be that easy. Plan with your head and not your heart—take the emotion out of it, and plan conservatively.
4. Poor business structure. Some entrepreneurs begin as sole proprietors and remain sole proprietors. However, not structuring your company as an LLC, can put your personal assets at risk. That can put your retirement at risk.
5. Not diversifying. If most of your net worth is in the business, you should seek out low risk investments for money outside the business and be sure to contribute to your own retirement plan, besides investing in the business.
6. Failing to save. Business owners can save up to 25% of their compensation or $55,000, whichever is less, in a SEP-IRA in 2018.
7. Funding a new business with retirement savings. Starting a business is a risky venture. Using retirement funds later in life, could lead to a financial disaster. If the business does not succeed, you are not likely to be able to make up a lifetime of savings, investment growth or interest income during retirement.

Business owners and entrepreneurs sometimes may also fail to plan for future problems such as who will run my business if I become incapacitated, or how can a trusted agent access my retirement accounts for my benefit when I am incapacitated.  Coordinating your business and retirement plans with your estate plan can avoid costly problems such as a conservatorship that my erode your retirement plans and savings that have been set aside for your later years.  Talk to an estate planning attorney today at the Soto Law firm to learn more about how a Financial Power of Attorney and ownership of your business through your trust can help you avoid these complications.

Reference: US News & World Report (May 11, 2018) “7 Reasons Entrepreneurs Don't Save for Retirement”

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DJ Casey Kasem’s Daughter Shares Her Family’s Legacy and Battle for Elder Abuse Laws

A radio personality in her own right, Kerri Kasem and her siblings were kept away from their famous father at the end of his life. That experience led them to fight for change, and to create a law that has been adopted in twelve states.

After Kerri Kasem and her siblings were prevented from visiting her father, while he was sick and dying by her stepmother, they launched an initiative to prevent any other family from having that experience. She recently spoke at the Seventh Annual Training of the Greater Augusta Coalition Against Adult Abuse, held in the Waynesboro, VA area. The News Virginian reported in its story, “Kasem speaks against elder abuse,” that Kasem presented “Isolated: How Casey Kasem’s Family fought, changed the law, and survived.”

Like her father, Kerri Kasem is an American radio personality. She hosted Sixx Sense and The Side Show Countdown with Nikki Sixx.

Kasem relayed her family’s story of the fight to see her ailing father. She explained about early warning signs of abuse and prevention. She also provided tips on how law enforcement and Adult Protective Services should approach these cases, for the victim’s rights to be protected.

“I learned very quickly there are no laws in the U.S. protecting adult children,” she said. “There needs to be stronger laws in this country protecting our elderly.”

Kasem fought to see her father and eventually created the Kasem Cares Visitation Legislation. The bill “provides an open path for family members to ask the court to rule on visitation, without incurring the enormous expense and time that comes with a challenge to guardianship or conservatorship,” the website explains. The bill became law in twelve states.

The organization is advocating for changes in the laws in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Nebraska, Texas, Wisconsin and Virginia.

During her fight, many people contacted her in letters saying they were going through the same ordeal. She hopes the legislation and the Kasem Cares Foundation will help other people.

“I knew there were so many families going through this,” she said. “I couldn’t let them go through that. I knew I had to do something. That’s why I created Kasem Cares.”

The Kasem Cares Foundation addresses the experiences of families who need protection from elder abuse, regardless of their financial status. It focuses on the needs of adult family members to try to protect ailing relatives, whose lives are being controlled by someone who restricts their access to a vulnerable adult.

At the Soto Law Firm we help couples and families plan for times of incapacity by allowing them to name those individuals they trust to make the right decisions on their behalf.  Especially in situations of blended families and step-parents, it is vital to speak with an estate planning attorney who can help you put in place the proper documentation that can accomplish your family’s goals.  Contact the Soto Law Firm today for a free consultation to discuss your options.

Reference: The News Virginian (May 13, 2018) “Kasem speaks against elder abuse”