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Tag: Revocable Trust

How do I protect my father from my brother’s undue influence?

Posted on Wed Dec 30, 2015, on Estate Planning

From our “Ask a Question” mailbag: My father has been diagnosed with the beginning stages of Alzheimer’s. He is having some memory issues, but is still doing very well on his own with one exception. My brother has always been the black sheep of the family. He has never held a steady job. He recently declared bankruptcy and has been pressuring my father to give him money and to change his will to give my brother more money. My father and my deceased mother’s wills have always divided their estate equally between the four children. My father has told me that he does not want to change his will, but that he is worried that as the Alzheimer’s progresses, he may give into the pressure my brother is putting on him. How do I protect my father from my brother’s undue influence?

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Can my future son-in-law claim my daughter’s inheritance if no prenup is signed?

Posted on Wed Oct 21, 2015, on Estate Planning

From our “Ask a Question” mailbag: What if my future son-in-law refuses to sign a prenuptial agreement? Can he claim a share of what I leave my daughter?

If your daughter marries her fiancé without a prenuptial agreement, and commingles with her husband’s assets what she inherits from you, then—in a divorce—she may lose a share or all of her inheritance. Further, if she dies after receiving the inheritance, she may give all of her inheritance to her husband who is free to then leave those assets as he sees fit at his death.

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How do I protect my dad from criminal telemarketers in Atlantic County?

Posted on Tue Oct 20, 2015, on Elder Financial Scams

From our “Ask a Question” mailbag: My father has reached the age where he has become trusting to a fault. He was called by an unscrupulous telemarketer and fleeced out of several thousand dollars. I am worried that his number will now be passed around to other criminals and he will write more checks. How do I protect my dad from criminal telemarketers?

Your suspicions are right—once your dad’s recognized as a potential “mark” among the criminal community, he could become a target for scammers who pretend to be calling him on your behalf, asking for payments toward funeral expenses, emergency medical bills, or sweepstakes prize processing fees. According to the FBI, your father likely shares traits that were common among his generation — raised to be polite and trusting, and often reluctant to hang up the phone even if they suspect a scam.

Klenk Law

Which kind of trust is the best to avoid probate in New Jersey?

Posted on Sun Oct 18, 2015, on Trusts

From our “Ask a Question” mailbag: There seem to be many different types of trusts. Which one is the best to avoid probate?

Trusts are very flexible estate planning tools. They can be used to avoid creditors, shelter assets from divorce, reduce taxes, and to avoid probate. To avoid probate in New Jersey, you could use a Revocable Living Trust or you could use any number of different Irrevocable Trusts.

Klenk Law

Philadelphia Revocable vs. Irrevocable Trusts – What You Need to Know

Posted on Fri Sep 11, 2015, on Trusts

From our “Ask a Question” mailbag: I am worried about having someone sue me in the future and would like to shelter my assets from creditors. I have read about Irrevocable Trusts and Revocable Trusts, do they both help avoid creditors and lawsuits?

A Revocable Living Trust is a wonderful tool with many uses, but it does nothing to help you avoid your creditors. Because a Revocable Living Trust is “Revocable.” That means you can take the assets back into your name at any time. Because you can take the assets back, any future creditor you have or any future lawsuit judgement against you can be enforced against the trust.

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Do I have to move my Gloucester County house into my Revocable Living Trust?

Posted on Wed Sep 9, 2015, on Revocable Trusts and Living Trusts

From our “Ask a Question” mailbag: I had a Revocable Living Trust created several years ago, but I have not put anything into it. I own my Philadelphia home, a few bank accounts and investment accounts. I want everything to pass to my daughter at my death, but she lives in California, so I want the transfer to be easy. Should I move my house from my name into the Revocable Trust?

The goal you have stated in forming your Revocable Living Trust was to make things easier on your daughter who lives in California. Though your intentions are good, without moving the house into the trust you really have done nothing to help her.

The basic idea surrounding a Revocable Living Trust is that during your lifetime you either move your assets into the trust or you set things up so that at your death, they pour into the trust.

Klenk Law

Trust Options to Protect Against Future Creditor Claims

Posted on Wed Sep 2, 2015, on Revocable Trusts and Living Trusts

From our “Ask a Question” mailbag: I have been diagnosed with the early stages of Alzheimer’s and need to create a way to have my son assist me as the disease progresses. Can a Revocable Living Trust help my son assist me with my diminished capacity and against any creditors that may arise in the future?

You are wise to start planning now to address your Alzheimer’s. Most people put off this planning, and that rarely ends well.

Creating a Revocable Living Trust that names both you and your son as co-trustees, each able to act independently, is a good system to help prepare for the future.

Klenk Law

How do I shelter money I will leave my son from my future daughter-in-law in Florida?

Posted on Mon Aug 31, 2015, on Revocable Trusts and Living Trusts

From our “Ask a Question” mailbag: My son refuses to get a prenuptial agreement, how do I shelter the money I will leave him from my future daughter-in-law?

If your son refuses to protect himself, you have other options to protect the money you leave him. Instead of leaving him his inheritance outright, through your will or Revocable Living Trust you can form a protective trust to hold his inheritance.

Klenk Law

Changes to New York Revocable Living Trusts – Trustees

Posted on Thu Jul 16, 2015, on Revocable Trusts and Living Trusts

From our “Ask a Question” mailbag: I formed a Revocable Living Trust to avoid New York probate and named my two sons as the co-successor trustees. It seemed a good idea at the time, but now they are not speaking to one another. Should I change the trust?

Many New Yorkers have formed Revocable Living Trusts to avoid the expensive New York probate process. For the trust to work properly, after your death, you need a successor trustee to step in to pay your final bills, taxes and to then distribute the trust assets to your heirs.

Klenk Law

Revocable Living Trusts in PA to Protect Grandchildren Inheritance

Posted on Wed Jul 15, 2015, on Revocable Trusts and Living Trusts

From our “Ask a Question” mailbag: How do I make sure the inheritance that I leave my daughter passes to my grandchildren at her death?

If you leave your daughter an inheritance outright, then-at her death-it will be available to satisfy any creditors or law suits she might have. It might even end up in her husband’s name, rather than passing to your grandchildren.

Klenk Law

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I saw four lawyers and was told by all of them; I should just forget contesting my mother's will. I knew what happened, but it is very hard to prove undue influence. I contacted the Law Offices of Peter L. Klenk & Associates. Attorney Amanda DiChello took my case. They were very honest and upfront about what would be involved trying to prove what I knew was true. Attorney DiChello may be young but she is extremely knowledgeable and skilled. She listened and understood what I conveyed to her. She knew exactly what information to use and crafted an outstanding interrogatory and many powerful depositions. Attorney DiChello understood the various emotional feelings this case created for my family and me; she was always there for us with a kind and encouraging word. We went to trial. The amount of work which she and her Paralegal did for the trial was incredible. They both knew my case inside and out! Attorney DiChello's powerful interrogative and thinking skills produced a positive outcome. Attorney DiChello did what other seasoned lawyers said was impossible!

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