The conversation is sure to turn to resolutions as we are preparing for a new year in the tristate area of West Virginia (WV), Kentucky (KY), and Ohio (OH). Many of us will make resolutions, but few will keep them. Prioritizing your estate planning goals in the year ahead is actually relatively easy to achieve. When you make estate planning your resolution, you set yourself up for success that extends beyond the satisfaction of keeping a New Year’s resolution.

Parent access to grades is a specific area of concern for parents and guardians of college students, especially when funding all or part of a student’s education. Call it helicopter-parenting or just a vested interest, but many parents and guardians have good reasons for keeping track of a student’s progress, especially during the critical first year of college. However, they may be surprised to learn that access to their student’s grades is not automatic.

Whatever your age, income, or family status, you have probably heard of and considered estate planning. An estate plan ensures that the money you work so hard to earn protects and benefits your loved ones. However, another planning option you may not have considered is charitable estate planning. Charitable estate planning is a rewarding way to benefit a worthwhile charity or organization, while reaping tax benefits for you and your family both now and later. 

Upon your death, you probably hope to distribute the wealth you have accrued over your lifetime in a way that is meaningful to you and your loved ones. Anticipating the tax responsibilities that will be placed on your estate and its beneficiaries—and using effective estate tax planning techniques—can help minimize estate taxes and ensure that you leave behind the legacy you intend.

When adult children, parents, or other loved ones become unable to make important decisions or care for themselves, the decision to pursue legal guardianship for adults can be very difficult. Adult guardianship can be restrictive to the rights of the protected person and places significant responsibilities on the appointed guardian. Understanding guardianship laws in West Virginia (WV) can help you decide if and when to apply for guardianship in WV.