Revocable Living Trusts
Revocable Living Trusts by Christopher L. Kelly, Esq. So far in our series on basic estate planning documents, we’ve covered the Last Will and Testament, powers of attorney, and medical advance directives. In this final installment, we’re talking about revocable living trusts, or as they are more commonly called, living trusts (LT). A living trust […]
How to Ease the Burden of End-of-Life Care Decisions
How to Ease the Burden of End-of-Life Care Decisions by Christopher L. Kelly, Esq. In this third installment of our series on basic estate planning, we will examine medical advance directives (see the first two articles here and here). Advance directives are documents used to inform family and medical personnel of a person’s final wishes […]
Powers of Attorney
Powers of Attorney by Christopher L. Kelly, Esq. In the last article, I provided basic information about the Last Will and Testament and its place in the estate planning process. In this next installment of our series on estate planning basics, I will discuss Powers of Attorney (POA). As part of a comprehensive estate plan, […]
3 Reasons Estate Stewardship is Beneficial for the Local Church
3 Reasons Estate Stewardship is Beneficial for the Local Church By Rev. Bill Gruenewald As leaders, we all want to build long-term financial stability in our churches. While regular tithes and offerings help ministry happen today, what about tomorrow? If church membership and giving decline, it could prove harmful or even fatal for a lot […]
What is a Last Will and Testament?
What is a Last Will and Testament? by Christopher L. Kelly, Esq. In the estate planning realm, we often use many different phrases and reference many different types of documents with clients, but do not spend time explaining what they are. For starters, the phrase “estate planning” often goes undefined in our discussions. For our […]
Bless the Next Generation
Bless the Next Generation by Christopher L. Kelly, Esq. One of the resources the Foundation offers Tennessee Baptists is “6 Reasons Estate Planning Conversations Should Start in the Church.” It deals with the important topic of what church members should bet considering as they plan for what they want to leave behind after they are […]
We are Called to be Good Stewards
We are called to be good stewards by Christopher L. Kelly, Esq. Throughout scripture, followers of Christ are called to be good stewards. Merriam-Webster defines stewardship as the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one’s care. In essence, being a steward is being a manager, and we have included this principle in our […]
Don’t Forget About the Beneficiary Designations
Don’t forget about the beneficiary designations by Christopher L. Kelly, Esq. Designating a beneficiary to receive an account or insurance policy is one of the easiest ways to transfer assets after your death. IRAs, employer-sponsored retirement plans, annuities, and life insurance policies are the typical types of assets that allow you make such a designation. […]
Estate Planning for the Blended Family
Estate planning for the blended family By Christopher L. Kelly, Esq. More and more families in the US today are blended, meaning that one or both partners have at least one child from a previous marriage or relationship. In fact, sociologists estimate around 2,100 blended families are formed in the United States each day. While […]
Missed Opportunities
Missed opportunities by Christopher L. Kelly, Esq. Have you ever been cleaning out a drawer and found a valuable coupon that just expired, only to realize you had just purchased something at that store a week prior? I have, and I am sure this has happened to many of you at one time or another. […]
