Revocable Living Trust Denver

A lot of people wonder exactly what a Revocable Living Trust is.   It is, simply, an agreement regarding how a person’s property and assets are to be managed both in their lifetime and after their death.   It generally involves a settlor, a trustee and a beneficiary. The settlor is the person whose property the trust is handling, as a rule.  The trustee is the person who holds and manages the trust, and often times is the settlor during their lifetime, and whoever the settlor appoints to do so after their death. The beneficiary is the person who receives the principal or income from said trust. It also can be the settlor during their lifetime, and whomever the settler names after their death.

As it says in the name, a Revocable Living Trust can be changed or revoked at the wish of the settlor at any time up to their death, for whatever reason they see fit. Marriage, divorce, children, or simply changing one’s mind, your Revocable Living Trust can adapt to fit your wishes.  At Meurer Law Offices in Denver, experienced estate lawyers can help you set up your revocable living trust, and guide you through any changes you may want to enact on it. 

Living Trust Attorney Denver

Living trusts have been used successfully for many years as a way of protecting assets, and ensuring that those assets are managed in accordance with your wishes after you’re gone.

Living trusts are sometimes confused with living wills. But whereas wills don’t go into effect until you die, a trust can be made effective while you’re alive, and does not end when you die. A living trust can continue longer and allow your assets to provide support for a beneficiary with special needs and protect the assets from creditors, ex-spouses and future death taxes. 

Upon your death, assets can remain in your trust and be managed by the trustee appointed by you as successor. Your assets do not have to pass through probate because they are no longer in your name as an individual, but instead are in the name of the trust. The trustee can then transfer your assets directly to your beneficiaries without the need for court costs or attorney's fees.

If you are thinking of find an attorney to help you create a living trust for you or your family, Meurer Law Offices can provide you with the services you’re looking for in Denver. Call us today to discuss your estate planning needs.

Write a Will Denver

If you’re concerned about what happens to your family and your assets after you’re gone, having a will is especially important.

Knowing that you took the time to assign a guardian for their future can relieve potential stress for your family. Your children will know that you cared enough to ensure that they were placed with a guardian you’ve selected, someone you trust.

Without a will, there’s a risk that a court will determine what happens to your family. There’s even a risk that your children could end up with strangers in foster homes.

Without a will, your family may not receive the full benefits of the legacy of assets you worked so to create for them. Without a written will, it will be left to the courts to determine how your assets will be divided, and your family might receive only a portion of your estate. Someone else may receive assets that you did intend for them to have.

It’s your legacy, so you would do well to engage a firm to assist you in estate planning. At Meurer Law Offices in Denver, we are specialists in all aspects of estate planning. We’ll draft a will that can ensure that your family and your assets are taken care of in the manner you prefer. Call us today at 303.991.3544. 

VA Aid and Attendance Benefit Attorney Denver

As a veteran, you may qualify for the Veterans Aid and Attendance Benefit which provides benefits for veterans and surviving spouses who require the regular attendance of another person to assist in taking care of all of the basic needs of living. If you need help with daily tasks like bathing, getting around, dressing yourself, Veterans Aid and Attendance benefits can help to pay for that care.  

But the process of documenting those needs and getting the approval of the Veterans Administration can be complex, intimidating, and extremely frustrating. Having a competent attorney working with you with a knowledge and understanding of veteran’s aid law can make it much easier.

In the Denver area, Meurer Law Offices can provide an attorney who can help you through the Veterans Aid and Attendance maze. Your attorney will help you determine the documentation needed, and assist with completing and submitting all of the right forms to get you the assistance and benefits you deserve. Call us today for an appointment.

Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust Denver

Ownership of life insurance is an important consideration in estate planning. If the policy is owned by you, the insured, then any proceeds might ultimately be subject to estate tax.

Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts are estate planning tools that minimize estate taxes. The trust becomes the owner of the insurance policy and is therefore not subject to the insured's estate taxes. When structured and managed properly, the policy’s proceeds can be used to pay any necessary taxes.

If you, as the insured, die within three years of the date the policy was transferred, the policy proceeds will be considered part of your estate for tax purposes. That’s why, especially when there is a surviving spouse, an irrevocable life insurance trust usually contains a “fail-safe” clause that provides that the proceeds of such policies will be held separately under the trust and administered for the spouse in a way that will qualify for the estate tax deduction, making the policy’s proceeds tax free.

To learn more about irrevocable life insurance trusts and estate planning, contact us at Meurer Law Offices in Denver. We’re estate planning specialists who can assist you with all of your estate planning needs.

Estate Planning Service Denver

A major component of estate planning is protecting your assets. After you’re gone, having a plan in place is an important part of being responsible to your heirs. Estate planning can help to prevent misunderstandings or disagreements between your loved ones and protect your assets for their future. While many people assume that they can do it themselves, experts say that this area of law is best left to legal professionals to ensure that your wishes are carried out exactly as you've specified.

A good estate plan can include a living will, a living trust, or even a trustworthy family member being given power of attorney. All states have different probate and estate laws, so even if you have a will that was created in one state, it would be good idea for you to seek out local estate planning services to update your plan and to make sure it is compliant with Colorado laws.

A reputable estate planning attorney can advise you on how best to plan for the inevitable. In Denver, the Meurer Law Offices can provide the kind of estate planning service you need.

Guardianship Attorney Denver

A guardianship attorney can assist with all types of guardianships to care for loved ones who are not competent to care for themselves and who are unable to make their own decisions on a temporary or permanent basis.

Grandparents, relatives, friends, and stepparents can obtain legal guardianship over children whose parents are absent, deceased, or unable to care for them for some reason. Guardianship can also be obtained over siblings or elderly parents who have Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia, mental illness, or physical incapacity. 

An emergency guardianship can allow parents to appoint another person as guardian of their child for up to 60 days without court approval, which are often useful when they anticipate being unable to care for their child due to illness, travel, or any other reason.

A standby guardianship allows parents to select a guardian of a minor child and obtain court approval in advance of a future event, such as the death or incapacity of the parents, and won’t limit parental rights to custody or care for their child.

No matter what type of guardianship issues you face, Meurer Law Offices in Denver will work with you to achieve the best solution. Call us today for a consultation.