Estate Planning

Sykes Elder Law has a wealth of knowledge and experience dealing with Estate Planning as well as other Elder Law Services. We would be more than happy to discuss your situation and answer your questions; click here to contact us.

If you would like more information about Estate Planning, please review the information in the blog posts below.

The #1 Problem in Powers of Attorney

The #1 Problem in Powers of Attorney

In the many powers of attorney I see in my line of work, one problem recurs over and over again. And it’s costing families tens of thousands, and even hundreds of thousands, of dollars in asset protection. The number one problem is inadequate gifting provisions. If...
What is Power of Attorney (and Why Have One)?

What is Power of Attorney (and Why Have One)?

If you need some clarity on what exactly a “durable power of attorney” is, and why it’s important to have one, watch the short video below. Here I give you my thoughts on what can happen if you don’t have power of attorney, and why it makes...
Who has capacity to make a will?

Who has capacity to make a will?

Fundamental to the validity of any last will and testament is that the testator (person whose will it is, and who is signing the documents) had capacity at the time of execution. By statute, a testator in Pennsylvania must be “of sound mind” to make a will. (20 Pa....
Take your IRA distributions from any account

Take your IRA distributions from any account

If you own individual retirement accounts (IRAs), and you’re past the magic age of 70½, you may already be thinking about taking your required minimum distribution for 2017. Which account do you take it from, if you have more than one? By law, you can take your...
Who should have power of attorney for you?

Who should have power of attorney for you?

If you can’t manage your financial affairs, you will need someone to step in and manage them for you. Who should that be? One of the advantages of working with an experienced attorney when doing your estate planning is having the benefit of your attorney’s advice and...
Asset protection trust: when is the right time?

Asset protection trust: when is the right time?

Readers of our blog know of the power of an asset protection trust in protecting the elderly’s assets from nursing home spend-down, scams, undue influence, creditors, and various other hazards people encounter in their senior years. This post addresses the question of...