Men May Want To Stay Home And Take Care Of Children, And Give Up Alimony

In today's society, it is not unheard of for a father to be the caretaker of children while the mother earns money. More fathers are staying are staying home now than ever before. Whatever is best for the children should be the main concern for any parent. Here is an article exploring the trend of fathers who would rather stay home and take care of their children than work and pay alimony.

But free thinking and unchained, progressive life choices apply to men too, right? The gander wants to play goose and raise the little ones...and perhaps he wants child support. Gasp!

— Read More At Huffington Post

Will You Be Able To Text Your Will?

In today's tech-savvy times, most people insist on using their cell phones for everything, from ordering food to creating important documents. Can you imagine adding or creating a will via cellphone? This may be a bigger possibility than you think. Read the following article for more information.

According to Steiner, it’s not enough to simply state “this is my will.” Someone could argue that it is just a draft you were working on. However, in Yu’s case, “since all of the texts were written and sent at approximately the same time, this lent credibility to the fact that he intended this to be his final will and testament,” Steiner says. Moreover, if it was just a draft that he intended to refine later, he would not have signed it. Nor would he have killed himself immediately after sending it.

— Read More At Fox Business

What is Alimony?

What is alimony? Alimony is a lump sum or scheduled continuing payment to an ex-spouse, mainly when the ex-spouse makes less than the other spouse. It can occur with divorces where the wife was a stay-at-home mother or the husband provides the caregiver role, and that person depends heavily on the other person's income.
  There are many variables in the determination of alimony, like length of marriage or amount of sacrifice the spouse has made in order to become dependent. If the spouse in question has done something illicit, such as carrying on an affair or participated in other inappropriate behavior, this could terminate any possibility of alimony. It is important when calculating alimony to factor in cost-of-living increase, otherwise you could be stuck with an insufficient amount as the economy changes.
  If you are the dependent spouse in the situation, consider the fact that if you get re-married the alimony will stop. You may also have to deal with the financially independent spouse contesting the alimony, or requesting an adjustment if their monetary position changes due to job loss or relationships (they may get remarried). Keeping in constant contact with your divorce lawyer will only make the likelihood of a positive outcome more feasible.

Divorce Rate Is Higher Among Older Couples

There is a litany of reasons why people put off divorce, many of those reasons are financial in nature. Factors like children, home equity, shared business and other property can keep people from ending a marriage, even when it is painfully obvious to all involved that it is over. This article shows that divorce rates are higher in older couples, but not for the reason you may think.

"The good thing in my field is that we are no longer guessing. It's how do we get people to do the work early and ahead of time so we can take the commitment they made on their marriage day and translate it into a long-term, stable marriage," Sherman said.

— Read More At KSL.com

Choosing A Medical Power Of Attorney

Making decisions for a loved one who no longer has control over their mental facilities can be emotionally draining, but it is an unfortunate necessity. In the same vein, it can be very difficult to choose who you want to have in charge of your financial and medical decisions once you reach the point in life when you need such a person. This article discusses the various things that you need to consider when choosing your medical power of attorney.

Many people assume that there is only one type of power of attorney and that this provides them with the unlimited authority to make decisions, including medical decisions, on behalf of their loved ones. Unfortunately, this is not accurate. A power of attorney is a legal document in which one person authorizes another person (attorney-in-fact) the authority to make decisions or to act on his or her behalf. A durable power of attorney is the most appropriate type used for making medical decisions. This means the power of attorney is effective even if you are incapacitated.

— Read More At Kentucky.com

Five Easy Steps To Create An Estate Plan

If you haven't set up an estate plan yet, what is your reason? Is the thought of setting up your loved ones for the future, the future after your death, too daunting? Take it one step at a time, and don't rush into this enormous life decision. Read the article below for five steps of creating an estate plan.

"The time to devise an estate plan is now, if you haven't already," says John Padberg, vice president of life event services and estate planning for Wells Fargo Advisors. Many people equate estate plans with wills, he says, but a well-thought-out structure involves much more. There are many tools, such as living trusts and financial and health care powers of attorney, that can help trusted professionals and family members manage your affairs if you cannot.

— Read More At Iberkshires.com

Common Estate Planning Mistakes

Estate planning is something that people usually put off until they are older, which is a mistake. If you don't know a lot about estate planning, consult with your local probate lawyer for guidance. Here is an article to read before you go any further with your estate planning.

Sometimes called an advanced medical directive or a durable power of attorney for health care, this document allows you to designate a health care agent to make medical decisions for you if, for any reason, you are unable to make them for yourself. It can also be used to designate someone to serve as your guardian or conservator in the event a court determines that you have become mentally incapacitated.

— Read More At Credit.com