This is an unprecedented situation for those with parenting time and custody orders. Stay at home orders, e-learning and temporary business closures are affecting many parents and children. Here are some tips for co-parenting: Consistency is key! Try to keep your regular parenting time schedule, including summer schedule. If possible, utilize the other parent for...
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Coronavirus & estate planning: Do not bury your head in the sand
The phrase “do not bury your head in the sand” refers to an ostrich hiding its head in the ground when a predator approaches mistakenly believing such “hiding” will keep the ostrich safe. Think about a child who believes you actually disappear when she covers her face while playing peakaboo. As adults, we know our...
Read MoreHow will Indiana's shelter-in-place order impact families?
In response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), Indiana Governor Eric J. Holcomb declared a statewide public health emergency on March 6, 2020. On March 23, Governor Holcomb issued a "shelter-in-place" order (Executive Order 20-08) urging Indiana residents to stay home unless travel is essential. For most people, this simply means to stay home unless traveling to work,...
Read MoreWhat are estate planning tips for new parents?
No one likes to think about it, but tragedy can strike a young family. That’s why life insurance is important. If one parent dies, life insurance funds provide for the ongoing care of the surviving children. If both parents die, the money provides for their children through young adulthood. In most cases, term life insurance...
Read MoreHow will the SECURE Act impact my estate plan?
The Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act of 2019 became law on December 20, 2019. It's designed to prevent older Americans from outliving their assets. The new law will have an impact on estate plans involving IRA accounts, however. An estate planning strategy called a "stretch IRA" allows IRA account holders to...
Read MoreWhat you should know about rent-to-own agreements when purchasing a home
Not everyone can afford to buy a house, either due to limited income or a poor credit rating. Indiana residents dealing with financial constraints may have other options, however. A process dubbed rent-to-own may be the best option, according to The Street, a personal finance publication. Rent-to-own agreements only apply to tenants who have already rented...
Read MoreEstate planning means determining what happens with assets, property, loved ones when you die
When it comes to estate planning, determining how to manage your health care in the latter years of your life, and your money and property after death, the keyword is planning. The goal is to refine an estate plan into details that protect your assets in retirement and benefit loved ones when you’re gone, according...
Read MoreEstablishing a living trust in Indiana skips probate court, gets assets to loved ones
Think of a living trust as a short cut for loved ones when you’re gone. Establishing a living trust in Indiana is a way to let heirs avoid the deliberations of probate court and claim assets left to them by the deceased, according to finance.yahoo.com. In contrast, the absence of a living trust when someone dies...
Read MoreWhen a special needs trust for your child is in jeopardy
Estate planning can be difficult in the best of situations. If you have a special needs trust for a child, this planning can get to be even more complex. Unfortunately, many people fail to plan properly – and they pay the price. A recent article in Kiplinger details how a special needs trust for a...
Read MoreThe best ideas to avoid financial troubles when getting a divorce
There are several legal complications associated with getting divorced and those involving personal finances can cause a great deal of stress between divorcing spouses. By planning ahead, however, you can avoid losing certain assets, including your retirement. USA Today offers several ways you can safeguard your assets in the event of a divorce. Post-divorce budget Knowing...
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