Ask the Experts

For many baby boomers, their golden years are turning out to be very different from what they had imagined while planning earlier in their lives. The downturn of the economy and perhaps a large hit to their retirement, social security uncertainty, later retirement age, and many other issues have impacted the baby boomer generation. Bryan and Brian discuss what options are available to you at this stage of life. This is highly informative and valuable information from one of the highest rated attorneys in Las Vegas.

It is now widely known that the musician and businessman Prince died without having done any estate planning, leaving an estate valued at an estimated $300 million to be dealt with in Probate. Bryan and Brian discuss the process of how this will all be sorted out, who are the beneficiaries, who will administer the estate and other very interesting aspects of this high profile case. You won't want to miss this one, and hopefully it will inspire you to not follow in Prince's footsteps and create or review your own estate plan.

Bryan and Brian discuss senior living options. Whether it be downsizing, selling and moving to a senior community or assisted living facility, or finding a place to care for any medical needs you may have, it is very important to know your options and the best way of planning for this transition. It is also important to consider the effect that these changes will have on the estate planning you have done. This was a great discussion on very important issues that are important for anyone approaching these decisions to consider.

Bryan and Brian continued their discussion of problems that may arise from faulty or underfunded trusts and what the fixes may be. As always, if you would like your trust reviewed to make sure it still suits your wishes and your family's needs, our attorneys will review it at no charge.

Bryan and Brian discuss trust amendments in this week's appearance on "Ask the Experts." Often people think that because they created an estate plan, that they can just put that away and not think about it again because that planning is done. While it should be good for a while and offer them the benefits they seek, if a trust is not funded properly, or a family's situation changes, or if you created the trust yourself and it was not drafted properly to meet your goals, then it is certainly something you will want to review with an attorney every few years. Bryan talks about that need, some of the problems that you may encounter, and shares some cautionary tales about what may happen if there is a problem with your trust. As always, Bryan A Lowe & Associates offers trust review consultations at no charge.

Bryan and Brian discuss the differences between Partnerships, LLCs, C-Corps and S-Corps, and how they can help you in your asset protection strategies.

We are well aware of the stereotype and reputation of lawyers in our society. Lawyer jokes are some of our favorites. Furthermore, in this information age, people have greater access to forms and opinions that lead them to believe that do-it-yourself estate planning is a better option than hiring an attorney. But there is a reason that attorneys still exist and people pay money to have them prepare these important documents. Bryan and Brian discuss why legal counsel is so crucial in estate planning and how it can end up saving you much more money than do-it-yourself planning.

Many Americans view their pets as full-fledged members of their family. However, the law defines pets as property. In estate planning, property cannot be left to property. Thus you cannot leave an inheritance to your pet in a will. Bryan and Brian talk about what planning you can do now so that your pet is taken care of in the way you wish for the remainder of their lives. If you own and love a pet, it is important to know this information along with what may happen if you fail to plan.

When you lose a loved one, having to go through a laborious legal process for the estate of the decedent is not something most want to think about. Attorney Bryan Lowe takes you through the steps of the process so you can be better prepared to face this challenge if and when it arises.

Brian and Bob discuss some of the misconceptions about credit scores and debt. Also, they discuss what you need to know to exercise your rights against some of the predatory practices of many in the debt collection industry. If you are struggling with debt and have collections harassing you, this is an episode you need to hear.

Bryan and Brian discuss the unique considerations that need to be taken into account when a business owner does his or her estate planning. From business succession to tax liability and many other factors, this is a very informative and valuable podcast for all business owners when considering the future and their legacy.

Bob and Brian discuss how bankruptcy can provide relief for those buried in insurmountable debt. He also discusses the bankruptcy process and what those who feel they could benefit from a Chapter 7 or 13 bankruptcy can expect.

Bryan and Brian discuss life insurance. Bryan, who owned an insurance company in Las Vegas in the 1970s and has been practicing law as an estate planning attorney for the last 34 years is uniquely qualified to explain life insurance and its uses in estate planning, asset protection, special needs planning, etc.

Bryan and Brian discuss guardianship proceedings and what changes have been made in Clark County in the last year. Due to alleged improprieties with the guardianship commissioner and appointed guardians, that position has been removed and judges now handle all the cases. This has been a painstaking transition. It is important to know and understand under what circumstances guardianship is necessary and also what you can do to avoid having to face those circumstances in the future, if possible.

Bryan and Brian discuss charitable remainder trusts and irrevocable life insurance trusts. Both of these vehicles are ways to provide for yourself in your lifetime while also providing and inheritance for your loved ones and a sum of money for a cause that is important to you.

Bryan and Brian discuss how to most effectively protect your assets from potential creditors or law suits that may arise.

Bryan and Brian continue their discussion about special needs planning and how to most effectively provide for your loved one with special needs after you are gone.

Bryan and Brian talk about the basics of planning for loved ones who have special needs. Because of the law and the nature of the person's needs, this can be very important planning to ensure they receive the care they need without causing an estate problem.

Nobody wants to think about a loved one passing away or the legal implications of that. However, this is a reality of life and knowing what the probate process entails is good knowledge to have for when you face this situation. Bryan and Brian discuss the process step-by-step so you can know what to do and expect.

Bryan and Brian discuss how gifting can help save you money on estate taxes. This planning can be very effective, but can also be quite involved. Thus it is highly advisable to seek legal counsel when using this strategy. Listen to this episode to see if it could be a good strategy for you and your estate.

Bob Winn and Brian Black discuss how bankruptcy laws attempt to provide protection for debtors, and also for creditors. They also discuss the differences between Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy. Very informative.

Brian and Bryan review powers of attorney, living wills, advance directives, etc. and explain their importance.

Brian and Bryan discuss the probate case of Earl Field after a codicil to his will was found that changes all his previous wishes. There are many legal issues to consider in this case, and Bryan discusses what those issues are and what you can do to avoid similar potential problems.

Bryan and Brian talk about the importance of estate planning and what it can mean if you fail to plan and your estate is subject to the courts. There were also several callers with specific estate planning questions that Bryan was able to answer.

Bryan and Brian help define and clarify durable powers of attorney. This is a crucial part of any estate plan.

Bryan and Brian start at the very basics and get in depth in discussing powers of attorney and problems that can be avoided and other benefits by having durable powers of attorney in place.

In 2005, the nation was tuned in every night to news of the legal battle between Terri Schiavo's husband and her family. Mrs. Schiavo had been kept alive by life sustaining machines, but doctors said she would never live any kind of normal life again. Her husband wanted to let her pass by disconnecting her from the machines, but her family did not. It led to a massive and very public legal battle which could have all been avoided with proper planning. Bryan and Brian discuss what that planning entails as well as another case with similar issues.

Bryan and Brian discussed strategies to be able to receive the long-term care you need, while preserving a portion of your estate through Medicaid spend down. Of course, the best course of action to be able to preserve your entire estate is planning before the need for long-term care arises. They also discussed the ABLE Act that was recently passed by Congress to help save money for this kind of care, similar in some ways to a 529 plan.

Bryan and new host Brian Black discuss long-term care planning strategies and how to avoid guardianship.

Bryan and John discuss what effective planning strategies exist for various phases of life. In whatever situation you find yourself, there is effective planning that you can do to ensure that your interests are protected no matter what the future may bring.

Bryan and John discuss common mistakes that people make when planning their estate without the professional counsel of an attorney. Beware of joint tenancy!

Bryan Lowe and John Shaffer discuss the basics of trusts and their common uses in estate planning.