I love folk music. I love it for its musical simplicity and the great storytelling. One fabled musical storyteller with ties to Alaska was John Denver. Maybe you had the pleasure of seeing him in concert or on one of the many TV shows or movies he was a part of for...
Does estate planning make your uncomfortable? Or are you one of one of millions of Americans who are putting it off? Did you know experts predict that over $68 trillion in wealth will be transferred over the next 25 years? It’s the estate planners and...
Charitable giving is one of the many aspects of your estate plan. You don’t have to be wealthy to leave a positive impact on your community. In fact, there are several ways to include charitable giving in your estate plan, regardless of your financial situation....
Law Office of Constance A. Aschenbrenner In response to the Corona Virus, my office is offering Free Virtual Estate Planning Webinars “The 7 Threats to Your Estate Plan” REGISTER HERE ONLINE There is no cost or obligation. Open to the public. This Workshop covers...
Special Needs charities often depend heavily on charitable contributions. A donation to such an organization can help sustain programs and services for so many. If you are over 70 ½ years old, you can donate some or all over your IRA to a special needs charity or the...
A couple of weeks ago, I ventured into the local pet big box store to buy some of my dog’s favorite treats. It was a busy Saturday, and on Saturdays all across the country, this pet store chain holds adoption events. I love adoption day at the pet store; so many new...
Law Office of Constance A. Aschenbrenner In response to the Corona Virus, my office is offering Free Virtual Estate Planning Webinars “The 7 Threats to Your Estate Plan” There is no cost or obligation. Open to the public. This Workshop covers frequently asked...
I was reading a bit of history the other day and came across the record of James Cook, who is credited with the founding of Anchorage. My, what achievements he accomplished in his short fifty year lifespan – and what devastating losses! A Wonderful Student Cook was...
I recently returned from a trip to the Lower forty-eight. Those of us who live in the Air Crossroads of the World, know that to get anywhere quickly outside our own glorious Alaska, you must fly. As I sat in the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport awaiting my...
No doubt, the year 2020 will be defined by one word – Coronavirus. As I write this, the world is still in the process of reducing the impact of this aggressive threat. Many of us holed up at home for days or weeks on end. We haven’t yet gotten to the place of...
WRONG! Let me preface this post by saying that’s my personal opinion, and you are welcome to have a different point of view. After all, you say, I don’t have any relatives; I don’t care what happens to my stuff. I can tell you with confidence that the State of Alaska...
These are uncertain times. As I write this, the country is coming to grips with the impact of a worldwide illness that is methodically marching through country after country – the Coronavirus. Cancellations Large gatherings are cancelled. Businesses are encouraging...
Care for dementia patients is improving quickly. That’s good news for families and loved ones of those suffering from Alzheimer’s and similar diseases. But if you are caring for someone with declining mental abilities today, there are some steps you can...
A great elder law attorney is like a trip planner, for your life. Think of it this way. Would you leave for a cross country road trip without preparing for it first? Of course not, you say, particularly in a setting as challenging as Anchorage, Alaska. And yet, people...
Sometimes a professional administrator is an excellent choice for your child’s Special Needs Trust. A professional administrator is usually experienced in the processes of the court. This can be beneficial when managing a trust. In addition to paying bills,...
Serving as a caregiver can be a challenge, when your loved one is far away. But with a little planning, you’ll be able to ensure he’s getting the care he needs, even if you aren’t there with him. A Caregiver Needs Access to Health Information Knowledge is key here....
Did you know you need to update your estate plan on a regular basis? Your estate plan is a snapshot of your life the way it was at the time it was created. However, over time, your family structure, your assets, and the tax laws change, so you should set a schedule to...
Discovering long-lost siblings has almost become a common occurrence. New DNA technology and the popularity of family tree search tools has made it easier than ever to dig into your ancestry. But what happens when you uncover a new sibling? Including them at Christmas...
Creating a plan for your pet may sound silly to some. But for many of us, especially seniors, our pets are our family members. Do you have a plan for your pet if you were incapacitated, either temporarily or permanently? What if you needed to go into residential care...
Anchorage students go back to school Thursday, August 15. They will return to classes carrying book bags filled with new supplies. Unfortunately, those pens and notebooks won’t last long. So at our office we purchase extra school supplies this time of year, and...
Funeral planning may sound morbid, but it can be your final gift to your family. You’ll have the opportunity to ensure the service is a reflection of your life with the music you’d like played or the readings you want included. It can save your family from having to...
A Power of Attorney is an important piece of your estate plan. Most people don’t want to give up control of their financial affairs or have others make medical decisions for them. But if you become mentally incompetent or physically incapacitated and can’t manage your...
Talking about your estate plan might make you uncomfortable, but it shouldn’t. Dying is just another life stage. It’s the most natural thing in the world. But there is something that keeps us from acknowledging our own mortality. Unfortunately that...
If you are appointed a guardian or conservator of an individual, it is vital that you understand Alaska law regarding conservator exploitation. It is so unfortunate, but from time to time the court has to deal with situations where vulnerable citizens have been taken...
Leaving your home to your child involves a number of different steps and considerations. You will have to determine the value of your estate and whether it will be taxed. You will also need to consider possible loss of control of the property, depending on how it is...
Estate planning is especially important for single parents with children. While every parent wants to provide for their children, it’s even more important for single parents, who have no other adult to step in, should the family suffer a crisis. For example, many...
Identity theft is one of the biggest threats to seniors. As we age, sometimes we need help protecting the estate we’ve worked so hard to build. In the same way that we eat right and exercise to protect our bodies, or build a healthy social life, we must also...
Estate Planning is really just a short phrase for a detailed process. Often times people put off estate planning because the decisions can be difficult. Decisions like “Who will be my beneficiary?” or “How will I divide my assets among my...
Beneficiary deeds, also called a “transfer-on-death” deed, are a good way to avoid the cumbersome and expensive process of probate. Real estate is one of the assets that triggers a probate proceeding. The Beneficiary Deed can streamline what could otherwise be a slow...
During the month of February we think about love letters and romantic gift giving. But truly, what could be better proof of a commitment than an estate plan that protects your loved one for years to come? Flowers are beautiful, but why not give something with a little...
Raising a child with special needs is challenging. Sadly, the stress of the situation contributes to the high rate of divorce among couples who are raising children with special needs. In fact, it is estimated that the rate of divorce in these households are between...
Alaska Will and Trust Lawyer Answers: “Our Property is Titled in Joint Tenancy. I Don’t Need a Will, Right?” The answer to this question and so many other estate planning questions is, “Yes, but….”. It is true that if you own an asset jointly with rights of...
by Anchorage Estate Planning Attorney Connie Aschenbrenner As an Anchorage estate planning attorney, I know Millennials have a lot going on; they are starting their careers, buying their first homes, and starting their families. With so many “beginnings,” it’s hard to...
By Connie Aschenbrenner, Anchorage elder lawyer Based on what I am seeing as an Anchorage elder lawyer, more and more people are considering pre-planning and pre-paying for their own funeral. For years, I have recommended that my clients include their wishes for their...
By Connie Aschenbrenner, Anchorage wills lawyer Many of you know that I worked in a gas station in high school. I know how to tune up a car, change the oil, and change a tire. I have also, although only once, put a new muffler on a car. Some of you may also know,...
Serious health diagnoses can impact your life in huge ways and may bring concerns you haven’t thought of up to the forefront. One of those concerns, which is often pushed off when everything is going well, is estate planning and/or elder law planning. Planning can...
As an Anchorage estate planning attorney, I have seen many unfortunate circumstances where a person goes through the time and expense of having an estate plan created only to fail to update their beneficiaries on their financial or retirement accounts before they pass...
Anchorage Elder Law Attorney: 5 Ways to Protect Older Loved Ones from Financial Abuse It’s no secret that the elderly are a favorite target of scam artists. Criminals will troll the internet and phone lists looking for seniors that are easy to prey upon due to an...
In a rare instance of bipartisan cooperation, Congress recently passed a law that will expand chronic care benefits to individuals enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans who have chronic illnesses. The Creating High-Quality Results and Outcomes Necessary to Improve...
Ask an Alaska Estate Planning Lawyer: “I Just Discovered a Long-Lost Sister. Can She Inherit Dad’s Estate?” This may sound like a situation from a movie, but it happens more than you can imagine: a long-lost child appears after the death of their parent. This is an...
A Power of Attorney is a document which names an agent to handle your financial affairs if you are incapacitated or otherwise unable to, while also explaining any limitations you wish to place on your agent while they act in your stead. There are many Power of...
If you are reading our blog, you probably already decided that you want to create a living trust with an Anchorage will and trust lawyer to avoid probate and put a quick end to the estate administration process. You might also have decided that you want your estate...
Legal competency concerns can lead to issues for senior citizens, during both life and death. This is especially true for financial affairs and disputed inheritances. An Anchorage Elder law attorney must be able to determine a senior’s legal competency in both...
Anchorage elder law attorneys have some good news for vulnerable seniors in Alaska and across the country. As part of a larger bipartisan bill on banking reform, the Senior Safe Act became law in the month of May. This legislation is an attempt to stop acts of...
A lot of parents come into our Anchorage estate planning law firm with mixed feelings about passing on the balance of their retirement accounts to their children when they die someday. On one hand they are proud of the money they have saved over their lifetime in an...
Help! I Inherited a Timeshare. Now What?! I know many people who love timeshares. That is, the option to be a part owner of a property which is used for getaways and vacations. Even though a deeded timeshare is an interest in real property, it is usually more of a...
People often struggle with deciding who will serve as guardian for their minor children if they pass away. As an Anchorage trust lawyer, I’ve walked hundreds of Anchorage families through this process. Sometimes, the family situation requires naming not just one...
The majority of people we see in our Anchorage estate planning law firm name their adult children as beneficiaries of their estate plan. In most cases, this works well because children typically outlive their parents. But, what happens when a child dies before the...
An executor is chosen by a testator to carry out the intentions of the will after the testator has died. It’s fairly easy to replace an executor when the testator is still alive – all the testator has to do is simply name a new executor. However, this becomes far more...
As an Anchorage will lawyer, I advise that it’s always best for a person to write down one’s intentions for their property when they die. However, many people still die intestate (without a will), and their intentions aren’t known. Often, however, these people’s heirs...
