Todd Courser and Associates

When adult children are no longer dependent on their parents for support, those in their thirties and beyond, there can be an advantage to bringing them fully into  their parents’ Estate Planning.  The parents no longer have to be concerned about the welfare of their children because these children are already caring for their own basic needs and oftentimes their own children.

Parent want what’s best for their children.  What better way to know what’s best for them than by asking them?  Sharing information with your children will allow them to realistically plan their lives without wasting time on guessing.  Withholding information leads to suspicious thinking and misunderstandings.

Being kept in the dark can also lead to problems with the children planning their own Estate Plans.  Without knowledge of inheritances, they may not correctly provide for them in their Estate Plans.  What may be worse, is the children may postpone doing their Estate Plans, waiting to find out, maybe too late, what their inheritance will be.

With older adult children there is not the same chance as with younger adults, of not being productive members of society because of the inheritances.  Their values are usually established.

The decision is yours, whether you include your children or not, however, Estate Planning does not need to be the secretive document that it once was.  Sometimes not being secretive can lead to a more relaxing and prepared life for all.

Need help with your Estate Plan?  We can help.

Todd Courser 810-245-0813

Many people first formulate an Estate Plan when their children are young.  It is usually pretty straight forward and geared toward protecting their vulnerable children.  Young children are rarely included in the planning, however, it is a good time to start establishing your family values about money and wealth with them.  An appropriate time to start is when the children begin to recognize that money is used to obtain things.

When children are teenagers, they can understand some aspects of Estate Planning.  However, this conversation with them can be tricky.  Teenagers, who are dependent on their parents, will not want to think about their parents dying.  Another problem you may run into is that they develop an unhealthy sense of entitlement about their inheritance.  Sometimes parents begin “gifting” money to their children to avoid future taxes.  This may confuse children, who are just learning that they need to work for their money.  Much thought must be given to this talk about your family’s values, to avoid a child becoming too focused on possessions and image.  Teenagers personal growth and commitment to their community should be what’s in their minds.

Probably one of the most difficult children to include in your Estate Planning are young adults.  These children know about money, but many, in recent years, have chosen to postpone their responsibilities which come with adulthood.  Parents worry about whether these children will be responsible with money.  Will they continue along their personal paths to reach their goals or will they flounder and never truly establish their identity and themselves as adults?  Parents need to educate their children about the responsibilities and opportunities of the wealth that their inheritance will bring.  Surprising a children with wealth, without preparing them, can be disastrous.

Including younger children in your Estate Planning may not be prudent.  However, during these formative years, it is your duty to instill in them your family’s values about money and wealth.  By doing this, you are well on your way to preparing your children, when they mature, to carry out your wishes as you see fit.

We can help you with your Estate Plan.

Todd Courser 810-245-0813

Previously Estate Planning was done by you and a team of tax, legal and estate planning specialists.  Now, more and more people are finding it beneficial to include the beneficiaries in their planning.  Done properly, with the help of professionals, the relationships between your beneficiaries will hopefully be strengthened instead of torn apart later by misunderstandings.

By having an Estate Planning discussion with your beneficiaries:

1. You won’t have to plan and guess about how family members will react later.

2. Family members can be included, instead of shut out.

3. Mistakes and misunderstandings can be avoided.

4. Beneficiaries can share their perspectives and concerns.

5. A discussion can take place about the values and needs of the family.

6. Everyone can contribute different options.

Once you get better clarity about how your plan will affect your beneficiaries, you can move forward more confidently and finish up your plan with your professional team of advisers.

I understand that having a discussion with family members is not appropriate for all families, but if it is, we can help.

Todd Courser 810-245-0813

Do you need to create, update or amend your living trust, guardianship or will?  We can help.  Whether you have a will or a living trust, we will help you get everything in order to help your executor carry through with your wishes.

When it comes to your life, a good plan is not optional.  Live your life with the comfort and satisfaction that you control your assets, even what happens to them after death.  Elder law involves planning for the future and gives you the power to direct your life as you wish.  Disability, Alzheimer’s or a catastrophic injury and illness often robs people of the ability to control life in those states.  Control who will be your legal voice and create a plan so that your children and the state will do as you wish!

We can help you.  Call today!

Todd Courser 810-245-0813

Someone else has already planned what to do with your assets!  The IRS has set up a taxing structure to take money out of your estate.  This is commonly called the “Death Tax.”  Also, Michigan has already planned, through probate laws, how to disperse your estate if you fail to leave a will.  Don’t let the IRS and State determine what happens to your investments.  Let us help you maintain control over your estate?  You can establish now whether your family, friends or cherished organizations will be the beneficiaries of your estate.

Call us, we can help.

Todd Courser 810-245-0813

Making sure that your assets are managed in the way that you intend after your death can be difficult when only a will is in place.  By using a trust, you can arrange for the management of your assets after death or during incapacity.  It also alleviates the burden of your loved ones dealing with complex administrative, legal, and investment issues during already difficult times.  A trust has several other advantages, including avoiding the delays and expense of probate, maintaining privacy, saving estate taxes, and ensuring that your assets continue to be managed properly.

We can help you with your trust.

Todd Courser 810-245-0813

Everyone needs a will.  That is simply conventional wisdom.  Yet, does a will adequately provide for all of the details for the end of life?  The short answer is “NO.”  It may take more than a single, simple document to make sure that your wishes and desires are carried out.  Our firm has the experience in helping you establish security for your life-long investments.  Whether you’re assets are modest or large, they are all important.

Todd Courser 810-245-0813

If you are being harassed, pressured or received a summons; you need to act quickly to protect your assets.  We have helped many clients in Michigan avoid foreclosure by filing for bankruptcy.  If you are facing foreclosure, you need to speak with a Michigan bankruptcy lawyer as soon as possible to ensure your home doesn’t get foreclosed on.  We at Todd A. Courser & Associates, PLLC understand that this is a very stressful and unsettling time in your life.  Don’t give up hope.  Call us today so we can help you untangle your financial web and get you on the road to a debt-free, financially-sound life.

We are a debt relief agency.  We help people file for bankruptcy relief under the Bankruptcy Code.  We assist with Chapter 13 relief for a federally supervised repayment plan or federal debt restructuring.

Todd Courser 810-245-0813

After you have submitted your paperwork to your attorney and it is determined that a bankruptcy is something that would be right for you, the court will notify your creditors and issue an automatic stay to stop collection efforts.  Creditors will no longer be allowed to contact you.  A bankruptcy trustee will be appointed to your case.

30-45 days prior to filing bankruptcy, you will be required to attend a meeting with your trustee and creditors.  Most creditors will not attend this meeting unless they wish to dispute assets or terms.  If you, the bankruptcy petitioner, choose not to attend this meeting, your bankruptcy will be dismissed automatically.

Approximately 60 days following the meeting, your debts will be discharged, if you filed for Chapter 7, unless your creditors have disputes.  Chapter 13 filers will continue to make their monthly payments as their debts are not subject to elimination.

If you are considering a bankruptcy, give us a call.  We can help you figure out if it is right for you.

Todd Courser 810-245-0813

What happens before you file for bankruptcy?

– Within 180 days prior to filing bankruptcy you will need to complete credit counseling.  You must obtain a certificate of completion from an authorized agency.  You must not have a bankruptcy case dismissed 6 months prior to filing your petition or you will be ineligible for filing.

-Within 6 months prior to filing bankruptcy you must meet residency requirements.  This means that if you plan to file for bankruptcy in Michigan, you must reside in Michigan for at least 180 days before you file your bankruptcy petition.

– 2 to 3 months prior to filing bankruptcy you must stop using your credit cards.  If you use your credit cards in this time you may be accused of fraud by your credit card providers and will be responsible for any new unsecured debt that is incurred.

Know all the facts as you prepare to file for bankruptcy.  We can help!

Todd Courser 810-245-0813