Have you ever told someone a secret, and the next thing you know it's common knowlege amongst your friends and family??? Well, that's kind of what a Last Will and Testmant is like. If you put personal information or wishes into this document and it is filed with the probate court, well...anyone can't see who you left money to, who you didn't leave money to and why. Why is this important? Well maybe you don't want everyone to know what you did with your stuff. This can be avoided if you do a Trus...

   The Costs of Dementia: For the Patient and the Family A recent report from the Alzheimer’s Association states that one in nine Americans age 65 or older currently have Alzheimer’s. With the baby boomer generation aging and people living longer, that number may nearly triple by 2050. Alzheimer’s, of course, is just one cause of dementia—mini-strokes (TIAs) are also to blame—so the number of those with dementia may actually be higher.   Caring for someone with dementia is more ex...

The holidays are approaching and for some individuals estate planning or powers of attorney are on their mind. Family members gathered around the dinner table, or around the Christmas tree, talking about times past, bring up memories or questions about where the year has gone. People always say “Next Year”. And then inevitably the year goes by and no Last Will and Testament or Power of Attorney was ever created. Good news however, because you, just like the majority of the clients at The Haggert...

Top Reasons Everyone Needs a Comprehensive Power of Attorney The benefits of a highly detailed, comprehensive power of attorney are numerous. Unfortunately, many powers of attorney are more general in nature and can actually cause more problems than they solve, especially for our senior population. This issue highlights the benefits of a comprehensive, detailed power of attorney, including some of the provisions that should be included. A proper starting point is to emphasize that the proper use...

In Missouri Pets are considered property. They do not have title to them that one can simply transfer to another person at the time of your death. At The Haggerty Law Firm we can assist individuals who figuring out what is the best tactic to consider when leaving money or property to your pets. I am sure that you have heard of pet trusts. This is certainly one option. However, there are many other options available to individuals who would like to leave their pets items of property. One must als...