Our Blog
Popular Posts
Will or Trust: Which One Should You Choose? 5 Compelling Reasons to Consider a Trust
Whether you are wealthy or working class, Trusts can be a very valuable planning tool when it comes to creating an effective estate plan. When people think about estate planning, they often think about a Last Will & Testament. While Wills are the most basic estate...
11 Major Reasons to Update Your Estate Planning in Illinois
If you have an estate plan, you are already doing better than many. Creating an initial estate plan is certainly challenging, and it’s often an emotionally difficult process. It's understandable that you don't want to repeat the experience and update your plan. But as...
How Can Life Insurance Help with Estate Planning?
Life insurance can be a valuable tool in the estate planning process – providing protection and cash when your loved ones need it most. Many people ask us if life insurance should be a part of their estate planning. Our answer always depends on the individual...
Our Blog
Do I need an attorney to assist with probate?
After losing a loved one, many people ask the question, “Do I need to hire an attorney?”That depends — do you know what needs to be done? Are you having problems transferring assets? If everything is in joint tenancy – meaning the survivor becomes the...
Avoid Nursing Home Poverty
We know firsthand that one of the greatest concerns for seniors is the fear of outliving their savings. No one’s vision of retirement includes going into a nursing home. It’s not what you want for you or your spouse. But if it happens, your income and savings can be...
7 Things Every Executor Needs to Know Before the Funeral
Being an executor is a big responsibility. One that requires great integrity and diligence. Many people will only experience this role once or twice in their life, and it can be hard to know what an executor needs to do. Here are 7 things for an executor to consider...
Get comfortable — no high-pressure sales tactics here
I remember a phone call I had with a company who sells software to law firms. Their product seemed like something that might be helpful, and I was interested to learn more. I spent an hour on the phone with this guy and things looked good -- until the salesman ruined...
Factors to Consider if You Want to Stay Home Longer as You Age
Most people want to stay in their homes as long as possible when they get older. Attorney David Edwards and Elder Care Advisor Melissa Coulter discuss factors that can help you stay at home as long as possible. There are five safety concerns you should be aware of as...
“You’re NOT the boss of me!!”
We all have control issues. When my son was 2-years-old we experienced our share of yelling, "NO!!" and throwing full tantrums on the floor. Toddlers are just beginning to understand how they can exert control on the world around them, which makes...
9 Ways Elder Law Attorneys Can Help With In-Home Care
Navigating the challenges of in-home care can be a little easier with an experienced guide by your side. Here are 9 ways an elder law attorney can help if you or your loved one has in-home care: 1. Set up caregiver agreements and in-home caregivers. There are a lot of...
Granny We Need to Talk: Questions that Can Stop Elder Fraud in Its Tracks
In our past two posts we talked about how Elder Fraud is on the rise and the types of fraud to look out for. Here are 7 questions to ask your friends and loved ones that can raise red flags about the possibility that they are being set up as a target for Elder Fraud:...
Granny, Can I Borrow Your Flat Screen TV? Types of Elder Fraud to Watch Out For
In our last post we talked about how Elder Fraud is sadly on the rise. In this post we want to give you a heads up about specific types of fraud to look out for. Scams to watch out for from strangers: Fake prizes and sweepstakes Too good to be true investments...
What You Need to Know About Hospice
At Edwards Group we believe that education is foundational to navigating the issues of aging with as little stress as possible. And with all the misinformation out there about hospice, we thought it would be good to do an article on the topic. Elisa Cottrell, a former...