Estate planning is a vital task for all individuals, but it poses distinct challenges for blended families. These families typically encompass children from different relationships, necessitating a careful balancing act to prevent future disputes. At Salines-Mondello Law Firm, PC, in Wilmington, NC, we are attuned to these complications and are here to guide you. A…

When some people learn that North Carolina does not impose a specific estate tax or inheritance tax, they think they don’t need to worry about the potential tax liability in their estate plan. However, this is a big mistake. In addition to federal estate taxes, many other forms of taxation could seriously deplete resources if…

If you set up your affairs so that your assets will pass to loved ones without having to go through probate, you can save them considerable time, expense, and work. For that reason, many clients come to us looking for the best strategies to avoid probate. We usually recommend a combination of options to produce…

As the holiday season comes to a close and it’s time to take down decorations, it’s also a good idea to take a moment and review your estate planning documents. Many of us don’t like to think about end-of-life matters, but the truth is, it’s essential to have your affairs in order. No matter your…

At first glance, it seems like the difference between a revocable trust and an irrevocable trust would be obvious. You can revoke a revocable trust. The same is not true of an irrevocable trust. To understand the real differences between these types of trusts, it is helpful to look at the different ways they are…

Juggling family life, work, bills, and the kids’ schoolwork leaves no time to worry about your future. However, estate planning is vital. Many people push it to the back burner when life becomes too complicated or because they feel too young to think about it. Remember that finding the time to make these significant financial…

Estate planning lawyers create different types of power of attorney documents in North Carolina to accomplish different goals for their clients. Certain types of POA documents are very useful to have as a standard part of your estate plan. Other types may be most useful in specific circumstances unique to your situation. Understanding Powers of…

When a court determines that someone cannot manage their finances or their healthcare, the court can appoint a guardian to make decisions and act on that person’s behalf. A guardian could be an individual such as a family member or an entity. The person subject to guardianship sometimes referred to as a ward, is often…

Parenting a special needs child comes with an extra share of care and responsibilities, one of which concerns your child’s future. It is essential to ensure that your child enjoys a financial safety net after you are gone.  Timely and appropriate estate planning can help provide for your child’s long-term needs. Specifically, your family may…

When updating your estate plan, it’s important to include digital assets that someone may need access to when you pass away. We live in a digital world where passwords, accounts, photos, videos, etc., are stored on devices such as laptops and smartphones. It is important to include digital assets in your estate planning or they…