Blog

What Happens if You Die without a Will in Missouri?

• April 10, 2020
• Kelvin Birk
• Estate Planning

Creating an estate plan is often one of those things we put off, thinking we’ll get to it tomorrow, or next week, or before the end of the year.  But what happens if you die without a will in Missouri?  None of us wants to think about that, but we should.

Creating an estate plan now means that we are caring for our loved ones by preventing a lot of headaches for them in the future.  An estate plan offers peace of mind.  All too often, people put off writing a will and creating an estate plan until “later,” but later never comes.  Our experienced estate planning attorneys at Birk Law Firm will guide you through each step in the estate planning process.  We’ll help y [...]

Who’s On Your Estate Planning Team?

• December 5, 2019
• Kelvin Birk
• Estate Planning

Estate planning is not just about what happens to your stuff when you die. It is about coordinating all aspects of your life so (i) you can be taken care of during times when you are unable to care for yourself, and (ii) your money and property are distributed to the individuals you have selected upon your death, in the way you want.

While you may visit an estate planning attorney to have your legal documents (i.e., will, revocable living trust, powers of attorney, and living will) prepared, this is only one component of making sure that your ultimate estate and financial goals are carried out. In order to accomplish this large and important task, you need a team made up of the [...]

Myths We Tell Ourselves About Estate Planning

• December 2, 2019
• Kelvin Birk
• Estate Planning

Estate planning can be a very difficult process. While it’s not brain surgery, making the decision to move forward with the planning requires us to face the fact that we will not live forever. This thought can stop many people right in their tracks. Others talk themselves out of seeing a qualified attorney to put together an estate plan based on some of the following common myths:

Myth #1: Only the Rich Need Estate Planning

When we hear about estate planning on the news or read about it on the internet, it is usually in regards to a wealthy businessman or celebrity who made some error, did no planning, or has family members who are angry about the pl [...]

The Role of an Agent Under a Power of Attorney

• November 27, 2019
• Kelvin Birk
• Estate Planning

For most people, the phrase “power of attorney” means very little. Even for those educated on the subject, it is easy to forget exactly who serves what role and why. Whether you are unfamiliar with the concept or simply need of a refresher, keep reading to learn what it means to be an agent under a power of attorney. At Birk Law Firm, we regularly draft powers of attorney as part of an estate planning package of documents.  Also, we will draft only a power of attorney if that is all that you are needing at that time.

To start, it helps to understand what is being asked of an agent under a power of attorney. A person appointed to the role becomes a re [...]