Articles
You Can Plan to Avoid a Crisis––Craig Watson
Estate planning starts with a goal. What are your goals? Is your goal to preserve assets for the security of you and/or your spouse and leave an inheritance for your family? […]
Craig Watson
Articles
You Can Plan to Avoid a Crisis—Craig Watson
You Can Plan to Avoid a Crisis By Craig Watson, Texoma LIVING WELL Magazine Estate planning starts with a goal. What are your goals? Is your goal to preserve assets for the security of you and/or […]
Articles
He Did It Himself…And It Didn’t End Well––Craig Watson
Jack, a widower, passed away last year at the age of 92. He left an estate valued at $400,000. He was a veteran and relied on a Will that was provided to him free of charge by the military. […]
Articles
An Avoidable Tragedy––Craig Watson
An Avoidable Tragedy By Craig Watson Don’s father, Al, was 68 years old and in average health. Don thought the world of his Dad. Don considered Al to be strong and organized, the family patriarch […]
Articles
Wise Advance Planning––Craig Watson
Wise Advance Planning By Craig Watson, Texoma LIVING WELL Magazine Back in 2006, Hal and Barbara had an unsettled feeling, but they couldn’t determine why. They were in excellent health. Hal was 85 and Barbara […]
Articles
How Do I Protect My Disabled Child? –– Craig Watson
How Do I Protect My Disabled Child?
By Craig Watson, Texoma LIVING WELL Magazine
Grace is a sweet 69-year-old widow. Her husband died recently from a long illness. She has two children: a son, Todd, and a daughter, Kate. Todd is disabled and suffers from mental illness. Although Todd lives in his own apartment, he is unable to work. He receives Food Stamps, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medicaid. […]
Articles
Adding Adult Child to Account Proves Costly
Adding Adult Child to Account Proves Costly
By Craig Watson, Texoma LIVING WELL Magazine
When Gail reached age 75, she took her children’s advice and put their names on her checking account so they could pay her bills in case anything ever happened to her. Her children were happily married to sweet spouses that Gail trusted. The teller at the bank was very helpful and Gail followed the teller’s suggestion regarding how to put her children’s names on her account. Gail had about $3,000 in her checking account, which represented all of her life savings. […]
Articles
Have you received the best legal advice?
Have You Received the Best Legal Advice?
By Craig Watson, Texoma LIVING WELL Magazine
Harry is a 78-year-old man whose beloved wife has had dementia for years. The couple’s children, while supportive, do not live near enough to help. […]
Articles
Craig Watson on what happens if you don't have a power of attorney – LIVING WELL Magazine
What Happens if You Don’t Have a Power of Attorney?
By Craig Watson, Texoma LIVING WELL Magazine
My spring 2011 article, which appeared in this column, extolled the benefits of a durable power of attorney (POA). Every estate plan should include a POA. […]
Articles
Craig Watson on Planning to Avoid Probate – Texoma LIVING WELL Magazine
Planning to Avoid Probate and Guardianship without Using a Living Trust
Craig Watson, Texoma LIVING WELL Magazine
Arvie is an 85-year-old widow in good health. She delights in her two adult children, who also enjoy a good relationship. Her will was drafted over a decade ago. She owns a house (debt free) and about $150,000 in cash. She has a long term care insurance policy in case she needs nursing home care. She wonders if she needs a power of attorney and a medical directive, so she schedules an appointment with an elder law attorney. […]