Helping our neighbors plan for their family’s future and avoid painful issues.
In the coming months, things are still looking uncertain. It seems it will be quite a while until life gets “back to normal” after the coronavirus pandemic. It’s a long road ahead. For many of us, this uncertainty about the future makes commitments and expenditures seem unwise. We are looking for every opportunity to save money, cut back, and prepare for whatever lies ahead. In those circumstances, a DIY Will might Read More
Some Great Articles to Read -- Harvard Health, “When a Loved One is Terminally Ill” Mayo Clinic, “Supporting a Terminally Ill Loved One” MD Anderson Cancer Center, “Making Memories Last: The Art of Legacy Work” Maryland Healthcare Commission’s Consumer Guide to Longterm Care Hospice and Palliative Care Network of Maryland University of Maryland Medical Center’s Palliative Care Services Maryland Department of Read More
Choosing the right person to care for your children if you are unable to do so is, of course, an important decision. For some lucky couples, it’s also an easy one. However, it’s not a given that you and your partner will agree on the right person or people to nominate for guardianship. In fact, disagreements between parenting partners are fairly commonplace in my work. Granted, these disagreements don’t often Read More
Even before the pandemic, The Tyra Law Firm was a mostly virtual law practice. Sure, we still have an office downtown, but we like to use technology to keep our practice versatile. That way, we are able to serve families that are too busy to come downtown in the middle of a workday. By using a variety of different tools, we are able to serve our clients when and where they are. It’s one of the things our clients love Read More
This week, like many of you, I have been thinking about the hundreds of thousands of Americans who have recently become infected with COVID-19. Chances are, you know someone who falls into this category. Whether those individuals experience relatively minor symptoms, the virus knocks them out for a week or two, or they require intensive hospital care, I know the experience must be scary and lonely. On top of that, Read More
In recent weeks, I have been posting about how estate planning has increased in urgency as a result of the coronavirus. I’ve talked about why you need an estate plan, why now, and how to start having these important conversations with your loved ones. Each time I write about beginning the process, I close with an additional piece of information: all estate planning work can be completed virtually. This week, I got to Read More
These days, many of us fall into one of two extremes: we are either spending far more time at home than we usually do, or we are working long hours and in stressful conditions to keep the country’s essential functions operational. Whether you fall on one side or the other of this spectrum, you may notice that some important and (admittedly) rather uncomfortable conversations are coming to light. If you have small Read More
This week, I was listening to the latest episode of This American Life on NPR. In one of the stories, a producer interviews a family member who lives in New York City. Both the man and his wife have been diagnosed with COVID-19...and they have a young toddler at home. The interview shows insight into how difficult this man’s life has become in such a short span of time. His wife is so ill that she hasn’t left her bed Read More
In this time of social distancing, you may be noticing an interesting phenomenon. I know I have. What I’m noticing is that, the more we are asked to remain socially distant from one another, the more we draw closer as a community. In the past few weeks, I have seen an outpouring of charitable giving, community support, and creative problem solving to address the immediate needs of the more vulnerable among us. Truly, Read More
As you prepare your estate plan, the most obvious assets that jump to mind are likely things like heirlooms, real estate, and bank accounts. However, you may be overlooking some of your most valuable assets. Your intellectual property has value, and it is just as important to include in an estate plan as any other asset you own. The copyrights, patents, and trademarks you own will continue to live on after you die, Read More
