Estate planning can be a difficult thing to navigate with loved ones, but trust us, it’s even more difficult to navigate a loved one’s death when the family doesn’t know the deceased’s plans. This is why we encourage our Raleigh clients to make sure they discuss estate plans with their loved ones. We’ll even [...]
There are many reasons why committed couples choose not to legally marry, but by not doing so, they may be leaving their spouse without the inheritance they intend to leave. This is especially true in North Carolina since North Carolina does not recognize common law marriage. Therefore, it’s important for these couples to think [...]
As an experienced estate lawyer in Raleigh and Durham, NC, I’ve noticed some common mistakes that many people make when it comes to estate planning. While estate planning doesn’t need to be complicated, it does require thoughtfulness and thoroughness that is often better done when working with a professional. Here are five common mistakes [...]
The Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act (or Secure Act) went into effect in December of 2019, affecting how people here in Raleigh can invest in retirement accounts. These changes in how people fund retirement also affect their estate plans, since retirement savings are part of a person’s assets. Here are four [...]
Estate planning can be a bit of an emotional process. Facing one’s mortality, hashing out family dynamics, and setting one’s legacy can be more taxing than people think. This is why finding the right estate lawyer for a person’s unique situation is important. In the Raleigh-Durham area, there are many lawyers to choose from, [...]
There are two main ways to set up an estate plan: a simple will and a living trust. Depending on a person’s needs and size of the estate, it makes a difference which tool is used. As an estate lawyer serving the Raleigh and Durham areas, I’ve put both types of plans into action [...]
With so many people at home, many of us are catching up on those things we never quite get around to doing, like estate planning. The trick is making sure it’s done right and done safely. At Thornton Law Firm, we’re working hard with our clients throughout the Raleigh and Durham areas to help [...]
Lots of people rely on DIY law services, and while we respect the choices people make, we can’t say we advise using DIY legal services. Today, we want to take a moment to talk about what we offer as opposed to the online services. Here are three ways that Thornton Law Firm services are [...]
Just about everything can be done online, through email or by teleconferencing these days: filing taxes, requesting a birth certificate, applying for a passport online, as well as many legal services. This is especially helpful when dealing with a situation like the current Covid-19 pandemic where most residents are employing social distancing, working from [...]
It’s never easy to hear that a loved one has a terminal illness. Even though it’s something most of us will deal with in our lifetime, we’re still shocked every time it happens, and many don’t know what to do next. Here are three things to do when a loved one receives a terminal [...]