WANT A GREATER SENSE OF PURPOSE? PLAN YOUR LEGACY

Dededo Law Office, Your Trusted Counselor

WANT A GREATER SENSE OF PURPOSE? PLAN YOUR LEGACY

When you think about the legacy you’ll leave, what comes to mind? Perhaps it’s security for your family or a positive contribution to your community. It could also be a tribute to the arts. Whatever it is, you don’t have to wait until you pass on to actualize your legacy. Now is the time to begin planning and implementing your wishes.

It’s Not Too Soon

One way to ensure your legacy lives on is through estate planning with a trusted team of advisors and attorneys. Estate planning allows you to make informed, wise decisions about what you’ll leave behind—but it’s not too soon for your legacy to come alive. Additionally, leaving a legacy doesn’t always have to be about money. Being known as a person who donated their time or talent to their favorite organization is just as important. Estate planning can help you focus on what matters most to you and can enable you to begin to build your legacy while you are still living.

Imagining Your Legacy

Here are some thoughts to consider as you begin this process. Take some time to pause and reflect on what matters to you, what you hope to leave behind, and how you can put your legacy into action today.

When you think about the kind of legacy you want to leave, you’ll be more likely to make smarter decisions about your career, your investments, your health, etc. because you have an eye on the future and your role in it.

Your legacy can serve as an inspiration and example for others. If you plan wisely and give generously, your children and beneficiaries are more likely to emulate those behaviors. Your example can have a positive and impactful influence on others, perpetuating a living legacy even before you pass on.

If you plan your legacy now, you can actually see the benefits of your planning come alive. Donations that you make now, with the advice and support of a trusted estate planning team, can begin to benefit others immediately, while you’re around to witness it. It’s an immensely gratifying way to begin enjoying your legacy.

In 2017, the largest source of charitable giving was individuals, at a whopping $281.86 billion. That’s 72% of total giving for 2017. You can be a part of this trend, and with the help of your advisors, you can contribute intelligently and strategically to the causes you care about most.

Getting Started with Charitable Giving

Giving to charity is one of the most important financial choices you will make during your life. You may choose to contribute to your Alma mater, your center of religious worship, or to a charitable organization or foundation.

It’s up to you to decide what matters most, but your estate planning team can help you maximize your contributions. We can also advise you on balancing maintenance of your lifestyle with your current charitable giving, so that you’re able to enjoy the act of giving.

Of course, because the gift tax does not apply to gifts made to charities, charitable giving can be an important strategy to minimize federal estate and gift taxes. It can be an integral part of a good estate plan.

Lifetime gifts to charities may make you eligible for an income tax deduction. Eligibility for these deductions is limited to a percentage of your adjusted gross income. And there’s another yearly limit for gifts of appreciated securities or property. As you can see, due to the complexity of planning charitable giving, it’s best to get qualified advice before making donations.

Get in Touch Today

With careful planning and strategy, you can create a legacy that will inspire your children, contribute to the causes closest to your heart, and complement your financial and estate plans. We are here to be your trusted partners in this process.

Please get in touch today to get started.

Check out more valuable information about Guam's Laws and working with

Mark Williams, Guam's Best Lawyer, on Dededo Law Office's websites: www.guamlegal.com www.bankruptcylawyerguam.com  www.injurylawyerguam.com                 

Five Key Considerations for Your Estate Plan

Maintaining your estate plan can feel overwhelming when faced with all the changes life can bring. Calling your attorney may not be your first instinct when you’re faced with a significant shift in income, investments, or employment, but consulting with us is a wise way to ensure your legal health is always maintained. Read on for five events that should capture your attention and prompt you to reach out to us for some personalized advice.

1. You’ve opened a new retirement account or established a new retirement plan.

As we all know, planning for one’s retirement is crucial. The peace of mind provided by a solid retirement plan is irreplaceable. The way you and your financial advisors choose to structure your retirement plan and invest your retirement assets will vary, as they are designed to meet your particular needs, wants, and goals. Keep in mind that if you open a new account, your estate plan will need to be reviewed and possibly updated as well. A new taxable investment account may need to be “funded” into your trust. If you’ve set up or started contributing to a tax-deferred account, such as a 401(k), IRA, Roth IRA, employee stock ownership plan, or another type of retirement plan, contact us about your estate plan, too, since we want to be certain that your beneficiary designation is exactly what you intend.

2. You’ve started a new job.

Congratulations! A new professional opportunity is exciting, and it is accompanied by plenty of financial change. As we’ve seen above, taking a new retirement plan or account into consideration is quite important, and a new company often means a new account. You may also have new employer-sponsored life insurance, so it’s important to seek our help to verify that your life insurance beneficiaries remain up to date.

3. You’ve kept the same job.

Even if this year finds you in the same job as last, open enrollment for life insurance from last fall is now in full effect. This means that verification of your life insurance beneficiaries and retirement plan benefits is also in order. We can help ensure that everything is as it should be.

4. You have teenaged children.

Your child’s 18th birthday is not only a rite of passage but also a significant change in legal status and planning needs. Be sure to schedule a meeting with us to learn what you and your teen need to do as your teen becomes an adult.

5. You started a business.

Whether you’ve fully jumped in or kept your day job, starting a business is a bold step! It’s in your best interest to take precautions to ensure your business is fully protected. In addition to the business entity issues, tax planning, and growing your business, there are estate planning implications with a new business. We can help you coordinate your new business with your estate plan.
 
We are here to help and to ensure the health of your estate. Let us bring our attention, experience, and care to the big changes in your life. Together, we can develop or enhance your estate plan to meet your goals and secure your family’s future.


Check out more valuable information about Guam's Laws and working with Mark Williams, Guam's Best Lawyer, on Dededo Law Office's website, www.GuamLegal.com.

TOP 10 BENEFITS OF BANKRUPTCY - CHAPTER 7

TOP 10 BENEFITS OF BANKRUPTCY - CHAPTER 7

1.         Stop Creditor’s Harassing Calls. Creditors call at almost all times of the day and night and the weekend as well; they intentionally look for inconvenient times to add additional pressure on the debtor. The automatic stay in bankruptcy law makes it illegal for creditors to continue those calls or any other form of harassment the moment you file for bankruptcy.

2.         Keep your house and car. A myth of Chapter 7 bankruptcy is that you will lose your belongings.   As long as you don’t have too much equity in your home, you keep the house (otherwise you'd file Chapter 13 in order to protect an abundance of equity).  Bankruptcy is about protection and Attorney Mark Williams can help you with which Bankruptcy Chapter is best suited for you.

3.         Protect most of your household possessions. The state and federal exemptions that block what a bankruptcy trustee can seize typically cover all household goods and tools of a trade. Even if you have valuable jewelry or electronics, they often are not seized because of their age and condition. In fact, in 90 percent of all Chapter 7 cases, no property at all is seized.

4.         Wipe away unsecured debt. The amount you owe on credit cards or any debt (that is unsecured) can be completely liquidated if you qualify for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

5.         Help with secured debt. With no more unsecured debt, paying the monthly mortgage and car note becomes much easier again. For many debtors, spiraling  unsecured debt eventually makes it impossible to pay all creditors every month; our debt relief agency with Attorney Mark Williams can help you with that!

6.         You Can Qualify. There is an income limit with Chapter 7 which is determined through a Means Test. That’s a process to determine if you have any leftover income at the end of the month to pay unsecured creditors. Notwithstanding our salary, if there is little or no money left over at the end of the month, you may qualify for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

7.         You may never see the bankruptcy judge. Under the Chapter 7 process, there is one mandatory appearance before the bankruptcy trustee during the creditor’s meeting. While it’s possible questions from the trustee or creditors could lead to a hearing before in bankruptcy court, the overwhelming majority of cases do not involve court appearances. 

8.         Take a deep breath. While you wait to find out if you qualify for Chapter 7, you have the opportunity to relax a little from the financial pressures. The automatic stay stops any harassing calls and you do not have to pay your unsecured creditors while in bankruptcy.

9.         Fast and easy. If there are no complications, a Chapter 7 bankruptcy case can be over in as little as 4 to 6 months.

10.       Start over more quickly. The fact that Chapter 7 is a straight bankruptcy; you can begin changing your financial habits and re-establishing your credit quicker than you’d predict.

Check out more valuable information about Guam's Laws and working with Mark Williams, Guam's Best Lawyer, on Dededo Law Office's website, www.GuamLegal.com.

2019 is going to be amazing!

As 2018 comes to end, I want to thank you for being part of our law office’s family.

Thank you for trusting us in helping you with you legal needs.

Thank you for trusting us with your life narratives and experiences. All the stories you share with us, drives us to continue to serve you and others at the level we do, as we are touched and moved.

Thank you for all the referrals you give.  It makes a difference; because together we are offering hope and solutions.  Thank you!

We are honored and look forward to be continuing to work with you now and in the future. 

Happy New Year and God Bless!

2019 is going to be amazing!

Attorney Mark Williams has over 23 years of experience in turning around people's financial situation.  He can help you too. #1 trusted bankruptcy attorney in Guam.  The Law really is on your side.

Check out more valuable information about Guam's Laws and working with

Mark Williams, Guam's Best Lawyer, on Dededo Law Office's websites: www.guamlegal.com www.bankruptcylawyerguam.com  www.injurylawyerguam.com           

      

2018 BEST GUAM LAW OFFICE! THANK YOU GUAM!

Thank you Guam for voting our office 'Best Law Office' 2nd year in a row! After all the hard work we give, it is truly an honor to be thanked this way.

Check out more valuable information about Guam's Laws and working with Mark Williams, Guam's Best Lawyer, on Dededo Law Office's website, www.GuamLegal.com.

Waiting to file Bankruptcy can hurt you

By the time most people declare bankruptcy, their well-being and peace of mind, and financial life are all damaged, including family relationships, undermining the fresh start the law offers to those with debts beyond their ability to pay.

The time a person waits before filing bankruptcy is sometimes known as the financial “sweatbox.” According to a 2018 Notre Dam Law Review Study That’s the period when people are facing loss of assets including homes, wages and retirement funds, debt collection lawsuits and forgoing basic necessities like food to avoid filing bankruptcy.

Some people look at bankruptcy as financial and personal failure.  Often health and peace of mind and retirement funds are wasted in the attempt to pay debts which are beyond the ability to pay. And creditors will collect every penny, that is their job. Our job is to help you. Please understand that the improvement to Debt-to-Income ratios and elimination of derogatory credit reporting resulting CAN give you the higher credit scores, EVEN WITH bankruptcy on your record.

Check out more valuable information about Guam's Laws and working with Mark Williams, Guam's Best Lawyer, on Dededo Law Office's website, www.GuamLegal.com.

BANKRUPTCY CAN HELP

Filing for bankruptcy may help

Ask yourself these questions, are you struggling with debt? Only paying the minimum balance on your credit cards each month? Are you behind on mortgage or car payments? Losing sleep because of the stress and uncertainty of your financial situation?

We realize nobody likes to talk about their financial problems; about creditor harassment, home foreclosure, car repossession, lawsuits, wage garnishments and judgment liens. 

You are not alone. We can help. 

Stop foreclosure NOW

Stop wage garnishments NOW

Stop collection harassment NOW

Stop repossessions NOW

 

Call Now 637-9620.  www.bankruptcylawyerguam.com

 
Call the Law Office of Mark Williams.  We are Guam’s Best Bankruptcy Lawyer.

Check out more valuable information about Guam's Laws and working with Mark Williams, Guam's Best Lawyer, on Dededo Law Office's website, www.GuamLegal.com.