Joshua E. Hummer, Esq.

We are excited to announce that the Law Office of Joshua E. Hummer, Esq. is now Atlas Law. Thank you to everyone who has liked and follows this page! We have a new page called Atlas Law where we will be actively posting content. Please search Atlas Law and like our new page to stay in the loop and see helpful planning content and firm updates. We appreciate each one of you!

Thank you so much to all those of you who have reached out to congratulate us since our book launch last week - your support means so much! We are thrilled to share this book with the world now.
More than just the book itself, we feel blessed and honored to be able to share the Relational Estate Planning principles that have changed our and many of our clients' lives.

If you haven't grabbed your copy yet, you can find it here:

Fearless: Facing the Future Confidently with Relational Estate Planning Fearless: Facing the Future Confidently with Relational Estate Planning

In case you missed our webinar and recent newsletters, here's a quick read on how you can prepare for coming tax changes.
There has been a lot of talk about the new administration bringing changes to tax laws. We don’t know when or to what extent the laws will change, but we do know that these changes are likely a matter of “when,” not “if.” Click the link below to gain insight on what you can do ahead of time:

6 Ways to Minimize the Effects of Coming Changes to Tax Laws | Joshua E. Hummer, Esq. There has been a lot of talk about the new administration bringing changes to tax laws. Here are six ways to deal with the effects:

Yesterday, we partnered again with Insight Memory Care Center, hosted by Lansdowne Heights, a Memory Care Community, to educate the community on identifying memory impairment and advance planning.

We also collaborated with Insight on this blog, "3 Reasons Advanced Medical Directives are Crucial for Dementia Care Planning". Please check it out!

Thank you Insight and Lansdowne Heights for your partnership!

https://www.jehlaw.net/3-reasons-amds-are-crucial-for-dementia-care-planning/

3 Reasons AMDs are Crucial for Dementia Care Planning | Joshua E. Hummer, Esq. An enormous piece of dementia care planning is creating an advance medical directive (AMD). AMDs are crucial for three reasons:

We are honored to have been asked to speak for Insight Memory Care Center's Classes for Caregivers series, on the topic "Getting Your Ducks in a Row: Legal Planning"
The event is tomorrow, Wednesday, May 12, 2021 from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm, it is virtual. Follow this link to register, and please share!
https://www.insightmcc.org/get-involved/events/event_calendar.html/event/2021/05/12/getting-your-ducks-in-a-row-legal-planning/319936

Insight: Event Calendar There's always something going on at Insight! From our monthly Snapshot events to our education classes, check back often for the latest programs and events.

We recently had the privilege of joining Linda Black with Lifemark Securities on her show. This particular episode was on the topic of singles planning for retirement - it's definitely worth watching. Thanks so much for having us, Linda!

Single and Planning for Retirement - 5 Key Things to Do

In a strictly legal sense, estate planning is making legal arrangements for what will happen to your assets when you die. And most of the time, people automatically think of wills and trusts as the primary tools of estate planning.

In reality, though, estate planning can and should be so much more than distributing assets or drafting legal documents.

Wills, Trusts, and Other Tools of Estate Planning | Joshua E. Hummer, Esq. Most of the time, people think of wills and trusts as the primary tools of estate planning. But there are more tools you can use to end well.

We shortened the new tax information to bite-sized pieces for this highlight. Thank you, Spear Realty Group! Take a look at this quick overview of coming tax changes:

Vendor Spotlight: The Law Office of Joshua E. Hummer This month we get some tax advice from The Law Office of Joshua E. Hummer.

How 2021 Tax Law Changes May Affect Your Estate | Joshua E. Hummer, Esq. Biden stated he plans to make tax law changes in 2021. These could affect your estate: the estate tax, the income tax, and the capital gains tax.

When we say estate planning, many people’s minds jump to thinking about taxes. It's an understandable concern; it is best to keep as many of your assets within your control as possible- unless one of your goals is to voluntarily fund the federal government. (We’re guessing it’s probably not!)

While it’s not the most enjoyable thing to think about how death taxes work, everyone should understand the basics so they can ensure that their hard-earned money is used to achieve their goals when they pass, not to pay unnecessary taxes.

Take a look at the overview we've put together below - we've broken it down to make the tax world less confusing:

How Does Death Tax Work? | Law Office of Joshua E. Hummer When people think about estate planning, they often ask us, "How does death tax work?" It's a valid concern - learn about death taxes here.

Five tips for writing an advance medical directive:

1. Explore your options and determine your wishes so that you can know better how to write your advance medical directive.

2. Choose your medical agent carefully and empower them to act.

3. Create your advance medical directive before you are in a crisis.

4. Choose an attorney who knows how to write an advance medical directive according to the stipulations of your state.

5. Understand that there are different medical documents that do different things.

Learn more about each of these things by clicking the link below:

https://www.jehlaw.net/how-to-write-an-advance-medical-directive/

How to Write an Advance Medical Directive | Joshua E. Hummer, Esq. If you are wondering how to write an advance medical directive, here are five tips to creating one that is tailored to you:

Do you know how to write an advance medical directive? Read the article below for 5 tips on making sure your AMD is written in a way that is valid to doctors and will hold up in court in case it is challenged:

How to Write an Advance Medical Directive | Joshua E. Hummer, Esq. If you are wondering how to write an advance medical directive, here are five tips to creating one that is tailored to you:

You might have heard you should have an advance medical directive, but do you know what they are? Do you know what they do and do not do?

Click the link below to learn more:

What is an Advance Medical Directive? | Joshua E. Hummer, ESQ. What is an advance medical directive, and do you need one to prepare for the future?

Research in recent years has shown that only about 1/3 of U.S. adults have created an Advance Medical Directive. Do you know what they are and why it is so important for everyone to have one? Click the link below to learn more:

What is an Advance Medical Directive? | Joshua E. Hummer, ESQ. What is an advance medical directive, and do you need one to prepare for the future?

Meet Our Team!

Anna is a writer who specializes in marketing and presenting our relational estate planning philosophy. She brings creativity and expression to our team, and loves to brainstorm new ideas for the future. Anna is well-loved for her thoughtful, ardent, and lively spirit.

Meet the rest of the team by clicking here:
https://www.jehlaw.net/estate-planning-attorney/

A thought-provoking read on a controversial issue in the senior healthcare industry. Should people be able to choose to not be fed once they lose the motor skills to feed themselves? Take a look and comment your thoughts.

Dementia Care Directives and the Ethics of Assisted Feeding – Pathways A friend of mine lives in an independent living apartment in a large senior community. He is an advocate for advance care planning and reads everything he can get his hands on about the subject. He recently expressed concern that senior living communities might not honor end-of-life wishes in the ca...

With the incredible impact I've seen ethical wills make for families and friends, I encourage you to start thinking about making one of your own. Here's a downloadable How-To Guide to get your started:
https://www.jehlaw.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Ethical-Will-How-to-Guide.pdf

We have an exciting announcement! Pam Reynolds has joined our team as an elder planning specialist and paralegal. We are excited to help clients and their families create plans that will prevent them from experiencing crises as they age.

If you'd like to hear what we hope to do for our elderly clients and their families, watch our interview below:

Pam Reynolds and Joshua E. Hummer, Esq. - YouTube How did a home care manager end up joining an estate planning and elder law firm?

Back in the spring, we introduced our friend, John, who is leaving a legacy of love for the outdoors. We shared his moving ethical will, which he plans to have read at this funeral.

Now we want to share the latest update on John's legacy. In a recent publication, the Potomac Conservancy thanked John for his generous gift of land. They wrote:

"A special thank you to John D. and Arlene Gavitt for the tremendous gift of your beloved North River Retreat property to the Conservancy and our partner the Cacapon & Lost Rivers Land Trust. The subsequent sale of this conservation property yielded more than $345,000 for each organization, a windfall with which we are forming a special fund for land conservation in the Shenandoah Valley and eastern panhandle of West Virginia. Your legacy will live on in the green hills and clean streams of the Potomac River headwaters forever!"

John has used his passion for nature and his resources to craft an incredible legacy. His story is a prime example of something we encourage people to do as they create their end-of-life plans: Combine their passion with whatever resources they have to make a difference.

He said to us about his donation:

"Instead of waiting until I passed, my wife and I agreed that a donation while I was still “alive and kicking (sort of)” would be a wonderful way to move forward. This has definitely been a joyful experience! A win-win situation for everyone involved."

If you haven't read it already, take a look at John's ethical will below:

Our Friend, John: An Example Of An Ethical Will | Law Office of Joshua E. Hummer Recently, we had a chance to meet a special man named John. He attended a speaking engagement where we discussed Relational Estate Planning and the value of Ethical Wills, and afterward told us that these ideas resonate deeply with him. He has already put together something like an Ethical Will. Aft...

A few weeks ago, I was thrilled to present one of my favorite topics, ethical wills, to residents at the Sunrise Senior Living Centers. The more my team and I have conversations with people about ethical wills, the more excited we get.
Families and individuals alike are seeing how impactful ethical wills can be for their relationships and for leaving a legacy when they pass. If you are interested in listening to the presentation, I've included the link to the recording below.
I explain why an ethical will is the most important part of any estate plan, how I discovered ethical wills, and how to start creating one:

https://register.gotowebinar.com/recording/8952640798547171841

Little known fact - November is family stories month. And with the holiday season approaching, it's a great time to reflect on our history, family relationships, and legacies passed through the generations.

Last weekend, my family and I enjoyed one of my family traditions. Every year as I was growing up, my grandmother held a yearly neighborhood event where she made a huge cauldron of Brunswick stew. (If you've never had it, it's a Southern dish that's made with a tomato base, beans, and meat. The secret is to let it simmer for hours; it's absolutely delicious!) She would invite the whole neighborhood to her backyard, dish each person up a bowl of stew, and welcome them to stay and socialize. It became a community event that we all loved.

I've started teaching my kids this tradition, and it means so much to me to pass on something that I loved being a part of with my grandmother.

What are some of your family stories and traditions from this time of year?

Parents, on a surface level, your kids might need you to leave them some money – okay, fine. But that pales in comparison to their deeper, truer needs. Read more about the best kind of inheritance to leave your children by clicking the link below:

https://www.jehlaw.net/parents-heres-the-inheritance-your-kids-really-need/

"Hear me loud and clear: As an estate planning specialist, I watch family after family go through this process.

Money is not the answer.

This is one reason that traditional estate planning doesn’t work. It focuses on money when it should focus on relationships."

Read about a better way to do estate planning below:

Parents, Here’s The Inheritance Your Kids Really Need | Law Office of Joshua E. Hummer A Sad Story My team and I recently met with a man whose outlook on life saddened us. He is in his 80s, and his three children are in their 50s. They each have faced significant challenges in life, some due to their own choices, others due to the cards they have been dealt. One…

Read a sad story, and then read what you can do differently for your children:

Parents, Here’s The Inheritance Your Kids Really Need | Law Office of Joshua E. Hummer A Sad Story My team and I recently met with a man whose outlook on life saddened us. He is in his 80s, and his three children are in their 50s. They each have faced significant challenges in life, some due to their own choices, others due to the cards they have been dealt. One…

5 Reasons to Create Your End-of-Life Plan:

1. You do not know when your life will be altered or come to an end.

2. You have planning abilities now that you may not have in the future.

3. You will most likely need your end-of-life plan before your life actually ends.

4. There is more to setting up an end-of-life plan than you may think.

5. Your loved ones need you to have an end-of-life plan.

Each of these are highly important as you consider your future! Read about them more in depth below:

5 Reasons to Create Your End-of-Life Plan (Even if You're Nowhere Near Dying) | Law Office of Joshua E. Hummer End-of-life planning is for anyone who wants to ensure their own care, and for anyone who wants to care for their loved ones in that process.

End-of-life planning is for anyone who wants to ensure they will be cared for when they can no longer care for themselves, and for anyone who wants to care for their loved ones in that process.

This means thinking ahead BEFORE you find yourself in a health or family crisis. Click below to read the 5 reasons you need to start creating your end-of-life plan now, no matter how young and healthy you may be.

5 Reasons to Create Your End-of-Life Plan (Even if You're Nowhere Near Dying) | Law Office of Joshua E. Hummer End-of-life planning is for anyone who wants to ensure their own care, and for anyone who wants to care for their loved ones in that process.

My hat is off to all the educators out there! I sympathize with you; I'm teaching a Logic class for some local high schoolers. I've taught it for several years, but this year I'm teaching it through Zoom. It is has been quite challenging to teach through video, communicate in chat rooms, and grade homework through email. And I'm only doing it for one small class! To everyone teaching online right now, thanks for all you're doing.

Our friend, Peter, is one of the most kind-hearted men you could meet. When we explained the idea of Ethical Wills to him, he was all over it – eager to pass on his love and his beliefs to both his community and his family. You can see how he styled this personal document here:

Example of An Ethical Will: Peter's Statement of Faith | Law Office of Joshua E. Hummer Peter’s Ethical Will is short but packed with importance. It's familiar, as Statements of Faith are common, but is worded differently.

You can create your Ethical Will to look a lot of different ways. Some people choose letters, some a recording, and some, like our friend, Peter, choose a classical Statement of Faith and then make it their own. Regardless of your religion or if you even consider yourself religious at all, this is one format by which you can pass on your values.

Take a look below, and start thinking about what style you want to use to put your own Ethical Will together.

Example of An Ethical Will: Peter's Statement of Faith | Law Office of Joshua E. Hummer Peter’s Ethical Will is short but packed with importance. It's familiar, as Statements of Faith are common, but is worded differently.

Big thank you to Karen McPhail, RN, MSN for writing and posting this article on relational estate planning:

What Is Relational Estate Planning?

WHAT IS RELATIONAL ESTATE PLANNING? In my daily practice I often see many missed opportunities for individuals to plan and have peace of mind for the future. I am constantly educating not only patients, but those in the healthcare field on the need for long term care planning and the importance of documenting in detail one's expressed...

Thank you to Michael Fuhr at Evergreen Wealth Services for this worthwhile read! Take a look below to understand the different services available for your elderly loved ones or yourself as you age:

Facing The Future: Senior Services To Know About The following are professionals and service providers who are dedicated to helping seniors, their caregivers and families navigate the aging process.

Whether you have an elderly loved one or you are thinking about your own elderly years, it is critical to know how to watch for and find ways to prevent elder abuse and neglect. For the purposes of this article, we're focusing primarily on protection against financial abuse, although some of these principles relate to other forms of abuse as well.

Click the link below to learn more:
https://www.jehlaw.net/4-ways-to-prevent-elder-abuse/

4 Ways to Prevent Elder Abuse | Law Office of Joshua E. Hummer Whether you have an elderly family member or you are growing older yourself, it is critical to watch for and find ways to prevent elder abuse and neglect.

September is National Senior Center Month. This is a great time to focus on the seniors in our lives, what they are experiencing, and what they may need.

Here at our firm, we specialize in elder law and estate planning, two areas of the law that go hand-in-hand as we seek to both protect seniors and help them plan ahead.

Check out our blog for resources to help yourself and your loved ones face aging and end-of-life planning:

https://www.jehlaw.net/blog/

Are you signed up for our monthly email update? We send out free resources every few weeks to help you as you think about wills, trusts, probate, and elder care for yourself and your loved ones. Let us know if you want to be added to our list. Last week, we sent out a glossary for different terms in the estate planning world. Click the link below to take a look and download it:

[Newsletter] The Cure for Legalese - A Free Glossary

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