Delivering News and Updates on Wills, Trusts, and Estate Administration Matters
In this edition, discover how technology can ease the stress of dealing with and dividing up the personal "stuff" left behind after a death, protect yourself from a new scam affecting business owners, sign up for a new county-wide well-check service, and learn the difference between having a Will and having an estate plan!
Session One of the Executor's Workshop was a huge success!
A Workshop that's both fun and informative? Sounds about as likely as finding a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. But that's the early feedback we're hearing from the awesome group of folks who attended last week's session of our first-ever Executor's Workshop! Amy can't wait to see how the group responds to Session Two!
If you are administering a loved one's estate, you may be overwhelmed with all of the "stuff" in the house. You may be bombarded with requests from friends and family members of the deceased person who all want a particular item from the house. How do you even begin to tackle this project?

FairSplit offers a free program to help you inventory the house and personal belongings. They also offer a paid model that allows people to select the items they may be interested in and, if multiple people "claim" a particular item, provides a fair way of dividing the property. You can add photos, values, and even attach appraisals if necessary.
Using a system to divide the tangible property is a great way to help keep everyone's emotions in check. FairSplit states, "dividing assets in death, downsizing or divorce is stressful, time consuming and often emotionally destructive; we want to help “Divide Things, Not Families®“.

For details, visit www.FairSplit.com. Please note we have no affiliation with or tie to this company. Being the Executor or Trustee is a hard job, so our only goal here is to connect you with resources that can help lighten your load!
Be Wary of Fake Annual Report Notices

The North Carolina Attorney General's office has issued a warning about a new scan targeting business owners in our state. Owners are receiving letters from a company offering to assist owners with completing and filing their annual reports and “renewing” their business with the statue for fees up to $500. This is a scam! The fact is that owners of LLCs can file the required annual reports directly with the Secretary of State’s Office for a $200 fee. The annual report fee for business corporations is $25.

If you or your company receive a letter offering to assist you with filing annual reports, remember to:

  • Read the fine print and be skeptical when a company is asking for large fees and expressing a sense of urgency.
  • Avoid conducting corporate filings using third-parties who appear to act on behalf of the NC Secretary of State.
  • Confirm with a trusted source. Call us or contact the Secretary of State’s Office directly.

If you believe you have been scammed, call 1-877-5-NO-SCAM or file a complaint online at https://ncdoj.gov/file-a-complaint/.
Here's a friendly reminder to our business clients who own LLCs that the deadline to file your Annual Report is April 15!
Citizens Well Check Program

Are you or someone you know a senior who lives alone? The Wake County Sheriff’s Office offers the Citizen Well Check Program to all Wake County residents 65 years or older who live alone and would like a daily call to check in.

Participants of the program will be contacted everyday at 9 a.m. and a message will play from Sheriff Rowe. 
After the message, they can press #1 and hang up if they are OK. If there is no response, they will be contacted again at 9:05 a.m. If there is no answer by the third call at 9:10 a.m., their key contact will be called and notified. If no one has heard from the citizen, a deputy will be dispatched to check on them.
Having a Will is not the Same Thing as Having an Estate Plan
A Will can be an effective tool, but not by itself. A Will does not cover how things are to be handled if you become temporarily or permanently incapacitated. A Will does not control who the heirs will be for every asset you own (such as those controlled by beneficiary designation forms). A Will cannot protect your heirs from predators and creditors. A Will requires a probate rather than avoids one.
If all you have is a Will, then unfortunately you still have a lot of exposure. Something is better than nothing, that's for sure. But, if you want to do better, plan better, then please contact us. We can help!

Privette Legacy Planning www.leavealegacync.com