Identity Theft

Identity theft is when someone uses your personal or financial information without your permission. They might steal your name and address, credit card or bank account numbers, Social Security number or medical insurance account numbers. The information could then be used to make purchases, get new cards in your name, open a phone, electricity, or gas account, or even steal your tax refund or medical benefits

No one wants to be the subject of identity theft. If it happens to you, there are steps you can take, and the government is there to help at Identitytheft.com.

The important thing is to take all the necessary steps to prevent it.

Keep your financial records, Social Security and Medicare cards and any other documents that have personal information in a secure place. If getting rid of them, be sure to shred them.

Do not give out your Social Security number other than to the IRS, your bank, and your employer without asking why they need it. If they have a valid reason, try offering just the last 4 digits.

If you are logging in to an online account, use a strong password.

Do not give your personal information to someone who calls, emails, or texts you. They could be a scammer trying to steal your information.

In addition to taking steps to protect your information, there are things to do to detect identity theft.

Track what bills you owe and when they are due. If you stop getting a bill, that could be a sign someone changed your address or other information

Review your bills for charges that don’t belong to you

Check your bank account for withdrawals not made by you

Get and review your credit reports, as accounts you don’t recognize could be a sign of identity theft. Many companies sell identity theft protection services that may include credit monitoring, identity monitoring, identity recovery services, and identity theft insurance. These services may be offered by your bank or credit union, credit card provider, employer’s benefits program, or insurance company. Also, there are credit monitoring services like Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion that offer these services as well.

Identity monitoring services may notify you of a change of address request, court or arrest records, orders for new utility, cable or wire services, application for a payday loan, information on websites that sell stolen identity information.

Most will not notify you if someone uses your information to file a tax return and collect your refund, get Medicare benefits, get Medicaid benefits, get welfare benefits, claim Social Security benefits, or even claim unemployment benefits.

If you discover that someone is misusing your personal information visit:

WWW.IDENTITYTHEFT.GOV

Courtesy of Federal Trade Commission

DO YOU HAVE AN UP-TO-DATE

ESTATE PLAN?

The first thing to understand is that writing a will and having an estate plan are actually two different processes, even though an estate plan will include a will.

WILLS

Creating a will can be a fairly simple process. It will address who will take care of your children, who will take over your business, and who receives your assets and other personal property. A will requires the naming of an executor responsible for fulfilling the deceased’s wishes. Having one’s wishes defined in a will ensures privacy, helps avoid family disputes and saves money by avoiding probate and the expense of attorneys and public trustees to determine the distribution of assets which then becomes public information.

ESTATE PLANNING

Estate planning is the process of designating who will manage and distribute assets after death or incapacitation. It is a more intensive process and includes a variety of documents including the last will and testament. While it may be overwhelming to contemplate, a well-designed estate plan will ensure that assets are distributed according to one’s wishes. In addition to the last

will and testament, an estate plan might include a living will, a financial power of attorney, a living trust, and beneficiary designations. An estate plan can be particularly helpful in the case of multiple marriages, business ownership, specific charitable donations, or specific requests for health or property. It can also ensure wishes are carried out and that assets are distributed as designated.

LIVING WILL

A living will is a document that describes the type of care one would want if incapacitated and cannot speak for themself. This can assist the family with difficult decisions and avoid confusion. A financial power of attorney allows for a designated appointee to handle financial affairs in the event of incapacitation. They can make financial decisions in accordance with the instructions defined in the estate plan.

LIVING TRUST

A living trust is a document created during one’s life where a designated person, the trustee, is given responsibility for managing that individual’s assets for the benefit of the eventual beneficiary. It is designed to allow for the easy transfer of assets, thereby avoiding probate. A living revocable trust allows someone to be their own trustee and allows for changes in beneficiary at any time. An irrevocable living trust is restrictive, and beneficiaries may not be changed but there are certain beneficial tax consequences.