When you die, someone will need to take charge of handling your estate, passing it through probate if needed, and distributing assets as per your wishes. While death might seem a long way off, it is important to name someone now in case you die unexpectedly. If you...
The wonderful thing about estate planning in the 21st century is having so many options at your disposal. The legal documents you add to your estate plan can cover almost any issue that concerns you. A living will, for example, helps you address catastrophic health...
Most people's estate plans focus almost entirely on who they want to leave their property to when they die. Wills allocate property, while trusts can help people avoid estate taxes or the loss of property to creditors. That is far from all that an estate plan can do....
You’re watching a movie one night with your family, after having considered writing a will. Ironically, the movie starts with a family gathering at their lawyer’s office for a will reading after a loved one has passed away. You start to wonder if this is what it is...
There are important life events in the life of every estate planner that should cause them to reexamine their estate plan and update it if needed. Estate planners should be familiar with what types of circumstances should prompt them to ensure their estate plan is...
Many people probably put off estate planning because they find the vast array of potential options too daunting. They don’t know where to start, so they don’t start at all. However, just because there may be a wide range of estate planning options for any given person...
While being assigned executor of a will is an honor, it is also an obligation and big responsibility. By definition, an executor (also called a “personal representative”) is an individual or bank or trust company that settles the estate of a testator according to the...
Making a will is not at the top of the list for many young married couples. Many young married couples believe that creating an estate plan is out of their financial reach. No matter your age, you should have a basic plan set, and this is especially true if there are...
