It is easier to plan our day than to make decisions around how the end of our lives will be spent. On one level, it is common to consider estate planning from the viewpoint of passing away. However, a living will that name a personal representative as power of...
There are a few times when it’s a good idea to add items to your estate plan or to update your estate plan to be sure it is as protective as it can be. One of the times when you should update your estate plan is if you’ve purchased a piece of property. As a person who...
Creating a comprehensive estate plan means that you have to ensure each asset you have is assigned to someone. Some people do this via a will, but others prefer to use trusts to accomplish this. One thing that you have to remember is that there are some assets that...
The name of an irrevocable trust suggests that it can never be changed -- and that is the general idea of having an irrevocable trust in the first place. These are trusts that you’re only supposed to make when you’re very sure of exactly how you want to use the assets...
For most people, their pets are members of the family. They care for their furry friends (some even refer to them as their children!) and provide them with everything they need to have a long, happy life. But, many people don’t consider what’s going to happen to those...
As part of your estate planning, you may be considering an incentive trust. This is a trust that allows you to create incentives for your heirs in order to get the money. A common example is saying that an heir can’t get their inheritance until they finish school or...
If you’re getting separated from your spouse, you may be looking into changing your estate plan. Changing your estate plan, or at the very least reviewing it, is important to making sure that it reflects what you want to have happen if you cannot take care of yourself...
A life milestone like the impending birth often motivates a couple to sit down and engage in estate planning. Unexpected outcomes can happen at any time for anyone, though. It's equally essential for childless married couples to document their final wishes as well....
Deciding on someone to hold power of attorney is an important step of estate planning. However, you do need to make sure that person fits the role. Not everyone is a good fit for the position. Some people may not live close enough to you. Others may not have time to...
If you expect the probate process with an estate to go quickly, you need to readjust your expectations -- now. Most estates pass rather slowly through probate, despite the best intentions of everyone involved. Naturally, if there’s a dispute among the heirs, the whole...