A will is a powerful document that determines what happens to an individual’s assets after they die. The effort required to draft a will could go to waste if someone fails to comply with state law. An estate plan that the probate courts won’t uphold is not worth the...
Wills And Trusts
Revocable and irrevocable trusts for large estates
Navigating the complexities of estate planning can be daunting, especially for high-asset individuals. The goal is to ensure a seamless transfer of assets to chosen beneficiaries, but tax considerations, probate proceedings and potential creditors can complicate the...
3 reasons people add advance directives to an estate plan
An advanced directive is an important estate planning document that discusses someone's medical preferences. People may want to avoid certain medications because addiction runs in their family or may have specific wishes about resuscitation or life support after a...
Proactive strategies can protect your estate plan
Proper estate planning requires various “what if” scenarios. Creating documents that adheres to your priorities is the initial step while accounting for a certain level of flexibility in case circumstances change. Open lines of communication with children helps them...
3 situations that make estate planning trusts a good investment
A trust is a legal entity that you create to fulfill a specific purpose. Trusts often serve to hold, invest and distribute assets during someone's golden years or as part of the administration of their estate. Although people often dismiss the idea of a trust as...
Is a will or trust a better estate planning tool for new parents?
When you have a child, you likely understand that you are now responsible for them even if something happens to you. Becoming a parent is one of the most commonly cited reasons people give for finally creating an estate plan. You can ensure that your children will...
Is there such a thing as a foolproof will?
When you work on your estate plan, it’s with the intention of protecting yourself and those you care about. You probably know that a will is the first document most people discuss and create. A will isn’t the only document you’ll need, though. Relying on just a...
At what age should you start estate planning?
If you have always thought about estate planning as something to do when you get older, now may be the time to sit down and reconsider that. It is inevitable that everyone will eventually need help and support as they age. While the need for nursing home care or...
Do your aging parents have an estate plan that protects them?
Maybe you just finished your own estate plan because your spouse is pregnant with your first child. Perhaps you just watched your best friend struggle through a difficult estate administration process when their only parent died unexpectedly. There are numerous...
You’re part of the biggest wealth transfer in history
The amount of wealth in the United States can be fairly hard to comprehend. The numbers blur together and distinctions between even major amounts of money -- a billion and a trillion, for instance -- can be difficult to grasp with the proper sense of scale. However,...
