Losing a loved one is never easy, and sorting out their affairs can feel like an overwhelming responsibility -- especially if you are unsure about whether they left behind a will. It can help provide clarity and guide you through the next steps of handling their...
Estate planning significantly involves making deliberate choices about who gets what. What about those you would rather not include in your will? While it may seem harsh, there are legitimate reasons why someone might choose to disinherit a family member....
Probate can be a long, expensive ordeal for your loved ones at a time when they are grieving. Creating a revocable living trust can make things easier for them. A revocable living trust has several advantages, one of which is that your estate won’t be subject to...
The estate planning process involves bequeathing your assets to loved ones while making sure that your wishes are honored and potential disputes are minimized. One effective tool in this process is a payable on death account, also known as a Totten trust, which allows...
Trust distributions can be set up in a variety of ways, and you get to decide in advance how you want to do this. If you’re using a trust as part of your estate plan, you get control over what happens to the assets in the fund. Even though you have already passed...
Most young adults in the U.S. go online daily. They are statistically likely to store intellectual property in the Cloud, engage with others on social media, send email and manage their finances online. Many young adults have never even owned a physical checkbook. And...
Making an estate plan is one of the most important tasks to accomplish as an adult. Yet, it is not something to make and forget about for the rest of your life. Rather, it is something you should revisit regularly to ensure it reflects your current circumstances and...
Estate planning is an important process. It can greatly benefit friends and families if done right. However, estate planning is a complicated process, which may lead to some common mistakes. If you are planning your estate, you may want to learn about some common...
It’s not uncommon for older people to grow very fond of in-home caregivers. If they don’t have family living nearby or their relatives simply aren’t able to provide the kind of help they need on a daily basis, these caregivers can become almost like family. It’s not...
Undue influence can wreak havoc on an estate plan. An elderly person may have crafted an excellent plan that should provide for all of their family members and limit disputes. But if they suffer this type of undue influence near the end of their life, it could change...