Estate Planning

Do you ever worry that your heirs are not going to use the assets that you leave to them in your estate plan in a manner that you would approve of? For instance, perhaps you have an heir who has always had trouble saving money and tends to make frivolous purchases....

You’ve been pretty mobile throughout your entire life, and you have real estate and other assets in several different states -- a second home, some investment property and maybe partial ownership in a business. All of that diversification is wonderful, but it can be a...

It is certainly better to have a simple estate plan than to have nothing at all. When you consider that most Americans don’t even have a will telling their heirs what to do with their money, the need for this type of planning becomes clear.  But is it enough? Here are...

Powers of attorney are important estate planning documents. The two main types are legal (financial) and medical. We have already touched on how a financial power of attorney (POA) works, so now it’s time to consider a medical power of attorney.  For many people, it...

You want to use your will to divide all of your assets, if possible, and you know that this document is where you can split up the physical assets you own, your family heirlooms and the cash you have in various accounts. You simply have to state which assets you want...

There are a variety of reasons someone may relocate from one state to another. A move for a job or returning home after retirement are just two reasons why people do so. If you've taken steps to craft an estate plan, including drafting a will, then you're ahead of the...

Estate planning may seem like a daunting process. It doesn't have to be, though. Some pre-planning can help the process move along seamlessly. One thing that you can pre-plan for is who will be your estate's executor (sometimes known as a personal representative)....

There are many things to consider when you’re creating an estate plan. While you might be focused on making sure your loved ones get the assets you want them to have, you also need to think about who will make decisions for you if you can’t do it yourself.  One...

A trust eventually needs a trustee to manage it, and that position is both important and filled with responsibility. Unfortunately, not every trustee lives up to the challenge. Know that you can petition a judge to remove your trustee no matter what type of trust you...

Thinking about taking care of their baby is a new parent's biggest priority. While they may make sure that the child’s immediate needs are met, however,  many new parents don't stop to think about what will happen to their child if both parents should suddenly pass...