Having an estate planning attorney manage the probate process can alleviate a great deal of stress for the family, says the article “Reasons to hire a lawyer for probate” from The Mercury. For one thing, the attorney will know what your state requires in the way of executing the will. You may need to pay a state inheritance … Continue reading Do I Need an Attorney for Probate?
Category: Beneficiaries
What Does a Will Do and Not Do?
Estate plans are like life—over time, it changes, people are added and subtracted and your wishes and goals change. Regardless of your income, amount of assets or family circumstances, everyone wants to minimize taxes and facilitate a smooth transfer of property at death. Consider a recent aptly named article titled “Does Your Estate Plan Call for … Continue reading What Does a Will Do and Not Do?
The Most Common Estate Planning Mistakes
Estate administration is the process of managing the estate when a loved one has passed. For the inexperienced executor, there are pitfalls to be avoided, warns the article “Top 5 Probate and Estate Administration Mistakes” from Long Island Press. The biggest mistake is creating an estate plan from generic documents on the internet. Wills must meet many technical … Continue reading The Most Common Estate Planning Mistakes
What Is Better, a Trust or a Will?
Estate plans come in all sizes and shapes. One of the decisions in creating an estate plan is whether a trust should be part of your plan, as detailed in this article titled “Trust vs. Will: What They Share (And 6 Ways They are Different)” from Yahoo! Money. Both trusts and wills give control over how assets are distributed. … Continue reading What Is Better, a Trust or a Will?
What Happens If My Partner Dies and We’re Not Married?
Traditional or non-traditional couples have the option of marrying, but not all couples wish to, according to an article from Kiplinger, “Marriage: When You’d Rather Not.” Planning for a life together without the legal protections provided by marriage means couples of all kinds who decide not to marry must be sure to do estate planning. Otherwise, they … Continue reading What Happens If My Partner Dies and We’re Not Married?
What Is a Power of Attorney and Is It Important?
Most people realize the importance of the last will and testament. However, they remain unaware of the importance of a durable power of attorney. This document authorizes another person to act on your behalf while you are alive and expires upon death, as explained in an article titled “Power of attorney likely to be first vital … Continue reading What Is a Power of Attorney and Is It Important?
Are Testamentary Trusts a Good Idea?
Not everyone wants to leave everything to their heirs without restrictions. Some want to protect money inherited from their own parents for their children or want to keep an irresponsible child from squandering an inheritance. For people who want more control over their assets, a testamentary trust might be useful, according to the article “What Is … Continue reading Are Testamentary Trusts a Good Idea?
Yes, You Need a Will. Now.
Less than half of Americans have a will, or have any idea of how they would like to have their money and property handled at the time of their passing, according to an article titled “How to make a will and why you need one while you’re still alive” from Today. Why do you need a will? A … Continue reading Yes, You Need a Will. Now.
Why You Need an Estate Plan
Did you think you had to be rich to have an estate? Think again! From a legal perspective, your estate includes everything you own, from tangible property like a car, house, furniture, as well as intangible assets like insurance policies, bank accounts, retirement and investment accounts. You don’t have to be rich to have an … Continue reading Why You Need an Estate Plan
Why are Trusts a Good Idea?
Estate planning attorneys know trusts are the Swiss Army knife of estate planning. Whatever the challenge is to be overcome, there is a trust to solve the problem. This includes everything from protecting assets from creditors to ensuring the right people inherit assets. There’s no hype about trusts, despite the title of this article, “Trusts—What Is … Continue reading Why are Trusts a Good Idea?