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: Probate Attorney
Does ‘Gray Divorce’ Fit into Estate Planning?
According to the Pew Research Center, the divorce rate has more than doubled for people over 50 since the 1990s. According to the AARP’s article entitled “Getting Divorced? It’s Time to Update Your Caregiving Plan.” A divorce can be financially draining. Moreover, later-in-life divorces frequently impact women’s finances more than men’s. That is because in addition … Continue reading Does ‘Gray Divorce’ Fit into Estate Planning?
Should I Update My Estate Plan?
An estate plan exists to accomplish three things. Real Daily’s article entitled “4 Good Reasons to Update Your Estate Plan” says that as you age, you should consider updating your estate plan. Why? Well, your feelings may change over time or you may experience a significant life event that requires you to update things. These are events … Continue reading Should I Update My Estate Plan?
Intestacy is Possibly the Worst Mistake for Families of Modest Means
Thinking About Not Writing a Will Because You Believe You Don’t Have Enough Resources? Think Again. Writing a Will is something most of us know we eventually have to do, but none of us really want to start. Some people believe it is too complicated. Other people don’t want to think about death. Some folks believe that the law … Continue reading Intestacy is Possibly the Worst Mistake for Families of Modest Means
What is a Life Estate?
A life estate is a type of property ownership that divides the control and ownership of a property. The person who creates the life estate for their home and assets is known as the “life tenant.” While a tenant retains control of the property, he or she shares ownership during their lifetime with the remainderman … Continue reading What is a Life Estate?
Important Documents in Your Estate Plan
The Durable Power of Attorney (DPOA) and a Health Surrogacy or Advanced Health Directive are used for situations where you can’t make decisions for yourself, explains Parent Your Parents article entitled “What You Should Know about Durable Powers of Attorney and Health Surrogacies.” A Durable Power of Attorney (DPOA). This is written authorization to represent or act on another’s … Continue reading Important Documents in Your Estate Plan
Should I Have a Trust in My Estate Plan?
Kiplinger’s article entitled “Why Do I Need a Trust?” says that if having assets distributed outright to a beneficiary could cause potential issues, there are several reasons to think about creating a trust. If you prefer to place specific conditions on the funds, you should have a trust. Many trusts state that distributions can only take place at … Continue reading Should I Have a Trust in My Estate Plan?
Does My College Aged Kid Need an Estate Plan?
When it comes to estate planning, we usually think of older adults. However, it’s a topic that we should also consider for college students. WDIO’s article entitled “Estate planning is for college students too” reminds us that there’s a number of documents you can put into place in the case of an emergency. Power of Attorney. There are … Continue reading Does My College Aged Kid Need an Estate Plan?
The Benefits of a Good Estate Plan
If you don’t have a comprehensive estate plan, state law will control. That’s unlikely to that the state will do what you would choose to do. MSN’s article entitled “What is estate planning?” discusses the benefits of estate planning. Minimizes taxes. Clever structuring of flexible retirement accounts, such as a Roth IRA, can help funnel more tax-free money to … Continue reading The Benefits of a Good Estate Plan
Should I Need a Trust in My Estate Plan?
Fed Week’s article entitled “Considerations for Including a Trust in Your Estate Plan” describes what a trust can offer. This includes the following: If your heirs are young, you can set up a trust to stay in effect until they are older and can handle their own finances. Another option is to keep the trust in effect … Continue reading Should I Need a Trust in My Estate Plan?