Category: Taxes

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’s Involved with Being a Trustee?

There’s an old saying that the two best days in a boat owner’s life are the day they buy their boat and the day they sell it. Forbes’ article entitled “How To Be An Effective Trustee” says that a similar notion applies to being a trustee – it’s an honor to be named and then a huge relief … Continue reading What’s Involved with Being a Trustee?

The Risks of Creating Your Own Estate Plan

We call it the brother-in-law syndrome: your brother-in-law knows everything, even though he doesn’t. He tells anyone who’ll listen how much money he’s saved by doing things himself. Sadly, it’s the family who has to make things right after the do-it-yourself estate plan fails. This is the message from an article titled “Dangers of Do-It-Yourself Estate … Continue reading The Risks of Creating Your Own Estate Plan

How Can I Choose an Estate Planning Lawyer?

Only about a third of Americans have an estate plan, according to the article “Choosing an estate planning lawyer” from Senior Matters. The number of people with wills is decreasing, rather than increasing, despite the events of recent years. Estate planning is worth doing, for the peace of mind, the personal and financial protection it provides, not to … Continue reading How Can I Choose an Estate Planning Lawyer?

What Is a QTIP Trust?

A Qualified Terminable Interest Property Trust, or QTIP, is a trust allowing the person who makes the trust (the grantor) to provide for a surviving spouse while maintaining control of how the trust’s assets are distributed once the surviving spouse passes, as explained in the article “QTIP Trusts” from Investopedia. QTIPs are irrevocable trusts, commonly used by people … Continue reading What Is a QTIP Trust?

Ask Mom if She has a Will

The family was baffled. Not only was the will out of date, but it was also unsigned and the person named as executor had died a decade before their mother died. Grandchildren born after the will was created were not mentioned and personal possessions left to some people in the will had been given away … Continue reading Ask Mom if She has a Will

Why Do You Need an Estate Plan?

Everyone benefits from having an estate plan. If you own property, investments, or anything of value, you need an estate plan. If you have family or dependents, you need an estate plan. Estate planning directs how assets are directed, if you become incapacitated or when you die. The checklist for creating an estate plan includes … Continue reading Why Do You Need an Estate Plan?

Estate Planning Considerations for Minor Children

Creating an estate plan with minor children in mind has a host of variables quite different than one where all heirs are adults. If the intention is for the minor children to be beneficiaries, or if there is a remote chance a minor child might become an unintended beneficiary, different provisions will be needed. An … Continue reading Estate Planning Considerations for Minor Children

Factors to Consider when Picking Executor, Trustees and POAs

Having your estate planning documents created with an experienced professional is important, as is naming the people who will be putting your plan into action. A key sticking point is often deciding who is the right person for the role, says an article from Nasdaq titled “Estate Planning: 5 Tips to Pick Trustees, Executors and POAs.” It helps to … Continue reading Factors to Consider when Picking Executor, Trustees and POAs