Planning for your future can be a daunting task. When you begin the process, the number of components alone might intimidate you. However, each document included in an estate plan contains crucial information that provides protection for your family’s future....
Many people believe that someone must choose a will or a trust for his or her estate plan. However, these people may not realize that it is often a good strategy to have both documents.Including a trust in your estate plan can have many benefits. Unfortunately, you...
As you get older, you start to prioritize what’s important to you. You want to make sure your assets will be distributed to the people you care about when you’re gone. Updating your estate plan is a smart move if something significant in your life...
Estate planning can be very personal. Details, such as what your assets are, how you plan to distribute them, who you trust as alternate decision-makers and who you trust to handle your final affairs, can be difficult to talk about, especially if you are trying to...
Most people, upon creating an estate plan, will check it off of a to-do list and promptly forget about it. However, estate plans are not meant to be created and then left stagnant.Your life is filled with change, and your estate plan works best when it reflects...
Having a well-developed estate plan is one of the best things someone can do to safeguard their property, give themselves and their family peace of mind and avoid the cost of probate. Despite the utility of getting one's affairs in order, though, a surprising number...
A healthcare power of attorney and a living will are both documents that allow you to make your wishes about healthcare known in case you become incapacitated. The differences between the two documents can be confusing because both regard healthcare decisions and are...
If a loved one has died intestate, meaning without a will, you may be inclined to believe that probate, the official proving of a will, would not be necessary. However, probate can't be avoided because of the absence of a will.In fact, there tends to be more probate...
Drawing up an estate plan is not always easy. Especially when it comes to the deeper aspects of family relationships and inheritance. However, there comes a time when you start to put into action measures that will delegate your assets to your intended heirs someday....
You and your spouse worked together to come up with a thoughtful estate plan. It covers all your beneficiaries, includes a medical directive and handles distribution of your assets. You believe you and your spouse have planned for every eventuality, when suddenly,...
