You don't want your death to cause a fight among your loved ones, but that is exactly what will likely happen if people don't agree with how you divided your property. Even if you have a carefully crafted estate plan, there is a very real risk that someone in your...
You know that being the executor of someone’s estate is a big job -- but you probably have no real experience with the probate process. Where do you even start? Let’s break down the steps: Find the will and file it with the probate court. Finding the will and filing...
There are a lot of forms to sign when you take out a life insurance policy. One of those forms will be a beneficiary designation form. It generally contains one line for your primary beneficiary and then another one for an alternate. While you might not think twice...
When the time comes to make your last will and testament, you have many critical decisions to make. A will is usually your last chance to accomplish your end-of-life goals. For many, it also provides an opportunity to say a few final words to loved ones. When you...
When people have a lot of assets to manage and loved ones to protect, they often make use of one or more trusts as part of their estate plans. However, you don’t need to have a great deal of money to benefit from a trust. It’s important to know, however, that not all...
Putting your estate plans together is an essential part of preparing for your future. Once you start, however, you may find yourself confronted by some unexpected difficulties making decisions about your plans. For example, it may not be that easy to choose the right...
Putting your estate plans together is an essential part of preparing for your future. Once you start, however, you may find yourself confronted by some unexpected difficulties making decisions about your plans. For example, it may not be that easy to choose the right...
Think about your friends and family. Would you say that most of them probably have an estate plan in place? After all, you know they’ll all need one eventually -- along with everyone else. It stands to reason that some people won’t have done it yet, but most probably...
Estate planning carries a clear value for those who are leaving significant assets to their heirs. Having a plan in place can reduce the taxes that need to be paid, limit the chances for disputes between heirs and provide guidance to the family during a difficult...
Estate planning carries a clear value for those who are leaving significant assets to their heirs. Having a plan in place can reduce the taxes that need to be paid, limit the chances for disputes between heirs and provide guidance to the family during a difficult...