What Happens to Debts after a Death?
Everyone who creates an estate plan starts out by considering the assets that they want to pass on to their loved ones. This is only natural, but many people do not pay the same attention to what will happen to their debts when they pass away. This can leave your family in the position of having...Read More
What You Should Know about Separating Estate Plans after a Divorce
There are many legal matters to attend to following a divorce, and long-term planning is often not a top priority. However, you should avoid putting off separating your estate planning documents. It is necessary to update any relevant estate planning materials that activate in the event of your death once your divorce is finalized. This way,...Read More
What You Should Know About Setting Up a Guardianship
If you are new to estate planning, you might not be aware of the differences between a guardianship and, say, power of attorney. However, if you need to set up legal protections for a minor, elderly relative, or person otherwise incapable of managing their own affairs, it is important to understand the distinctions and choose...Read More
Is It Possible to Contest a Trust?
Although a Last Will and Testament is the most common estate planning tool, a trust is also a popular method. Often, trusts will be part of a comprehensive estate plan for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the fact that trusts can help avoid probate. Here are the basics you need...Read More
Get the Facts about Avoiding Probate
Probate—the legal process of managing and distributing an estate—is often time consuming and expensive. Fortunately, there are several ways to avoid probating estate assets, either partially or completely. With the proper estate planning techniques, you can avoid probate and save your loved ones a lot of time, expense, and hassle. Living Trusts One of the foremost...Read More
3 Common Probate Myths
When it comes to estate planning, you need to start out with accurate information. Unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation surrounding probate which many people believe when they first seek out an estate planning lawyer. Each case has its own unique circumstances, but there are a few common myths many people hold to be...Read More
How an Estate Planning Lawyer Can Help with College Expenses
If your children or grandchildren are on their way to starting their college education, you are probably curious about how to help them achieve their dreams. There are many ways to fund an education, but two of the most popular choices are the 529 College Education Plan and an Education Trust. The 529 Plan The...Read More
Discretionary Trusts 101
Protecting a legacy is an important consideration for many people during the estate planning process, and there are several ways to approach this goal. You’ve probably heard of revocable vs. irrevocable trusts, but you might not be aware of the benefits of setting up a discretionary trust for your loved ones. Here are the basics...Read More
Estate Planning Errors and How to Avoid Them
It’s tempting to put off estate planning for as long as possible—after all, no one likes to think about their loved ones going on without them. However, planning for the future is a vital part of making sure those you leave behind are cared for. Often, even people with a large amount of assets neglect...Read More
Retirement Funds and Life Insurance Policies: Are They Part of Probate?
If most of your estate consists of money you have in an IRA and 401(k) at work and in a life insurance policy, you might have a few questions about how probate affects you, such as: How can I transfer my estate to my heirs in the most efficient manner possible? If I have named...Read More