You probably already knew that trusts allow assets to pass easily to heirs, but you might not be aware that there are several different kinds to choose from. Trusts are categorized according to when they go into effect and who owns the assets placed in trust. Here is some background information about each type to...Read More

The majority of people would be surprised to discover a particular fact about estate planning law: every person has an estate plan of some kind, even if they never set foot in a probate lawyer’s office. Each state has laws in place in order to determine what happens when a person dies or becomes incapacitated...Read More

If you are in the process of estate planning or just getting ready for retirement, you have probably come across the term charitable trust. Charitable Remainder Trusts, or CRT’s, allow families to create income and save on taxes, all while benefiting the charity of their choice. The following is a brief introduction to how a...Read More

An advance directive is a written record a person makes regarding their wishes for medical treatment. Many times, this document includes a living will and power of attorney, granting a trusted family member or other loved one the authority to make decisions in the person’s stead. Advance directives are used in cases where the patient...Read More

When making plans for how their estate is to be handled, many people try to avoid taxation as much as possible and simplify probating the assets whenever they can. There are several strategies you can employ to accomplish this. Placing property in trust is one way of ensuring it transfers easily. Another way property owners...Read More

It is an unfortunate fact that sometimes legal disputes arise surrounding property and persons affected by illness, aging and death. Probate courts deal with these sorts of problems, which can range from relatives of a deceased person disputing the will to family members determining who has power of attorney when a loved one becomes incapacitated....Read More

Creating a living trust often allows an estate to avoid probate, making them an incredibly popular option in estate planning. This simplifies the process considerably for estate executors and loved ones, but a living trust is not always the best option for every family. There are several factors to consider before putting a trust in...Read More

You may have heard that living trusts are a good strategy for avoiding probate, since they allow you to pass property directly to a named beneficiary. This means they can potentially save your loved ones from a months-long legal process involving expensive legal fees. Living trusts are an attractive option for many property owners for...Read More