Estate Planning

Your estate plan determines what happens when you die and also what happens if you need medical support later in life. If you end up in a coma or the courts determine that you lack the necessary testamentary capacity to act on your own behalf, someone else will need...

A trust will remain in place long after you are gone. As such, you can use it to financially protect and provide for your loved ones in the long term. In addition, trust assets will be managed according to your instructions, which adds to the usefulness of these...

Estate disputes happen for many different reasons, but one common thing that is cited is the role of sentimental items. These items are often referred to as family heirlooms, but they may not be items that have been passed on over the generations. It could just be...

Guardianships can certainly be used for children, and they are a major part of estate planning. In fact, one thing that often spurs people to begin thinking about estate planning is when they have a child. They know that the child needs to be cared for if they pass...

When making an estate plan, it’s a good idea to talk to people who will be impacted by that plan. This includes your heirs and beneficiaries. You want to get feedback from them and get their input on how this plan should be set up. Legally speaking, the plan is...

If you’re like many Americans, a good portion of your assets are in retirement accounts. If you’ve been putting money away regularly, you likely have one or more individual retirement accounts (IRAs) with pretty healthy balances. You should already have beneficiaries...

Having your estate plan worked out now can go a long way toward protecting your future and your family. While you may believe you have a full-proof estate plan, there may be issues you don’t realize. Here are some of the common errors your need to avoid: 1. Writing...

When you're picking a power of attorney, you may start by thinking about the medical side of things. You want to choose an agent to make your medical decisions for you. You know that you could become incapacitated at a later date, and it's important to know that...

Drafting a will is a fundamental component of estate planning. A will can perform several functions but it largely relates to how your assets will be divided upon your death.  There are several options when drafting a will, you can even draft one on your own, but this...

No parent wants to imagine a situation where someone else assumes a full parenting role over their child. Unfortunately, life is uncertain. If you have minor children, it is in their best interest (and yours) that you designate a guardian for them in your will. Given...