If you haven’t done any estate planning, but you know you need to, you may feel like you’re falling behind. Don’t most people at least have a will? The truth is twofold. First off, no, most people do not have an estate plan. In fact, reports have found that 68% of...
If you are planning to put together your first will, you probably have a lot of questions. You may wonder what kind of information you need to put into it and if it’s worth working with an attorney when you don’t have much to leave behind. For most people, working...
A person who has assets to pass down to their heirs and beneficiaries can sometimes do that in a will. However, many people opt to use trusts because they can bypass the probate system. The individual who creates the trust can set certain terms for the disbursement by...
Legacy planning refers to planning for leaving behind not only assets and inheritances but also life lessons, personal values and memories. Legacy planning is unique because it involves much more than what you’ve earned and the legal matters that have to be attended...
An inheritance can be a wonderful thing to leave for your children and other people you love. However, especially for larger estates, an inheritance can be as much of a challenge as it is a blessing. Anyone might struggle with receiving a significant inheritance after...
Having a new child is a high point in a parent’s life, but it’s also a time when careful planning becomes a priority. One thing that new parents need to think about is their estate plan. Even if they already had one, it will probably need to be changed so that they...
If there is one reason that the average person doesn't have a power of attorney, it is probably that signing away some of their authority makes them nervous. Many people don't like the idea of giving someone else the power and legal authority to make their medical...
As a part of your estate plan, you should establish your health care wishes if there comes a time when you can’t speak on your own behalf due to a serious illness or injury. Many people establish a health care proxy and give at least one person some power to make...
It’s normal to see family members with differing opinions on how to handle the passing of a loved one. It’s normal to see them argue about caring for an elderly loved one who needs more care and attention than in the past. Unfortunately, those arguments could get out...
A serious art collector may have hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars in their collection. It will contain many one-of-a-kind pieces that simply can’t be found anywhere else. Even if you just collected art for the love of art itself, and not as an...
