Many people will eventually need a guardian as they get older. These people, called wards, are appointed (or appoint) a guardian to take care of them and make decisions for them. Though the titles involved here make it sound like some science fiction or fantasy movie,...
Probate is an integral process to estate administration. Simply put, probate is the process of which a person's property is distributed to the appropriate parties. Probate takes some time because the wishes of the deceased person are usually outlined in a will, and...
This post was inspired by a recent memorial service. The young father was a wild land firefighter - a dangerous profession. You might assume he died in a fire, but that was not the case. A fatal car crash took his life. He left behind a wife and young daughter. Life...
Estate planning isn't all about wills and trusts. There are two other critical pieces to the estate planning formula that every person should consider and incorporate in their plan: durable power of attorney and an advance health care directive.Durable power of...
Trusts are a staple of many estate plans, and they serve a very important function for a lot of people. It is very easy to be confused by a trust, even though it is a fairly straightforward legal premise. A trust is simple a property arrangement between three people....
Your spouse suffers a stroke or you fall while cleaning and fracture your wrist and pelvis - what happens next? Some amount of long-term care services will likely be required.Long-term care includes all the medical and non-medical services to cope with a chronic...
Estate planning has a reputation of being difficult and arduous. In a way, this is true. There are some inherently difficult topics to wrestle with when you are discussing an estate plan. But at the end of the day, estate planning is really just the last word of the...
There are so many people all across the country that either don't have a will (or an estate plan) or have an incomplete or insufficient will (or estate plan). That is an unfortunate fact, and it should motivate you to get a will (or complete one), depending on your...
While working on your will, you probably spent time considering who was best suited to settle your estate. You asked the close friend or family member if he or she would act as an executor of your estate. But did you discuss executor fees?This issue received some...
When you pass away, your assets, property and everything that composes your estate needs to be dealt with. These things will be distributed to various parties. If you have it your way (by way of a will and trusts) then the probate process can be avoided or largely...
