You worked hard all your life and amassed a decent estate to leave to your heirs and beneficiaries. Yet, you have some real concerns about one of your heirs. You love them dearly and want to provide for them after you’re gone. But one heir is quite ill-suited to...
If you pass on and leave a will dictating how you would like your estate to be distributed, someone has to deposit the will and probate. Probate is a court process that approves the will and makes sure that your wishes are carried out. However, it is sometimes best...
You want to get your estate plan in order, but you’re finding a few things confusing. What exactly is the difference between a beneficiary, a contingent beneficiary and an heir? Does the exact word that’s used really matter? Absolutely. Before you put your plans in...
When you die, the property you have left after your personal representative repays your creditors will become the legacy you leave for your loved ones. After a lifetime of hard work, you probably want to give the people you love as much as possible out of your...
Without an advanced directive, you are the only one who can make medical decisions for yourself. You have a right to make these choices, based on recommendations from your doctor. However, what if something happens and you can’t communicate with the doctor or...
When you have a child with special needs, you’re naturally concerned about your child's well-being after you’re gone. There are assets available that could be used to see to their comfort, but you’re concerned about interfering with their eligibility for government...
Estate planning goes beyond distributing money and valuable assets to surviving loved ones. Life will go on for family members after the death of a loved one. During that time, inter-family issues could arise that result in contentious litigation over the course of...
There are many critical aspects involved in the estate planning process. You have to draft a will and health care directives and proxies. You must appoint a guardian for minor children, draft a financial power of attorney and complete beneficiary designation forms. ...
Family dynamics are often complicated (if not outright messy), and there’s nothing like the death of a loved one to cause serious fractures in even otherwise steady relationships. While nobody really likes to contemplate their own mortality -- and conversations about...
