Have you thought about what will happen to your possessions when you die or become incapacitated? Do you worry about how your loved ones will be taken care of? Or how they will know what you want and how to carry out your wishes? An estate plan can help you solve all...
Estate Planning
What should you look for in a guardian for your children?
As you do your estate planning, if you’re a young parent, one of your top priorities is probably just picking a guardian for your children. They are still minors and they will be for a long time, so you need to know that another parental figure can step in and raise...
How to update your will after a divorce
You may think that finalizing your divorce is the last step in ending your life as a married couple. However, an important step you can afford to overlook is updating your will and entire estate plan. If you don’t do this, you may find your ex-spouse is still listed...
What is a power of attorney?
As you start working on developing your estate plan, one term you’re going to hear and see a lot is “power of attorney” (POA). Most people aren’t entirely sure what that is. They often think a POA is a person. It’s not. A POA is a document. It gives someone who’s...
If you don’t have children, do you need an estate plan?
Every family dynamic is different and unique. Some people have several children, while others opt to foster or adopt. Having children is not a priority for everyone, and in some cases, it simply isn’t possible. Estate planning documents tend to be flexible to...
Can you leave money in your will to a caregiver?
America has an aging population, and many seniors rely on professional caregivers to retain their independence and remain in their homes instead of going into long-term nursing care. It’s only natural to feel a strong connection to a caregiver who has been with you...
Will your executor need to pay estate taxes after you die?
Estate planning is a way to maximize how much you leave for the people and charitable causes that you care about when you die. By planning ahead, you keep control over what happens to your property and can potentially minimize how much of your money and property goes...
3 ways to reduce fights during the administration of your estate
Many families come apart at the seams during estate administration. Siblings may turn against each other, and children may fight bitterly with stepparents over the assets in the estate. When someone with significant property dies, everyone in the family may want more...
How can the money in a special needs trust be used?
When you have a disabled loved one, providing for their future needs can be difficult. You want to leave your assets behind to help them live a happier, more fulfilled life. However, you also don’t want to interfere with their access to certain need-based benefits,...
Who will handle your money if you’re incapacitated?
Your estate plan lets your loved ones know what you want to happen to your assets when you pass away. There are also various aspects of your plan that can take care of matters while you are still living. When you create your estate plan, you should establish power of...