A Legacy of Experience. A Foundation of Integrity.
Wills are among the simplest estate planning tools and are excellent for addressing a variety of estate planning needs. However, it’s important to realize they will not address all of your estate planning needs. Here are some tasks a will does not accomplish: Leaving certain kinds of property. In most situations, you are not allowed… Read More »
Young people often do not consider getting their estate plans set, believing it can wait until they are older. But when they become parents, it’s important to at least establish a minimal plan to protect their children in the event of their untimely passing. The following are a few estate planning tips for young parents… Read More »
A common problem encountered by estate executors is actually finding the estate planning documents they need to carry out a deceased person’s last wishes. Fortunately, with a little bit of planning on your end, this is an easy problem to avoid for your loved ones. The following are some tips for storing your will to… Read More »
People are using the Internet to do more than ever today, and there is now the option to create wills and other estate planning documents online. But is this a legitimate option for people looking to truly ensure the security of their documents? The following are a few of the pros and cons to using… Read More »
If you wish to revoke a will and write a new one, there are several ways you can officially abandon the old document. You can tear it up, burn it or destroy it in any other manner — or you could simply void the will by adding an attachment noting that it is invalid. However,… Read More »
An oral will is a one that has been spoken out loud to another person, but not written down. These wills are only valid in limited circumstances, such as if a person has suddenly become ill and is unable to create a written will before passing away. Witnesses who heard the deceased person state his… Read More »
You are not legally required to take on the responsibility of trustee if you are asked to do so, or even if you were named trustee without your knowledge. There is typically a list of people named in an estate plan to be potential trustees, and if you decline, the next person will then take… Read More »
If you are the executor of an estate that includes a house or another piece of real estate, you will need to figure out exactly how much it is worth. The value of the property could affect estate taxes, along with the probate and asset division processes. In many cases, inheritors will put the property… Read More »
The person you choose to have power of attorney for you will be someone who potentially handles your financial and legal affairs when you are unable to do so yourself. Therefore, you’ll want to make sure you choose someone who either is experienced in those areas or is otherwise qualified to handle those sorts of… Read More »
At some point, your estate plan is going to become outdated. This will likely happen when your children become grown, your financial condition changes or when you reach retirement. When your own personal situation changes, it’s important to make sure you make the corresponding changes in your estate plan, as well. The following are some… Read More »