Estate Planning

Estate planning can be a sensitive process. Every decision you make will impact your legacy and loved ones. That's why it's recommended to work with different professionals to avoid costly mistakes.  So, should a financial advisor be among the professionals you hire?...

You likely know your children better than anyone else, including how they handle money. One child may receive a substantial inheritance and invest it for retirement or a rainy day. Another child, upon receiving their inheritance, will go out and blow it all on luxury...

An important part of estate planning is making regular updates every few years. Many people update their estate plans about every three to five years. This is about how long it takes for people to acquire new assets, such as real estate, property and investments. An...

A will contest can lead to lengthy court battles and emotional distress for your loved ones. Beyond the potential rifts in family relationships caused by disputes over your estate, a challenge to your will can delay the distribution of assets and result in significant...

You want the inheritance that you’re leaving to your children to be beneficial for them. You may be passing them tangible assets that they can use, like a family home. You may also just be handing down significant financial assets that you’ve saved up over the course...

A will provides instructions on how your assets should be distributed upon your death. Trusts manage assets according to your wishes. You can also utilize powers of attorney to meet your medical and financial needs.  Estate planning is an important process that all...

Much of the estate planning process centers around distributing assets on a person’s death. However, one important aspect that can be overlooked is choosing a guardian for one's minor children. A guardian can be nominated by including a clause in your will. The person...

Managing an estate competently and keeping interested parties adequately informed can be complicated. Thus, if you are appointed an executor of an estate, you need to be prepared. Here is how you can do this: Before probate Before you assume your duties, you need to...

One way to leave an inheritance to someone is to list it in your will. As soon as you pass away, your estate goes through probate. The estate executor should inventory the assets and then give those financial assets directly to the person that you named. But this can...

When parents have an adult child with profound disabilities, they often seek to protect that child’s future as much as they can by pouring their estate into a special needs trust for that child’s benefit.  Special needs trusts are specifically designed not to...