People are not generally allowed to cut spouse off from inheritance. It is not a simple matter to disinherit your spouse, according to the Times Herald-Record in “A spouse’s inheritance rights no simple matter.” The details vary by state, but a surviving spouse has the right to make what is known as a “spousal election.” […]

It is quick and it is easy. However, you really don’t want to go down that road. It is a new trend. You go to a digital site that offers wills, you answer a few questions and sign it digitally. Now you have a will, right? No, actually you don’t, according to the Jewish Link […]

The estate tax may be repealed. However, that does not eliminate trusts as valuable tools in estate planning. An estate tax can take a considerable bite out of an estate. Reducing that threat is often a main focus of creating an estate plan. However, even if the estate tax is repealed, the trust remains a […]

The mistakes may not be estate planning mistakes. However, they can have a big impact on your estate plan. The idea of an estate plan is to have a plan to distribute your assets and handle taxes, court costs and attorney’s fees, without them having a major negative impact on the family left behind. While […]

The amount of assets you have do not make a difference: you still need an estate plan. Very few people in the U.S. are wealthy, but they still need an estate plan, according to the Napa Valley Register in “New dad wonders about estate planning.” One thing people with limited assets should understand is that […]

If reform does not occur by the 2030s, benefits will most likely not be stopped, but will be reduced. Washington has known for a long time now that Social Security needs to be reformed, but it is not expected soon, according to Forbes in “When Can You Expect Social Security Reform?“. The problem is that […]

If you do not fund a trust during your lifetime, then probate gets involved. A living trust can get confusing and mistakes can be made, if you don’t pay close attention, according to the Times Herald-Record in “Importance of funding a trust.” A key to the living trust is that you need to transfer your […]

If you like your home and want to stay there in retirement years, it might be wise to take a look at it now from the point of view of the elderly. Stairs, small bathrooms, and too-high cabinets and countertops are examples of homes built in the U.S. that you may own and could cause […]

It might be a good idea to prepare for the disease that can come along before reaching retirement. It is not understood why, however, some people begin to suffer from early-onset Alzheimer’s long before reaching retirement age, according to the Massillon Independent in “Alzheimer’s not limited to elderly.” Because it is possible for you to […]

The estate tax gets a lot of attention. However, it only affects 1% of American families. There is a lot of political talk that goes on about the estate tax. However, the overwhelming majority of estates do not have enough assets to even begin to worry about having to pay it. For those who have enough […]