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The wishes you have expressed in a medical directive don’t do any good if no one knows about them. The system of medical records used in the U.S. does not make it easy for doctors to know that you have a medical directive and that you have expressed your wishes ahead of time, according to […]

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Some estate battles are predictable and quite costly to both finances and family. If the main instrument used to distribute an estate is a will that has to go through probate, the legal issues can often lead to huge battles that could be avoided by using a trust, according to the Times Herald-Record in “Trusts […]

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A trust is a good estate planning tool. However, it is not necessarily for everyone and every plan. Despite extensive advertising by non-attorneys selling trusts, the real fact is that not everyone needs one. If they do need a trust, there are many important decisions that need to be made to avoid a disaster. There […]

last will and testament

There are many false impressions out there about creating an estate plan. However, it actually does not have to be challenging. Estate planning does not have to be difficult to accomplish, according to The New York Times in “What It Was Like To Finally Write My Will.” The author of the piece discovered that creating his […]

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Creating a plan for distribution of assets is practical. If you do not have children, it isn’t possible to follow the standard practice of caring for your spouse and your offspring when considering an estate plan. Exploring the options when childless requires a bit more thinking, according to The New York Times in “If You […]

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Avoiding the thought of death is relatively standard in humans. However, it may not be the right course. We do not generally dwell on the thought of death, we avoid making estate plans and we are often not prepared for the reality of death when it happens, according to The New York Times in “New […]

Elder Couple with Bills

A living trust can become a problem, if it isn’t created with good advice. A living trust needs careful preparation or an estate may face probate, according to the Napa Valley Register in “Avoid this living trust problem.” The problem can result from people buying living trusts through non-attorney trust mills, online legal form services or […]

Senior couple

Many of the problems that arise in managing an estate can be avoided by careful planning. Some of the friction within the family and difficulties in dealing with an estate can go more smoothly, if you know a few things about estate planning and your goals, according to The Register-Guard in “Final farewell needs to […]

last will and testament

A will written years ago may not fit with the current laws of your state if changes have been made. Whether an estate plan is a good one depends on state laws that may be changed, so it is a good idea to take a fresh look at your plan, according to the Dunwoody Crier […]

Wills trusts and estates covered

There are many, many reasons why people need an estate plan. There are so many reasons why people need a will, that in all likelihood everyone needs one, according to The Bellingham Herald in “Here are seven reasons you want to protect your family with a last will and testament.” The reasons include: Without a […]