Category: Probate
Experts share tips for getting the job done and keeping the peace. Clearing out the family home? How do you keep the memories, but also get rid of stuff? In reality, you just can’t keep everything. The Wall Street Journal MarketWatch recently interviewed author Linda Hetzer in an article titled, “Cleaning out Mom & Dad’s […]
To grasp the importance of planning for the distribution of your worldly goods, consider all the things that influence what happens to them. An Estate Plan is a form of defense for your estate. But you also need to defend that plan against future influences. A recent Kiplinger’s Personal Finance article, titled “Forces That Affect […]
While a family member or friend may be willing to care for your cat or dog or cockatoo, that’s a commitment not to be taken lightly. Aside from the cost of maintaining a pet, there is daily care, and for any number of reasons you may not have someone you can depend on to take […]
Financial planners believe that one’s financial affairs should be organized in such a way that if today is the day that your life changes forever; you are as prepared as you can be. Planning for the unexpected is tricky. How do you know what you’ll really need in the future? It’s best to err on […]
Here are the four estate-planning documents everyone needs. Don’t think you really need a will? Think again! Creating a will with a qualified estate planning attorney is the best way to ensure your wishes will be honored and moved quickly through the legal process. As The Wall Street Journal warns in “Four Estate-Planning Documents Everyone […]
There are basic rules and guidelines that apply to every estate plan, whether it is taxable or not. Draft an effective plan by paying attention to these guidelines, regardless of what the tax law is or might become. You always can make adjustments if the tax law changes. What’s your excuse for not having an estate […]
If your digital assets aren’t included in an estate plan, your heirs might not know about that online stock account you have. They might not know you do all your banking online. Your digital assets could be lost forever. In addition to your tangible assets, your digital assets should be included in your estate plan. […]
If you care about those who will handle things for you in case you become incapacitated, help them now. Do it if you have dependent children or someone depending on you financially. Do it for the people you will leave behind. Stop thinking that everyone knows what you want when you pass away. And even […]
The legal and estate planning industries don’t like to discuss the fact that millions of wills, trusts and other end-of-life documents go missing each year resulting in months—and sometimes years—of unnecessary stress when a family member passes away. Yes, unfortunately if you haven’t properly planned ahead of time, your estate could end up in the […]
Instead of flat out asking them to tell you about their personal information, it can work better to talk about emergency preparedness instead. When a natural disaster strikes, it can prompt many “what if” conversations. What if that were to happen to us? What if that were to happen to our family? These events be […]
