If your life or the law has changed since you signed your trust, it needs to be updated. Updates can be made by way of an amendment – or – a complete restatement. An amendment updates a particular part of…
Today many estate plans contain trusts that will continue for the benefit of a spouse’s lifetime and then for the benefit of several generations. Since these trusts are designed to span multiple decades, it is important for the trust creator…
With the number of online and do-it-yourself (DIY) legal providers continuing to grow and advertise heavily, you may be wondering if you could do your estate planning with the help of these forms. The advertising is seductive. Ads say, “attorneys…
If you’ve been appointed an executor of a loved one’s estate or a successor trustee, and that person dies, your grief – not to mention your to-do list, including tasks ranging from planning the funeral, coordinating relatives coming in from…
As Ambrose Bierce once darkly observed, “Death is not the end. There remains the litigation over the estate.” Obviously, ideally, when someone passes away, the paperwork and material concerns associated with the estate are so flawlessly handled (thanks to excellent…
As we build wealth, we naturally desire to pass that financial stability to our offspring. With the grandkids, especially, we often share a special bond that makes us want to provide well for their future. However, that bond can actually…
When you pass away, your family may need to visit a probate court in order to claim their inheritance. This can happen if you own property (like a house, car, bank account, investment account, or other asset) in only…
The word “probate” often comes with a starkly negative connotation. Financial planners often recommend trying to keep property out of probate no matter the size of your estate. However, the probate system was ultimately established to protect the property of the…
Everyone wants to leave a financial legacy for their family. If you only have a financial plan, then you’re trying to guide a boat with only one oar. A financial plan is only part of the puzzle for your overall…
Most people think of estate planning as a one time project. Its added to their to-do list: “Create estate plan”, “Find estate planning attorney”, or “Meeting with lawyer at 10:00 a.m on Thursday for estate plan”. Its looked as just…