There is no such uncertainty as a sure thing. –Robert Burns Even with an estate plan, things can always happen that may cause confusion or throw a wrench into the best-made plans. Below are three examples of worst-case scenarios and ways…
George Carlin would have been a great pitchman for estate planning. You may remember his stand-up routine on “stuff.” We all have stuff, and we’re pretty particular about our stuff. We move it around with us, it’s hard for some…
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…
The bad news: probated estates are subject to a variety of costs from attorneys, executors, appraisers, accountants, courts, and state law. Depending on the probate’s complexity, fees can run into tens of thousands of dollars. The good news: probate costs…
Many people are using a revocable living trust instead of a will or joint ownership as the foundation of their estate plan. When properly prepared, a living trust will avoid the public, costly and time-consuming court processes of conservatorship or…
As a new parent, you want to ensure your new baby’s future in every way. For most new parents, a will is the last thing on your mind. Many new parents struggle to figure out what steps they need to…
So you’ve done the hard work of establishing an estate plan. Now you want to make sure that the strategy you’ve selected will maximize your peace of mind and protect your legacy. Here are 5 “stress test” questions to assess…
When you’re in your 20’s and 30’s and in good health, it’s easy to feel invincible and believes that nothing will ever happen to you. So it’s easy to justify deferring estate planning. Why worry about a long-term financial strategy…
You’ve worked hard and have begun to acquire wealth. You’ve even have a will to make sure that your assets go to your family. You think you’re all set. Unfortunately, a common misunderstanding is that your will encompasses and controls…
A trust can be an important part of your estate. Trusts allow you to avoid probate, minimize taxes, provide organization, maintain control, and provide for yourself and your heirs. In simple terms, a trust is a book of instructions wherein…