Estate Planning

One of the most important goals of estate planning is making sure that your loved ones can effectively manage your assets when you die. This includes everything you own, such as homes, vehicles, land, bank accounts, family heirlooms and business interests. Crafting a...

You might think that most of the adults you know already have their estate plan in place, and you are one of the few who do not. You would, however, be wrong. A recent report found that over half of adults have no estate planning documents at all - 56% of them, to be...

For some people, creating an advance health care directive is even more emotionally challenging than putting their will in place. No one likes to think about what kind of life-prolonging measures they want ended or continued if they’re in a coma with no expectation of...

Advance directives are among the most valuable estate planning documents available. Unfortunately, many people assume they need to face immediate medical challenges to warrant drafting advance directives. While both medical and legal professionals often encourage...

A revocable living trust is a flexible estate planning tool. It allows the trust creator to act as the initial trustee. They have the authority to modify the trust by changing beneficiary designations, funding it with additional assets or making other adjustments...

When people first hear the term “estate planning,” they may imagine it as something reserved for the wealthy trying to figure out sprawling family estates. In reality, it’s a practical step that can benefit almost anyone who wants to protect their loved ones and their...

An estate consists of all of the property owned by an individual who has died. After a person's passing, control of their property transfers to their estate. It is then under the management of the personal representative appointed by the probate courts or named in...

If you receive a significant medical diagnosis, your first step is likely to work with your medical team to consider different care options and your prognosis for recovery. But it can also have an impact on your estate plan. It is wise to consider some of the ways...

The total value, or size, of a person’s estate can make all the difference in how complicated it is to administer after they’ve died. Part of the reason for this is that it can affect whether it has to go through the formal probate process.  People often use estate...

You may be thinking about writing a will this year. You know that it is time to get an estate plan in place, and a will is the first step that you want to take. You can then add other documents like powers of attorney or other advance directives. But as you begin this...