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Let's face it, many people put off creating wills because it's a subject they'd rather not think about. When a loved one passes away without a will, state law can dictate who receives property and who's appointed guardianship over any minor children. Learn how you can get prepared.
We are all concerned about our loved ones being taken care of should something happen to us. With so many types of wills available, its easy to get lost in the paperwork. Read More
There are many differences between a will, living will and living trust. Each document is used for a specific legal purpose and is vital for estate planning. Many people Read More
By the time you need a living will, it will be too late to create one. A living will, or advance directive, specifies how your medical treatment should be handled if you Read More
Let's face it, it's never pleasant to think about preparing for your death. Unfortunately, not enough Americans do--about half die without a will. Not having a will means Read More
Writing a will is an important duty that can help your family down the line. Although it's rarely a fun task, it's important to make your final wishes known. Although the Read More
An executor is the person or persons named in someone's will who ensures that the instructions in the will and the wishes of the deceased are carried out. There are a few Read More
It's a sad fact of life, but sometimes our pets outlive us. If we haven't made plans for their care after we're gone, they might be thrust into an animal shelter with mere Read More
You've chosen how to live; you can also make choices about dying. An advance medical directive, or living will, spells out your preferences regarding the use of medical Read More
Probate is the legal process of proving a will is authentic and valid. Through probate, legal title is passed from the deceased person to the beneficiary. There are several Read More
How can you safeguard the wealth that you've earned and pass it on to your heirs? One way is to establish a living trust. This financial arrangement gives someone you Read More
If you are a friend or loved one of someone who has recently passed away, you are in a common but painful position of mourning. This friend or loved one may have left Read More
An irrevocable trust is an estate-planning tool that allows you to control your assets, provide for your heirs and sidestep some estate and income taxes. Engaging legal Read More
Set up a dynasty trust to provide distribution of your assets through several generations and take advantage of the generation-skipping tax transfer (GSTT). These assets Read More
A living trust is simply a trust that you set up while you are still alive. Once you die or become incapacitated, a trustee of your choosing will have the power to make Read More
Spouses often use living trusts to protect assets from being probated and taxed upon a spouse's death. For a living trust to be valid and actually bypass probate, any of Read More
A dual living trust is often used as a financial fix than for estate planning. It goes by several names, but the purpose is the same. The dual living trust provides Read More
If your net worth is more than $1 million (individual) or $2 million (couple), you need an estate plan - otherwise, your heirs may be sending a high percentage of your Read More
There are many cases in which a Power of Attorney is not only a smart step to take, but an essential one. A Power of Attorney gives your "agent," the person you name as Read More
A power of attorney is a legal document granting power to another person to act on your behalf in certain legal or financial matters. Because a power of attorney is a Read More
If an accident or illness incapacitates you to the extent that you can't make important decisions for yourself, these decisions may instead be made by the courts, the Read More
A trust is a good way to plan for incapacity. Aging is inevitable—it is important to take care of yourself and family before your capacity diminishes. The revocable living Read More
A power of attorney, sometimes referred to as POA, is the legal authority to act as a person's attorney to handle certain, designated affairs of that person. These affairs Read More
Giving a financial power of attorney is very important if we cannot take care of ourselves. Giving another person this designation allows the appointed individual to act in Read More
A power of attorney is a document that allows you to appoint a person or organization to handle your affairs while you're unavailable or unable to do so. There are many Read More
If an accident or illness incapacitates you to the extent that you can't make important decisions for yourself, these decisions may instead be made by the courts, the Read More
There are many cases in which a Power of Attorney is not only a smart step to take, but an essential one. A Power of Attorney gives your "agent," the person you name as Read More
A power of attorney is a legal document granting power to another person to act on your behalf in certain legal or financial matters. Because a power of attorney is a Read More
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