Posts Tagged ‘estate plan’
Family Conversations About Your Estate Plan
With holidays upon us, you’ve got a lot on your mind, right? Turkeys and ham don’t make themselves, and the longer you put off gift shopping, the more stressful that affair becomes. And then, of course, the house needs to be cleaned, family visits need to be scheduled, Christmas lights need to go up, and…
Read MoreIf Only Anne Heche Had Drafted an Estate Plan…
Anne Heche was an Emmy award-winning actress, well-known for her roles in such blockbuster hits as Donnie Brasco and I Know What You Did Last Summer. Well, we know what Heche didn’t do last summer: draft an estate plan. The actress lost her life in a car crash in August, 2022…leaving behind two sons, a…
Read MoreHow Living in a Community Property State (Like Texas) or a Common Law State Affects Your Estate Planning
Every state has unique statutory requirements for creating, integrating and implementing its estate planning laws. Every state, likewise, has unique marital interest laws that affect an estate plan. Therefore, if you are married or plan on being married, it is imperative that you consider the impact of your state’s marital interest laws on your plan. …
Read MoreDon’t DIY It: Why Online Wills and Trusts Might Not Hold Up
In recent years, it seems like DIY estate planning services are popping up everywhere. These providers allow you to prepare your Wills and Trusts online at a considerably lower cost than it would take to hire an estate planning attorney. Sounds great, right? Then, let’s consider the old adage “you get what you pay for”.…
Read MoreEstate Planning Trends: Generational Differences in Estate Planning
Believe it or not, your birthday probably has a big effect on how you think about estate planning. However, we are not talking astrology. A Scorpio with a moon in Gemini isn’t more likely to draft a Will than any other sign. But, think about it: if you were born in the 1950s, you came…
Read MoreThis is So Unfair: Let’s Talk About Unequal Inheritance
Fair doesn’t always mean equal. If you’re out for dinner with your kids aged two and ten, you’re not going to order them the same meal. Likewise, if you’re at a CrossFit class with a friend who’s never lifted more than your spirit, you’re not going to squat the same weight. Fairness means treating people…
Read MoreProtecting Your Family’s Security: Integration of Your Estate Plan and Your Financial Plan
If you’ve been following our blog, you know that estate planning is an important step in protecting your family’s financial security. Whether drawing up a Will or establishing a Trust, an Estate Plan is an essential tool to ensure that your assets find their intended recipients after you pass. Likewise, perhaps in your financial plan…
Read MoreDo I Have an Estate to Plan at All?
Ask most people about their estate, and chances are their response will fall somewhere between “Do I have an estate?” and “Who do you think I am?” After all, the word “estate” conjures images of wrought iron gates, statue-lined driveways, and palace-sized homes when—in reality—it simply refers to all the “stuff” a person owns. Without…
Read MoreEstate Planning Horror Stories: Tales of Missing or Non-Existent Estate Planning Documents
If your executor cannot find your estate planning documents, the court has no choice but to assume you died without a will. What does it mean if you die without a will? What it means is that the state will decide what to do with your assets according to their intestacy laws. This, as you…
Read MoreSpecial Needs Trust: Learn the Basics
If you have a child with special needs that hinders them from managing their own affairs, you may want to establish a Special Needs Trust (also known as a Supplemental Needs Trust for them, especially if you’re planning to leave them money or property. In this event, it’s critical that you plan carefully. If not,…
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