There are many reasons why you may want to avoid probate. First, it can be a lengthy and expensive process, especially when unexpected issues like contests come up. You may also prefer a more private way of handling your family affairs. Fortunately, there are ways...
Estate Planning
The top reasons to update your estate plan
Creating your estate plan is a good first step to protecting your family and loved ones after you pass away. However, once your plan is created, it does not mean your work is done. Your estate plan is essentially a road map that lets people know what you want to...
2 reasons to tell people about your estate
If you are creating an estate plan, you may wonder whether or not to discuss it with your family. Maybe you are worried a family member won’t like it when they find out someone else is due to get more than them. Perhaps you fear someone will become less motivated to...
How can powers of attorney help you?
Most adults know their estate plan includes information about what needs to happen after they die. But, they don’t realize that there are parts of the plan that have to do with what will happen if they become incapacitated. One important component of your estate plan...
2 things you should leave out of your will
Your will is the foundation of your entire estate plan. While having a detailed will is important, there are some things you should not include. Knowing what doesn’t belong in a will (and leaving these things out of it) will likely help your beneficiaries after you...
What does it mean if your parent named you their estate executor?
When a person dies, their estate must go through probate, a legal process that ensures their debts are paid, and their belongings are distributed according to their will. If your parent named you as the executor in their will, then they entrust you with the...
Do you know how to stop inheritance-related disputes?
Are you worried that your family will be unhappy with how you have chosen to distribute your property after you pass away? If so, you need to take steps now to avoid inheritance disputes. While there’s no way for you to stop all disputes that may occur, you can take...
Young? Healthy? You still shouldn’t wait to write a will
There’s no doubt that one day your loved ones will inherit your assets -- but when you're young and healthy, that day can seem incredibly far away. Unfortunately, nobody is promised tomorrow, and bad things can happen even to those who seem like they have a lot of...
What can you do to keep money from irresponsible heirs?
You’re looking to create an estate plan, and you already have an idea of where you want your assets to go. The problem is that one of your heirs is fairly irresponsible with their money, so you're wondering what you can do to prevent them from wasting their...
The benefits of having a joint estate plan
Estate planning is an important process that both spouses should undertake. Too often, one spouse takes the lead in this process, and the other is left in the dark. This can lead to problems down the road if something happens to the first spouse. We'll discuss why...