Types of Life Insurance and How They Can Be Used in Estate Planning Many of us do not start thinking about life insurance until we get our first full-time job and the company’s human resources representative asks us if we want to enroll in the employer’s group life insurance policy. Most people think “Why not?” […]
Read More »Asset Protection Planning
Asset Protection Planning Unfortunately, lawsuits, including frivolous lawsuits, are filed daily against good people like you. Asset protection planning, which is an important part of estate planning, can protect you, your family, and your assets. You’ve likely already done some asset protection planning such as purchasing homeowners’ and auto insurance. There are many ways to […]
Read More »What Is a Separate Revocable Living Trust?
What Is a Separate Revocable Living Trust? When a couple engages in foundational estate planning, one of the first questions addressed by estate planning attorneys is whether it makes sense for the couple to use a revocable living trust (RLT) as a part of their plan. If using an RLT makes sense, an important follow-up […]
Read More »How to Keep Your Child’s Inheritance Out of Your In-Law’s Hands
How to Keep Your Child’s Inheritance Out of Your In-Law’s Hands About 40 to 50 percent of all marriages in the United States end in divorce. Regardless of how you feel about your child’s spouse, you must face the possibility that they could become your child’s ex-spouse. Should that day come, the money you leave […]
Read More »Think Your Estate Plan is Complete? Make Sure You’re Not Missing These Important Points
Think Your Estate Plan is Complete? Make Sure You’re Not Missing These Important Points Roughly two-thirds of Americans do not have an estate plan, according to a recent survey from Caring.com.[1] If you are among the minority of US adults who have prepared a will, living trust, and other end-of-life documents, you may think that […]
Read More »If I Give My Home to My Child in My Will, Can They Take My Home While I Am Still Alive?
If I Give My Home to My Child in My Will, Can They Take My Home While I Am Still Alive? The short answer to this question is no. Naming your child as the recipient of your home in your will does not give them any right to your home while you are still living. […]
Read More »Does Your Estate Plan Protect Your Adult Beneficiaries?
Does Your Estate Plan Protect Your Adult Beneficiaries? If you think you only need to create discretionary lifetime trusts for young beneficiaries, problem beneficiaries, or financially inexperienced beneficiaries, then think again. In this day and age of frivolous lawsuits and high divorce rates, discretionary lifetime trusts should be considered for all of your beneficiaries, minors […]
Read More »Trust Funding: Is Everything Titled Correctly?
Trust Funding: Is Everything Titled Correctly? Working with an attorney to draft a trust agreement for estate planning purposes is an important step. But just getting the document drafted and signed is not enough. For any trust to be effective, you must complete the process of funding your trust as soon as you can. But […]
Read More »How to Talk to Mom and Dad about Creating an Estate Plan
How to Talk to Mom and Dad about Creating an Estate Plan Conversations about death and dying are rarely fun. Most people avoid them because they invoke feelings about our inevitable demise. Broaching this subject can be particularly difficult for parents and their adult children. Adult children may avoid bringing up the topic because they […]
Read More »Estate Tax Returns—Not as Scary as They Sound
Estate Tax Returns—Not as Scary as They Sound When an individual passes away, tax issues are one of the many things that must be considered. For most individuals who pass away, a final income tax return must be filed with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and state (if the particular state also taxes income) to […]
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